They may not be as efficient as standard split-type and window-mounted air conditioners, but portable ACs offer the most convenient installation options, requiring nothing more than running a pipe to a window vent to get it properly set up. The Morphy Richards Ductless Portable AC makes it even more convenient by eliminating the need to vent air outside completely.
That’s right, it’s a portable AC that doesn’t require a vent, as it doesn’t produce hot air it needs to expel outside your house. Granted, it does have other limitations that might make it less desirable than standard portable ACs, but being able to shed the need for a duct is a huge step towards making portable ACs even more convenient to use.
The Morphy Richards Ductless Portable AC consists of a freestanding appliance, much like your standard portable air conditioner, with wheels at the base allowing you to easily move it around a room. It expels cool air using an adjustable head that can move vertically and horizontally across a 50-degree angle both ways, with a built-in dual-direction auto-oscillation mechanism, so it can distribute the air more efficiently around the room. Not only does it distribute air, it expels it at a fast pace of 8.0 meters per second, allowing it to perform spot cooling in very short order.
Do note, because of its ductless design, it’s not able to cool as powerfully as traditional ACs, instead performing a more limited type of cooling function. Specifically, the AC lowers the temperature in the room by a maximum of three degrees Celsius, so you can’t quite crank it up to get your room to freezing temperatures. It also won’t work in excessively large spaces. Instead, the outfit says it has a maximum cooling area of 1.5 meters (around five feet), so you’ll want to use it strictly for smaller rooms and other similarly contained spaces. In case you need to use it in a bigger room, make sure to stay within the immediate vicinity to enjoy the cooler air.
The Morphy Richards Ductless Portable AC is powered by a high-end compressor with R290 refrigerant, so it sounds pretty similar to conventional AC systems. However, it also comes with water-cooled components that come into contact with ambient air whenever it passes through, effectively absorbing heat from the air, so it comes back out at a much lower temperature. The system supposedly uses the same water to cool down the compressor, eliminating the need to vent hot air away like regular ACs do. Yeah, we’re not exactly sure on how the whole thing works, but it supposedly works well enough that people actually used prototype models in athlete’s quarters during the recently-concluded Paris Olympics.
Basically, the whole proposition here is that it can quickly cool an area with a five foot radius by three degrees Celsius, all without requiring vents to expel hot air out of the machine. That means, you can put in anywhere in the room where you can get access to a power outlet, with no need for complicated setup. Even better, it consumes just 325w of power, ensuring minimal power consumption compared to standard cooling solutions.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the Morphy Richards Ductless Portable AC. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at $379.
