Re: The Physics Behind the Spanish Blackout

On 2025-06-10 22:58, Don Y wrote:

On 6/10/2025 1:40 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-06-10 22:13, Don Y wrote:

Mini-splits are really only used in commercial spaces or garages.  Most
homes have very "open" floorplans (less compartmentalized space and
considerably larger continuous spaces) and were built with central HVAC.
The ductless minisplits are regarded as eyesores in living spaces ("Do I
want to live in a hotel room?").

>
I don't know what qualifies as mini-split, but over here, splits are very common. I have one running just now in this computer room. The cool air actually flows to the entire top floor of this house (I keep the door to downstairs closed), of course warmer with the distance from the split (I have a portable fan pushing the air to my bedroom). Still, it allows me to pass the summer in some confort for a limited cost.

 We use about 4T of refrigeration in a typical house, here.  About
3 of that is for a single continuous space (family room, kitchen, dining,
living room, halls, etc.  The balance feeds the bedrooms.
 [Many larger homes will have TWO complete HVAC systems]
 Even the tiniest of mini-splits would be overkill for the smaller bedrooms.
And, the largest would need "assist" to ensure the conditioned air would be
well distributed across that ~1500 sq ft "single space"

I think mine is a nominal 1Kw, maybe 1.2, maybe 800 (I don't remember, fine print on the split impossible to read, too far). It is inverter type, so most of the time it is doing 300W.
And yes, sure, I use a fan by the door to direct cool air at my bedroom across the aisle. I should place another split in the bedroom, but I intend to move to another house. And the external wall is a pain to drill.

 

I could have a better system by having a multiple-split system. One outside unit connected to two or three units inside.
>
They are simple to install in existing houses that have no ducting, and maybe, no winter heating either.

 Yes, but they are visible.  Homes here were designed with HVAC "out of
sight, out of mind".  It would be a cultural adjustment to tolerate what
is effectively a "radiator" (unradiator?) in several places throughout
the home.
 I've tried imagining how I could "hide" them in walls, soffits, etc.
but the house just wasn't built with that sort of use in mind.

Well, most houses in Spain predate that design. AC is a new fashion, and winter heating is done typically distributing hot water over room radiators, or electric radiators, or even gas stoves. There are no air ducts, that's a retrofit except on new houses.
So a split placed near the ceiling is not a major eyesore. The external unit hanging on the outside of the building, on buildings 15 floors tall, each flat doing it differently, that's is an eyesore, but the owner doesn't see it :-p
--
Cheers, Carlos.