Dave Gerr - Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook-How to Design, Install, and Recognize Proper Systems in Boats

more than an air-conditioning unit in which

the compressor and condenser have been sep-

arated from the air handler (the evaporator/

heat-exchanger and blower in the cabin).

This is sometimes termed the “central-

condenser system,” because on larger vessels,

a single compressor and condenser (properly

sized) can service more than one evaporator/

heat-exchanger/blower unit (air handler) in

the various cabins.

Usually, the compressor/condenser is

located in the machinery compartment. The

refrigerant travels to and from the cabin

evaporators through insulated hoses. There

are two nice pluses to split-expansion instal-

lations: One is that the noise of the compres-

sor and seawater pump are kept out of the

cabin. The other is that the evaporator/

air-handler alone is a more compact package

to work into tight accommodation spaces.

The drawback to split-expansion systems is

that, since the refrigerant is transferred in

special insulated hose, the system should be

installed and charged with refrigerant by

professionals.

Self-contained direct-expansion systems

(Figure 15-2) are somewhat larger and noisier

in the cabin itself, but they can be retrofitted

PART FIVE: VENTILATION, AIR-CONDITIONING, AND HEATING

Figure 15-2.
Single direct-
expansion air-
conditioner
(Courtesy Marine
Air Systems, Inc.)