Elevator Air Conditioning

Elevator Air Conditioning
Concept
Elevator air conditioning has fast becoming a popular concept around the world. The primary reason for installing an elevator air conditioner is the comfort that it provides while travelling in the elevator. It stabilizes the condition of the air inside the lift car. Some elevator air conditioner can be used in countries with cold climate if a themostat is used to reverse the refrigeration cycle to warm the lift car.
Health
One of the many benefits of installing an elevator air con is the clean air that it provides.
Air is sucked from the elevator’s hoist way straight into the car using a motorised fan. The air sucked into the hoist way may be filled with dust mites, germs and bacteria.
With an elevator air con, air provided is much cleaner because the cold air is the same air that comes from the car itself. Not only that, the cold air that is produced from the air con also goes through a layer of filter. This filtration removes particles that are harmful to the human body.
A poorly maintained air-conditioning system may promote the growth and spread of microorganisms, but as long as the air conditioner is kept clean these health hazards can be avoided.
Energy
Lift lobby airconditioning constantly leak into lift shaft due to lift movements and lift shaft ventilation requirements, thus resulting in energy wastage.
By using lift aircondtioners, it is actually less of an energy hog because the airconditioner is able to cool people down inside the lift more effectively. The reason is because lift lobby has more air space compared to the lift car.
Condensation
Air conditioner poses a problem to elevators because of the condensation that occures. The condensed water produced has to be disposed of otherwise it would create flooding in the elevator car and hoistway.
Ways to remove condensed water
There are at least four ways to remove condensed water from the air con. However, each solution has its pros and cons.
Atomizing
Atomizing, also known as misting the condensed water, is another way to dispose of the condensed water. Spraying ultra fine water droplets on to the hot coils of the air conditioner would ensure the condensed water evaporates quickly.
Though this is one of the best methods to dispose of the condensed water, it is also one of the costliest because the nozzle that atomizes the water easily gets choked. Main portion of the cost goes to maintaining the entire atomizing system.
Boiling
Disposing off condensed water works by firstly collecting the condensed water and then heating it to above boiling point. The condensed water would eventually be evaporated thereby disposing it.
Consumers are reluctant to do it because of the high rate of energy used just to dispose of this water.
Cascading
Cascading method works by flowing the condensed water directly onto the hot coils of the air conditioner. This would eventually evaporate the condensed water.
The downside of this technology is that the coils have to be at extremely high temperature for the condensed water to be evaporated. Chances are, the water might not evaporate entirely and that would cause water to overflow on to the exterior of the car.
Drainage System
Drainage system works by creating a sump to collect the condensed water and using a pump to dispose it off through using a drainage system.
It is an efficient method but comes at a heavy price because the cost of building the sump and maintaining the pump to make sure it operates, is very expensive. Moreover, the pipes used for drainage would look ugly on the exterior.
This system also cannot be implemented on a built project.

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