The energy-reducing technologies of Samsung Wind-Free

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(From left) Kilsoo Son and Byoung-Ok Ahn, engineers at Samsung’s HVAC Solution R&D Lab.

The air conditioner is no longer just an appliance for the summer: in addition to cooling capabilities, air conditioners today also come with air purification and dehumidification functionalities. However, knowing that the air conditioner is working around the clock can naturally lead to concerns about high electricity bills and home’s environmental footprint. Samsung works to make its appliances more energy efficient. For example, Wind-Free air conditioner features Digital Inverter Boost technology, an energy-saving innovation that reduces the device’s energy consumption. Kilsoo Son and Byoung-Ok Ahn, engineers at Samsung’s HVAC Solution R&D Lab, describe this innovative technologies. Just as the water in a waterfall cascades from higher ground to lower terrain, so does energy move from high to low. Air conditioners that use compressor technology to lower temperatures have to reduce heat through a process that runs contrary to this natural flow of energy – which is why air conditioners conventionally require a lot of energy to function. “The compressor serves as a pump that circulates the heat, moving matter from a lower point to a higher point – explains Byoung-Ok Ahn -. This means that the unit has to consume a lot of electricity”. To help users save energy, Samsung adopted an inverter compressor – Digital Inverter Boost technology – that can regulate its own revolutions per minute (RPM) to maintain its energy use at maximum efficiency. A fixed-speed compressor will run at maximum speed until the desired temperature is reached, and will then turn off once this is achieved. If the temperature exceeds this desired rate after the first round of cooling, it will switch on again at maximum output to lower the temperature. This repeated on-and-off process is incredibly energy-intensive, and also creates a fluctuation in room temperature as cooling is turned on and off again. Inverter technology is more efficient since it simply slows down once the desired temperature is achieved and then only has to speed up slightly once the temperature goes up again, meaning that energy consumption is reduced by up to 73%, as Samsung explains. This process results in less temperature fluctuation, meaning that users can enjoy a consistently comfortable room temperature.

“The bigger the difference between the room temperature and the desired temperature, the higher the amount of energy that is consumed when the air conditioner is turned on – Ahn notes -. When we compare the accumulated amount of consumed electricity between the fixed-speed compressor and the inverter compressor, the inverter type is notably more economical than the fixed-speed type since the latter turns on and off repetitively”. Ahn also provides a tip for getting the most out of the air conditioner. “The most efficient way to use an air conditioner equipped with an inverter compressor is to set the desired temperature at between 24°C and 25°C and to keep it on continuously when using it. Samsung’s inverter technology performs powerfully and efficiently because the total flux of its motor is maximized and the motor has multiple poles. Furthermore, this technology reduces vibration and noise for user peace of mind”.
Besides, often with air conditioners, once the temperature in a room has been reduced to the desired temperature, the continued airflow from the indoor unit can become uncomfortably chilling. Continuous, direct exposure to cold wind can dry out the respiratory system and affect the health, making users more sensitive to illnesses. “The Wind-Free Air Conditioner’s Wind-Free Mode was developed to alleviate this inconvenience. The 2020 version of this air conditioner features 23,000 micro air holes, which gently disperse the cold air evenly throughout a room. This way, users can enjoy a cool air stream without being directly exposed to cold wind – Ahn explains -. Wind-Free Mode can even cut energy consumption by 77% compared to the unit’s Fast Cooling Mode, even while at maximum output”. Another feature of Samsung Wind-Free is its bigger inlet and fan which allow for more air to be drawn in at once. “The air conditioner’s fan, the diameter of which is 15% bigger than conventional fans, along with the optimized width and angle of the outlet, means that energy consumption is reduced by 10%. Furthermore, air is cooled down to the desired temperature even faster”, says Kilsoo Son.

Figures drawn in comparison to the existing AQV12TWS model.

The air conditioner’s inverter technology and its Wind-Free technology work together in a synergy that creates even higher efficiency. Once the desired room temperature is reached with the air conditioner’s powerful and fast cooling technology, the unit switches to Wind-Free Mode, slowing down the speed of the compressor while keeping the air cool, comfortable and quiet while minimizing electricity consumption.
Finally, as well as its inverter technology and Wind-Free Mode, the 2020 Wind-Free Air Conditioner features other innovative features designed to help reduce users’ electricity bills. When users are not in the room, the device’s motion sensor automatically detects the absence and switches into Wind-Free Mode and raises the desired temperature to save up to 43% more energy. The unit’s Eco Mode also reduces the air conditioner’s RPM by up to 35% of its regular rate to reduce electricity consumption if it detects that there are few people in the room or that the ambient temperature is low. The AI Auto Cooling feature learns users’ preferred temperature and creates an optimal operation mode. “The AI Auto Cooling feature will provide users with an optimal setting – explains Son -. The more users use it, the more it learns about your preferences. I encourage users to use this feature often so that they can easily and automatically enjoy their favorite temperatures without having to flip through settings, wasting energy”. Users can reduce energy consumption even more with SmartThings. They can turn off their air conditioner remotely and keep track of their daily, weekly and monthly electricity usage with the SmartThings app. In addition, the My Schedule feature of SmartThings lets users set their air conditioner’s operation time, mode, temperature and fan speed remotely.

2020 Wind-Free Air Conditioner features motion sensor.