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It's getting hot in here!

Lisa Miles
Did you know that on this day in 1902 drawings for the worlds first air-conditioning system were created and submitted by Willis Carrier?

I would personally like to thank Mr Carrier for making the IET's office in Stevenage a pleasant environment to work in during this extended heatwave the UK is currently experiencing!
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    You've got to wonder if it was an exceptionally hot day that sparked the inspiration!
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    The first major office building to have air conditioning provided when built is generally accepted as the Milam Building in San Antonio, Texas, in 1928.  Other early air conditioned offices are few, but probably most notable are the PSFS Building in Philadelphia (1932), Metropolitan Life, New York (1933), and the Johnson Wax Administration Building in Racine, Wisconsin (1939). In the UK, one major building to be comfort air conditioned before the World War II was London’s Broadcasting House for the BBC (1931) Carrier . 1936 (first in the far east) The Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, New Head Office, Hong Kong Air conditioned by G N Haden & Sons Ltd who provided ammonia refrigerating machines (410 hp) serving six air handling plants (229,000 cu.ft/min supply air),contract value being £75,000.  The first rush of UK air conditioned office blocks came in 1962: E S & A Robinson, Bristol; the CIS, Manchester; Shell Centre and Millbank Development in London. Haden

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1388332/Sir-Alan-Pullinger.html  I shared some mutual colleagues, but never met him myself.  


    The period after World War II, up to around 1978, may be considered the boom years of air conditioning, but the 1970s saw the first major world energy crisis and spiralling energy costs. Air conditioning designers developed many forms of heat recovery system and apparatus, which were often omitted at the last minute on grounds of capital cost. However, the profligate use of energy became less and less acceptable. Lessons and ideas from the past were incorporated into new buildings: passive architecture, thermal storage, natural and nocturnal ventilation, reduced artificial lighting and better use of daylighting. Conventional comfort air conditioning for offices entered a period of decline. With increasing concerns over the ozone layer and global warming, it may yet give way to alternative environmental control solutions. (in italics produced by CIBSE Heritage Group).


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    Air conditioning is not particularly common in buildings in the UK compared with countries with warmer climates but why did it take so long for it to become a common feature on cars? It was actually possible to buy a Triumph Acclaim with air conditioning in 1983 but the number of customers who picked this option were very low. Even Ford Sierras with air conditioning were rare and highly sought after.
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     It was actually possible to buy a Triumph Acclaim with air conditioning in 1983 but the number of customers who picked this option were very low.



    If you've not got your windows down, how else is everyone else supposed to hear your loud music?! wink
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    The inspiration for air conditioning was trying to save President Garfield after he had been shot in 1881. They cooled his room by 20 degrees F to give him a chance to recover (but sadly the doctors didn't believe in new fangled ideas like sterilisation, so he didn't survive. This was also the incentive for the first metal detector, designed and built by Alexander Graham Bell, to find the bullet (he managed to find the bedsprings).

    This first air conditioning used ice, which limited its availability. The genius of Willis Carrier was to design an electrically powered closed refrigerant system which cooled, cleaned and circulating the air while controlling the humidity.

    Alasdair
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    Arran Cameron:

    Air conditioning is not particularly common in buildings in the UK compared with countries with warmer climates but why did it take so long for it to become a common feature on cars? It was actually possible to buy a Triumph Acclaim with air conditioning in 1983 but the number of customers who picked this option were very low. Even Ford Sierras with air conditioning were rare and highly sought after. 




    Strangely enough Arran, with immaculate timing the air conditioning unit in my car has decided to stop working... blush  It's just blowing the hot air from outside into the car instead of the icy cold air that I used to get. frown

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    Perhaps some smart engineer can invent car air conditioning that doesn't need regular servicing to keep it working.  A domestic fridge or freezer works on the same principles, but can run for 20 years without any problems.
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    Simon Barker:

    Perhaps some smart engineer can invent car air conditioning that doesn't need regular servicing to keep it working.  A domestic fridge or freezer works on the same principles, but can run for 20 years without any problems.




    I can't really complain Simon as my car is 18 years old now. I've had it for 12 years and this is the first time the air con has malfunctioned...just when the UK is having a heatwave.... blushlaugh

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    Knowledgeable practitioners in both vehicle and static refrigeration systems have told me that the refrigerant has to be circulated regularly to “prevent the seals drying out which causes the refrigerant to leak away”. A few year ago I had a relatively new car’s air con fail when I hadn’t used it over the cooler months. Using it year round increases fuel consumption and emissions a little of course. Also in a casual conversation with a friend who used to run a specialist business keeping beer cool (actually over a cool beer) he mentioned that modern “ozone friendly” gases were less effective.     

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    So if the modern day refrigerants are less effective we have the choice to use more power and increase greenhouse gases, or use old refrigerants and deplete the ozone layer.

    Personally I use the third option - I have a car without air conditioning and use the windows......

    Alasdair

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