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  1. Abbreviation for Air Conditioner
  • Context: Commonly used in automotive and HVAC contexts to refer to the system that cools and dehumidifies the air inside a vehicle or building.
  1. Bicycling or Motorcycling Term
  • Definition: Refers to the gap between the tires and the ground when a bike takes a jump. For a jump to be considered “air,” both tires must be off the ground.
  1. Combustion Engine Context
  • Definition: Air is a gas mixture comprising roughly 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and small amounts of other gases and water vapor. It’s essential for the combustion process in engines, affecting fuel mixture, combustion efficiency, and overall engine performance.
  1. General Uses
  • Definition: Air is used in various applications, including combustion, heating, cooling, ventilation, and breathing.

Types of Air (Contexts and Specific Uses)

  • Ambient Air: Air surrounding us in the environment.
  • Atmospheric Air: Air in the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Charge Air: Air that is compressed by a turbocharger or supercharger before entering the engine.
  • Cold Air: Often refers to air at lower temperatures, used in specific contexts like air conditioning or intake systems to improve performance.
  • Dilution Air: Air added to exhaust gases to reduce emissions.
  • Discharge Air: Air that is expelled from a system, such as an HVAC unit.
  • Driver Air Bag: An airbag located in the steering wheel to protect the driver in a collision.
  • Electric Air Control Valve: A valve used to control airflow electronically.
  • External Mix Air Cap: A component in spray guns that mixes air and paint outside the nozzle.
  • False Air: Unintended air entering the intake system, often leading to poor engine performance.
  • Fuel-air Mixture: The combination of fuel and air in the right proportions for combustion.
  • Fuel-air Ratio: The ratio of fuel to air in the combustion mixture.
  • Furnace Central Warm Air: Air heated by a central furnace system.
  • Heater Air Pipe: Ducts or pipes that carry warm air from the heater to the interior of a vehicle or building.
  • Idle Air Bleed Screw: A screw used to adjust the air mixture at engine idle.
  • Idle Air Jet: A component in carburetors that meters air at idle.
  • Internal Mix Air Cap: A component in spray guns that mixes air and paint inside the nozzle.
  • L-jetronic Air Flow Meter: A device measuring the amount of air entering the engine, used in certain fuel injection systems.
  • Lateral Air Passage: Air passageways running laterally in certain mechanical systems.
  • Low-profile Air Cleaner: An air filter designed to take up less vertical space.
  • Modular Air Strut: A suspension component that includes an air spring for cushioning.
  • Oil Bath Air Cleaner: An air filter using oil to trap dirt and particles.
  • Paper Air Cleaner: An air filter using paper elements to filter the air.
  • Passenger-side Air Bag: An airbag located on the passenger side to protect the front passenger in a collision.
  • Primary Air: The main air supply in a combustion system.
  • Propane Air: A mixture of propane gas and air.
  • Proper Proportion of Air and Fuel: Ensuring the correct ratio for efficient combustion.
  • Pulse Air Principle: A method of injecting air pulses into the exhaust to improve emissions.
  • Pulse Air System: A system that uses the pulse air principle to reduce emissions.
  • Ram Air: Air intake system that uses the vehicle’s speed to force air into the intake, increasing engine efficiency.
  • Recirculated Air: Air that is recycled within a system, such as in HVAC systems.
  • Return Air: Air that is returned to the HVAC system for reconditioning.
  • Secondary Air: Additional air supplied to the exhaust system to reduce emissions.
  • Standard Air: Typically refers to air at standard atmospheric conditions (temperature and pressure).
  • Stratification Of Air: Layers of air with different temperatures and densities.
  • Supply Air: Air provided to a space or system for ventilation or cooling.
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