Science and technology have appeared in every period of history with many inventions that make our lives easier. However, there are some inventions that have made great changes in our daily lives with their introduction into our lives. Air conditioning is also among these special inventions.
This device, which allows us to cool indoors on hot summer days, was originally invented to solve an industrial problem. However, over time, it has become an indispensable tool both in the industrial field and in our daily life, thanks to the advantages offered by the air conditioner. So, how did the air conditioner step onto the stage of history and how did it evolve to its modern form today?
In past civilizations, some methods were tried, which took on the task of air conditioning.
Various methods have been developed since prehistoric times. The Egyptians hung wet cloths in front of their doors to alleviate the desert heat, thus allowing cooler air to enter with the breeze. This simple but effective method took advantage of the cooling property of water as it evaporated.
The Romans, on the other hand, tried to create a natural air conditioning effect by using their engineering skills to drain the water they carried to the city through the walls of their houses. This cleverly designed system both kept the interior of the house cool and increased the comfort of the Romans. Humanity, which tried to cool off with such methods in ancient times, developed these methods over time and reached modern air conditioning systems.
Air conditioners similar to today’s first appeared on the scene in 1902.
The ancestor of today’s commonly used air conditioners was designed by the American engineer Willis Carrier in 1902. At that time, the increase in temperature and fluctuations in humidity caused a great problem in printing houses. The increased humidity caused the printing papers to expand or contract, causing the colors to fail to print as desired during printing.
A printing company that wanted to solve this problem applied to the company where Carrier was working. Taking action on this demand, Carrier developed the first air conditioner prototype inspired by mechanical cooling techniques made in previous periods.
This system, which provides air circulation by using pipes filled with cold water in order to keep the humidity in the air balanced, formed the basis of the first air conditioners. However, this first air conditioner was quite different from today’s compact air conditioners and appeared as a giant machine weighing exactly 30 tons.
The invention of the air conditioner began to be used in a wider area over time.
Originally developed by Carrier to solve an industrial problem, this device eventually found its way into homes, workplaces and public transportation vehicles. In the early 1920s, air conditioning technology began to be used in movie theaters, hotels and office buildings. Now, even on hot summer days, people could spend time in a comfortable environment. This was a great revolution especially for people living in hot regions.
By the 1950s, air conditioners became more compact and economical. This allowed them to become widespread in homes. Now people could find a cool shelter inside their homes on hot summer days. The air conditioner not only provided comfort, but also increased working efficiency. People were able to work more efficiently without being overwhelmed by the heat and losing their energy.
So how does an air conditioner work?
Have you ever thought about how an air conditioner cools you down on hot summer days? First of all, there are gases in the operating system of the air conditioner. Gases give off heat when transitioning to a liquid state, while liquids absorb heat when transitioning to a gaseous state. Air conditioners operating with this logic usually have two parts, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. A compressor compresses the gas inside the air conditioner and turns it into liquid. The heat released in this process is discharged from the outdoor unit with the help of the fan.
While the liquid refrigerant gas is passed to the expansion valve, its pressure drops and it turns back into gas form. While doing this, it takes heat from the hot air drawn from the room and cools this air. This cold air is transferred from the indoor unit into the room. When you make the setting of the air conditioner warm, this event is reversed.
When the air conditioner was invented by Willis Carrier at the beginning of the 20th century, no one would have guessed that it would have such a wide impact. But this device has become a part of modern life and has increased people’s comfort, productivity and health. Today, air conditioners are among the indispensable products for both industrial and individual use.
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