Wall-mounted air conditioners without outdoor unit

Comprehensive optimization of technical devices from the point of view of modern knowledge in various fields of science also affected the devices of climatic technology. The desire to get away from a multi-unit air conditioning scheme (split system) has been relevant since the appearance of such equipment.

Why monoblock is relevant

For some time now, passing through any urban-type settlement, one is amazed at the disgusting appearance of the facades of residential buildings. A huge accumulation of haphazardly installed outdoor units of air conditioners is simply shocking and depressing.

Chaotically assembled (Fig. 1) units, most often without any

approvals, remind of the time when, in the same way, all the facades of houses and their roofs were dotted with television antennas.

It's scary to think if these two time periods suddenly coincided.

At their core, air conditioners without an outdoor unit are conventional split systems, but in a single inner case containing:

• heat exchanger;
• freon evaporator;
• compressor;
• fan;
• filters;
• drain pan (possibly a pump).

This design is one of the options for mobile air conditioners:

Such monoblock equipment is most relevant when it is used in the premises of historical city centers, summer cottages and cottages, when temporarily renting various areas of buildings.

Principle of operation

The work of a monoblock is not much different from the work of a conventional split system. In the first heat exchanger, the refrigerant evaporates and condenses in the second. In the first case, it takes heat away from the outside air, cooling it down. In the second, it condenses, heating the air that is thrown out.

The differences are only in its circulation. For this, 2 branch pipes are provided that go through the wall to the street. Through these nozzles, on the street side, closed with small decorative grilles (Fig. 3), air is drawn in and removed from the air conditioner. Grilles made of flexible plastic are installed without external work.

The minimization of all units of the device made it possible not only to compactly place all its functional units, but also to give it an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Unfortunately, it was not done with its rise in price.

Circulation grilles facing the street, due to their minimum size and masking color, do not require any coordination. The advantages of such equipment are unconditional and obvious:

• from the street side, the presence of climatic equipment is imperceptible and does not require approval;
• impeccably comfortable conditions are created in each individual room by changing the direction of the air flow;
• extremely careful attitude to the external environment: the use of environmentally friendly refrigerant R410, high energy efficiency;
• simple and safe installation of equipment, without performing external work;
• high efficiency of air exchange due to the flow of outside air;

There is also a significant drawback - such, rather expensive, equipment can only work in one room. It is worth noting that the noise level, although insignificant, is higher than that of conventional split systems.

Advice: it is irrational to put such devices in all rooms. Unless, of course, the apartment is one-room.

Selection and installation of air conditioners without external units

The decision to install a monoblock can be made for certain reasons, related, for example:

• with a ban on the installation of an external block of a split-system, a city administrative commission or a commission of architectural supervision;
• by design indicators, the trajectory of the pipelines is irrational;
• it is economically inexpedient to install stationary, climatic equipment in the rented premises;
• there is no desire, for most of the year, to see a non-working technique in front of you;
• excessive complexity of installation (Fig. 2).

In this case, the use of wall-mounted air conditioners without outdoor units will be a reasonable way out of this situation.

Will it be a floor version of a window model or a wall model with 2 nozzles, you will have to decide based on the current situation and personal preferences:

• in the first case, you will have to sacrifice a part of the window and a slightly damaged interior (Fig. 4);
• there will be a feeling of some discomfort from the presence of unusual equipment;
• in the second, be ready to drill 2 holes in the outer wall of the room;
• the sound background of the living space will change, albeit slightly;
• I will have to agree: with 2 hours of time spent on the installation of a climatic device, with comfortable conditions for staying in a room with a pleasant temperature and normal humidity.

It remains to select the power of the required equipment and the model with the desired options, depending on the budget.

Power selection is a rather traditional and well-known event, depending on the size of the living room.

The electronic options are varied and functional. The most budgetary option is cooling only. The generated heat is dissipated through the condensate pipe to the outside. This option differs from a conventional air conditioner by the place of air intake - from the street (at the device without an external unit) or from the room.

A variant with heating is also possible, as in a heat ventilator. Ceramic heating elements act as a heat carrier, since oxygen in the air burns out less.

In many monoblock models, the electronics allow you to:

• control and management of the set parameters using the remote control;
• maintaining all specified parameters in automatic mode;
• air flow control by means of a multi-speed fan;
• changing its direction using movable blinds;
• supervision over the overflow of the condensate sump, during intensive operation of the equipment (its automatic shutdown when it is overfilled);
• tie-in to central heating, in some models, creating a real climate center.

All monoblock technology is pre-installed with pre-filters. They must be cleaned regularly, in accordance with the attached instructions. In elite models, there are fine filters (up to coal), which require regular replacement.

Tip: enabling the maximum number of options will allow you to create a real elite HVAC unit. In this case, the question of price disappears by itself. Budget models, with electromechanical control devices, are affordable even with an insignificant level of income.

Installation of air conditioners without an external unit (monoblocks) is economically justified only if it is impossible to use conventional split systems.Such equipment loses to conventional systems, both in terms of efficiency and price.

It is also important that none of the leading brands of climatic technology is represented by monoblocks.