Hiding an air conditioner condenser behind a shroud makes a balcony or courtyard look better. The catch is that most shrouds make the air conditioner work harder. SplitStream™, our patent-pending airflow management system, keeps the hot air your condenser pushes out completely separate from the cool air it breathes in.
SplitStream™ is now built into every Vortex AC shroud and every VistaGrille Nexus Balcony Kitchen. Below we cover the problem with a standard louvred shroud, how SplitStream works, and how the two compare.
The problem with a standard AC shroud
A standard shroud lets hot exhaust air find its way back into the condenser’s intake. That’s called recirculation, and it’s the hidden cost of most condenser covers.
A typical split system outdoor unit draws air in through the coil on its back and side, then blows warm air out the front. Put a box around it and that warm air has nowhere to go but around: over the top of the unit, around the front corners and through the gaps at the sides, straight back to the coil.
When a condenser breathes its own hot air:
- It cools less. Hotter intake air means less heat can be shed, so cooling capacity drops.
- It costs more to run and wears faster. The compressor works harder and longer to reach the same room temperature, and higher running pressures add stress to the system.
Tight sites make it worse. On apartment balconies, condensers often sit just 100 to 150 mm from the wall, so the rear intake is already short of air. Most shroud makers respond by leaving big gaps for airflow (and accepting some recirculation) or by designing around one specific brand of outdoor unit.
How SplitStream™ works
SplitStream builds a sealed channel, called a discharge plenum, between the condenser’s fan and the shroud’s front louvres. Hot air gets exactly one way out, and it’s nowhere near the intake.
- Adjustable discharge frame. A frame surrounds the condenser’s fan outlet and adjusts in width, height and depth to suit the unit.
- Compressible perimeter seal. A soft seal on the frame presses lightly against the condenser’s front face. Nothing is screwed, glued or fixed to the air conditioner.
- Top seal. Closes the gap between the condenser and the lid (or benchtop), so warm air can’t spill over the top to the rear coil.
- Angled front louvres. With more open area than the fan outlet, they direct warm air forward and down, away from the intake.
- Separate intake paths. The rear stays open and the shroud sits flush with the back of the condenser, so existing wall clearance is untouched. Side louvres feed the side coil.
- Open base. Defrost water and condensate drain freely.
In a standard shroud, hot air escapes sideways and loops back to the coil. With SplitStream, the sealed plenum sends it out the front, while cool air reaches the coil by its own paths.
Standard shroud vs SplitStream™ at a glance
| Standard louvred shroud | SplitStream™ shroud | |
|---|---|---|
| Hot and cool air | Mix freely inside the enclosure | Kept apart by a sealed plenum |
| Recirculation | Over the top, around the corners and through side gaps | Blocked by the perimeter and top seals |
| Discharge path | Wherever the air finds a gap | Front louvres only, angled forward and down |
| Rear wall clearance | Often reduced by the shroud’s back panel | Unchanged: shroud sits flush with the condenser, rear left open |
| Condenser brands | Generic fit with large gaps, or built for one model | Adjustable frame fits a wide range of brands and sizes |
| Fixing to the AC unit | Varies | None: the seal rests against the unit, protecting the warranty |
| Service access | Often means removing the whole cover | Front panel and frame lift off with quick-release fixings |
| Drainage | Varies | Open base drains defrost water and condensate |
On a balcony kitchen, it protects the fridge too
On a VistaGrille Nexus, SplitStream lets a fridge and a cooking surface sit right beside a running condenser without being heated by its exhaust.
A balcony kitchen puts several heat sources side by side. With an ordinary shroud, condenser exhaust drifts into the fridge bay so the fridge runs harder, and the griddle adds more heat above.
In the Nexus, the benchtop forms the top of the sealed plenum. In the Nexus 1560 and 1750, a sealed partition also separates the condenser from the appliance bay. That partition does two jobs at once: it keeps the plenum sealed and it shields the fridge from hot air. Every appliance gets the air it needs. Read more about SplitStream™ in the Nexus Balcony Kitchen.
Fits most brands and stays easy to service
SplitStream works with the split system you already have. Because the frame adjusts and the seal simply rests against the unit, the same shroud suits outdoor units from many manufacturers, from about 2.5 kW to 10 kW.
- No modifications to your air conditioner. Nothing is fixed or bonded to the condenser, so its warranty isn’t put at risk.
- No moving the unit. The shroud goes around the condenser where the installer left it.
- Quick service access. A technician removes the front louvre panel and discharge frame with quick-release fixings, without dismantling the shroud or the kitchen.
- Left or right-hand layouts to suit the condenser’s coil position and the site.
The bottom line
A standard shroud hides your condenser. SplitStream™ hides it and lets it breathe properly. Sealing the hot discharge away from the cool intake protects cooling performance and running costs, and on a balcony kitchen it looks after your fridge as well.
SplitStream™ is patent pending and comes standard on every Vortex AC shroud (Vortex 1000 and 1600) and every VistaGrille Nexus Balcony Kitchen (Nexus 1000, 1560, 1750 and custom sizes).
Want to hide your condenser and keep it running properly? Call Alumac on (02) 9525 2177 or visit vistagrille.com.au to find the right Vortex or Nexus for your space.
Greg Wallis, Manager, Alumac Industries and Strip Drains Sydney. Greg is a skilled business management and product design professional with years of hands-on experience. Greg has designed myriad innovative metal building products that blend quality, craftsmanship and architectural products for the building and construction industry.
