Yacht workshop

If you have a good heating or air conditioning system on board in such situations, you're in the clear. As in the automotive sector, climate change has already taken place on board. What would be a catastrophe from a global perspective is a welcome development here, and one that an increasing number of owners are happy to embrace. The reasons for this are the increasingly compact devices and mature technical solutions from the manufacturers, which also enable retrofitting on board.

Air dehumidification in focus
Even small yachts and boats are no longer denied this luxury, at least from a technical point of view. Many yachts are already equipped with a combined air conditioning and heating unit, at least as an option. In addition to temperature regulation, all systems also focus on the aspect of air dehumidification.

Healthy indoor climate on board
When it comes to pure heating, the situation is clear and has been established for many years. In addition to the classic stove, it is primarily warm air or hot water heaters that are installed on board yachts. Anyone who has experienced the pleasure of a heater on board will no longer want to do without it. Especially in our latitudes, they are a matter of course on most yachts. In addition to the comfortable warmth, the associated extension of the season or even just the bridging of a few cold and humid summer days, the dehumidification of the air is an aspect that should not be underestimated. This contributes to a healthier indoor climate on board, prevents the formation of mold spores and protects upholstery and interior fittings from moisture damage and musty odors.

The way it works is simple: in the air heater, air is heated by a diesel-powered burner and then distributed on board by a fan through a hose system. The air is actively circulated and the dehumidification of the air is effective. In water heating, the heating water is also heated by a burner and pumped through the radiators on board. The convection heat from the radiators also circulates the air masses. Water heaters can often also be used to prepare hot water in a boiler.

Functions of air conditioners
Air conditioners for boats and yachts have several functions. In addition to the pure cooling effect, the aspect of air dehumidification is also essential here. In addition, many air conditioners with the so-called reverse function as a heat pump can also be used for heating to a certain extent. Since most on-board air conditioners use seawater for cooling, this should not be colder than six degrees Celsius for the heating function, otherwise the system will operate inefficiently. Compared to heaters, air conditioners of course have an exactly opposite task in principle: they are supposed to extract heat from the air. In very simplified terms, an air conditioner basically consists of two units: The condenser and the evaporator. Ultimately, heat is to be transferred from one unit to the other.

The heat is transported by a refrigerant with a very low boiling point compared to water. A compressor brings the gaseous refrigerant to high temperatures under high pressure. The pressurized gas flows through the system into the condenser, where it releases heat, condenses and liquefies. In the process, the waste heat can be absorbed by a seawater circuit, for example, and carried away. The liquid refrigerant flows in a coil through the evaporator where it expands. This happens very suddenly, so that the pressure drops abruptly and the agent becomes gaseous again, cooling down considerably. This also cools the air circulating in the system of the plant, as the gas absorbs the heat. The moisture in the air condenses in the process and is deposited in a collector, for example.

The cool air can then be distributed in the environment via fans. The cooled refrigerant is now gaseous again, can flow back into the compressor and the cycle starts again. When specifying air conditioning systems, the cooling capacity is often expressed in BTU (British thermal unit) per hour (BTU/h). One BTU is the amount of energy required to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. The conversion factors are: 1 BTU= 1.055kJ and 1 BTU/h = 0.293 W.

Today, manufacturers offer different systems. In addition to pure heating or air conditioning units, combined solutions have also been developed in recent years. Which air conditioning or heating system is the right one depends on many factors. On the one hand, the space conditions on board are decisive, then the size and location of the room to be air-conditioned or heated. A salon on the lower deck may require a less efficient unit than a deckhouse with large windows. Information is available from dealers and manufacturers.

The forward-thinking yacht owner should not forget that all these systems consume electricity and the power management on board must be adapted accordingly. Owners should therefore seek expert information and advice. Ultimately, a yacht is upgraded by the installation of such a system and the living comfort on board is considerably improved. (cs)

Source: segler-zeitung.de