The console air conditioner is a self-contained unit. These units come in 2- to 10-hp sizes. They are used in small commercial buildings, restaurants, stores, and banks. They may be water cooled or air cooled.
Figure 16-19 shows an air-cooled console air conditioner. You should be able to vent to the outside the hot air produced by the compressor and the condenser.
There are also water-cooled console air conditioners. They will require connections to the local water supply as well as a water drain and condensate drain. See Fig. 16-20. Note the location of the parts in Fig. 16-19. Water is used to cool the compressor. In both models, the evaporator coil is mounted in the top of the unit. See Fig. 16-21. Air blown through the evaporator is cooled and directed to the space to be conditioned. In some areas, a water-cooled model is not feasible.
Since the evaporator coil also traps moisture from the air, this condensate must be drained. This dehumidifying action accounts for large amounts of water on humid days. If outside air is brought in, the condensate will be more visible than if inside air is recirculated.
