How to Import Air Conditioners from China: Ultimate Guide
1.Why import Air Conditioner from China?
The air conditioner manufacturing industry in China is a major industry. China is the global leader for air conditioners. China currently manufactures close to 70% of room air conditioners in the world.
China manufactures residential room air conditioners, central air conditioning systems, air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.
2.How to understand an air conditioner?
If you want to understand an air conditioner, you will need to have knowledge of its systems and classifications.
2.1 The main structure and working principle of air conditioners
An air conditioner consists of:
- Heat Pump
The heat pump includes a compressor, refrigerant, throttling, and a pressure relief device. Most residential air conditioners are hot and cold air conditioners. Some low-end air conditioners are cold air type (single cool air conditioners).
The heating process of air conditioning is the reverse of refrigeration, meaning the AC refrigerant flows in the reverse direction. A “four-way reversing valve” controls the flow of refrigerant in an AC.
A rotary compressor can either be a single-cylinder or single-rotor compressor or a two-rotor or two-cylinder compressor depending on the number of cylinders or rotating shafts.
Refrigerants in domestic air conditioners include R410A and R32. All major air conditioner brands, at present, use R32 refrigerant. This also includes Japanese air conditioners manufactured in China.
- Heat exchanger
The evaporation and condensation coil (heat exchanger) of air conditioners is basically a female copper tube + fins. The structure of the coils of air conditioners is almost similar except for the number of materials used (number of rows of coils, thickness, and the number of copper tube roots).
The larger the heat transfer area between the air and the external portion of the coil, as well as the refrigerant and the inside portion of the coil. The higher the efficiency of heat exchange, the more powerful the heating and cooling, as well as energy-efficiency.
- Air supply device
The throttling components of an air conditioner include a capillary tube, electronic expansion valve, and thermal expansion valve. These components throttle down the refrigerant in high-pressure and medium-temperature state transforming it into low-pressure and low-temperature state for evaporation and heat absorption.
2.2 Fixed-frequency and variable-frequency model
Fixed-frequency air conditioning entails the use of a fixed-frequency compressor motor to allow the air conditioning to run at a fixed speed. The air conditioning stops running upon reaching the set room temperature. Upon exceeding a certain set value range, the compressor will restart.
Inverter air conditioners include full-DC inverter and DC inverter air conditioners. Internal and external fans if the compressor is driven by DC inverter motors.
There are widespread arguments on inverter air conditioners and fixed-frequency air conditioners. Comparing the price and electrical consumption many arguments point to fixed-frequency air conditioners as a more cost-efficient purchase than an inverter air conditioner.
Those who argue that fixed-frequency air conditioners are more cost-efficient refer to the price of the air conditioner and cost of electricity against an inverter air conditioner. They believe that it is difficult or almost impossible for the difference in price to make up for the savings in electricity costs with an inverter air conditioner.
Air conditioners should be evaluated based on its:
- Cooling and heating performance regardless of operating conditions
- Outdoor/indoor unit noise while in operation
- Energy efficiency levels
- Uniformity and accuracy of temperature control
- Air supply comfort
- Stability of the product.
Using these factors, fixed-frequency air conditioners will end up at the bottom, notwithstanding operating conditions.
It is, therefore, not feasible to gauge the difference between a fixed-frequency air conditioner and an inverter air conditioner based on their power consumptions.
3.What are the hot sales kinds of split AC in China
Hot sale products come with a life cycle and thus, come with fast upgrading. Hot sale products help keep companies in an advantage position.
When importing air conditioners from China, targeting hot sales can be a good idea.
4.Split-system AC VS. central AC
Air conditioners are classified based on how they are installed, thus they could either be split-system air conditioners and central air conditioners. Choosing between which type of AC to go with depends on your needs.
- Appearance
Split-system ACs take a lot of space in a room and are difficult to integrate with the decors of a room. Split-type ACs may look beautiful in in a room with low ceilings but are not too friendly. It is also not beautiful when compared to the price of the living space’s CBM.
Many homeowners, however, prefer split-type air conditioners because of the theory that without a wall-mounted AC, there are fewer things to put in the room.
Central air conditioners need to be installed before the ceiling is in place. Similar to a water heater, it is also installed in front of the ceiling.
- Comfort
Central ACs require return vents and air supply in every room. Air supply is softer allowing a better user experience. A central air condition is generally more comfortable than a split-type air conditioner in terms of air supply.
- Power Consumption
Split air conditioners are installed in each room with one unit indoor and another outdoor. If multiple split ACs are used simultaneously, there will be a heavier load and efficiency of the ACs will be lower.
Central ACs installed in multiple rooms, only one outdoor unit is installed. When used in only a few rooms, the load is lower. When simultaneously used in multiple rooms, the efficiency becomes higher.
Central air conditioners, in short, are more efficient when simultaneously used in multiple rooms. They consume more electricity than split units when only one room needs to be cooled. When you need to cool only one room, a split unit is less expensive to run than a central AC.
- Price
Central ACs cost more to purchase than split ACs based on current market prices. Central ACs cost twice as much as split ACs with the same cooling capacity. It can, however, be difficult to make a direct price comparison because central ACs have a design life twice as long as split ACs.
Split ACs are more feasible for small houses with few rooms and fewer chances for multiple rooms to be cooled at the same time. Central ACs, on the other hand, are more feasible for larger houses with more rooms that are taller, and more rooms that simultaneously need to be cooled.