When we step into an elevator or lift, we give very little thought to them, apart from ensuring we have selected the right floor button for our destination. Usually not much attention is paid to the environment, but it could well be a different story if air conditioning for elevators was not present. Anyone who has been stuck in a lift will know how quickly the temperature can rise to unbearable heat or cool to freezing depending on time of year and exterior temperatures.
Elevators and lifts transport people and goods between the floors of a building. The earliest type of elevator is accredited to the Romans namely Vitruvius, an architect. The use of these devices in the ensuing years was for moving things rather than people using a system of rope hoists powered by animal, people, or water.
The first true passenger elevator was invented by Elisha Otis whose name is famous today with over 20% of market share belonging to Otis lifts and elevators.
As the world expands and urbanisation eats up land, lifts and elevators are essential to keep people moving; from modest two or three person lifts in a small office or store to the super express lifts that soar up thirty or forty stories or more leaving the passenger’s stomach on the ground floor. A major concern is to keep people comfortable while using elevator cabs where they are often in close proximity with other people. Depending on passenger traffic, it could be quite squashed in at times.
Air conditioning for elevators and air conditioning for lifts therefore, is an essential requirement to keep an ambient temperature and to circulate fresh air in the confined space of the cab. In general terms, air inside a lift tends to mirror the external environment, particularly when it is situated on the outside of a building such as the magnificent lift outside Lloyds of London. Often lifts and elevators go below ground such as in multi storey car parks or basements. For this type of device, air conditioning for lifts is not a luxury but essential for the comfort of passengers.
Air conditioning for lifts and air conditioning for elevators ensures the cab will be cool in summer months and warm in the winter time, keeping fresh air circulating. The air conditioning for lifts should not be a marked difference to the building temperature. Air conditioning for elevators can be remote controlled in many instances by the building facilities management team, keeping the air stable.
There are obviously pros and cons to air conditioning for elevators and air conditioning for lifts and next, we take a look at how an accredited air conditioning engineer deals with them.
The air conditioning of elevators causes heat from the cooling process to dissipate into the lift shaft. The lift cab is not air tight so some heat can return into the cab reducing the cooling effect.
Energy
Air from the building leaks into the lift shaft as the elevator moves and obviously there is independent ventilation in the lift shaft. While this in situ “air conditioning” will not incur energy cost, a specific air conditioner designed for an elevator will achieve better overall control of the temperature inside the cab, although energy cost is attached to this.
Condensation
Any air conditioning for lifts has to deal with the condensation issue. The condensed water that is produced by the air conditioner needs to be disposed of or else there would be flooding in the cab and lift shaft.
Methods of removing condensed water
There are at least four ways to remove condensed water from the air conditioner. However, each solution has its pros and cons.
Atomizing
The best way to cope with condensation from air conditioning for lifts is Atomizing. This method sprays fine water droplets on the hot coils of the unit ensuring condensed water quickly evaporates. While this is the ideal method to dispose of the condensation, it can be more expensive than other methods.
Boiling
Collected condensation is heated to above boiling point which causes evaporation. However this uses a lot of energy.
If you have a hot stuffy lift or one that is not comfortable for passengers, it is quite easy to retrofit an individual air conditioning unit at an affordable price. Our engineers are expert professionals who will guide you through your choice of unit, to installation and commissioning.
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