Can Portable Air Conditioners Defy the Laws of Thermodynamics?

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SUMMARY

Portable air conditioners do not violate the second law of thermodynamics as they operate by transferring heat from the indoor environment to the outside. The heat expelled into the room is indeed greater than the heat removed, necessitating proper venting to an external area. Users typically employ a flexible hose connected to a window panel for this purpose. Additionally, moisture from the condenser is either drained externally or collected in an internal pan for manual disposal.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the second law of thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with portable air conditioning systems
  • Knowledge of heat transfer principles
  • Experience with HVAC installation techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanics of heat pumps in HVAC systems
  • Learn about the installation process for portable air conditioners
  • Explore the differences between portable and window air conditioning units
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USEFUL FOR

Homeowners considering portable air conditioning solutions, HVAC technicians, and anyone interested in understanding thermodynamic principles in cooling systems.

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very silly question but i just went over to my friend's and he bought himself a portable air conditioner.

How do these things NOT violate the second law of thermodynamics?! The heat generated by the machine gets deposited to the surroundings (ie his room). Now this magnitude of heat released to the surroundings must be greater than the heat taken away from it by machine, right?
 
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Portable air conditioners must be vented to an area separate from the area being cooled. I have a floor-model portable AC, and it vents through a large flexi-hose that is mounted on an adjustable panel that gets clamped under the lower pane of a window. The moisture from the condenser exits a hose in the back and goes into my cellar's floor drain, though there is an option to collect the condensate in an internal pan that you empty once a day or so.
 
oh i see. thanks for the info turbo-1.
 

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