When moisture and refrigerant mix together, they release acidic pollutants around the system. It is strategically located behind the dashboard. First, the refrigerant flows through the condenser which removes any heat. After years of research and experimentation, R-134a is now the safer alternative compared to R-12. At last, the refrigerant enters the evaporator, extremely cold and completely free from moisture. This looks a lot like the radiator. The AC system’s circuitry is too complicated which has a lot to do with the compressor’s function of pressurizing the refrigerant. You would know if everything is okay in your car’s AC system if the passenger compartment is already cold within the first few minutes of activation, regardless of how hot it is outside. Condenser. To collect the heat, the refrigerant has to be of higher temperature than the air available outside the car. How Does a Car Air Conditioning System Work? The one responsible for cooling the air and making it free from moisture is the evaporator. As a matter of fact, it would be quite difficult to imagine a modern vehicle without some means of providing a cooler and more comfortable ride especially when the scorching sun of summer unleashes its wrath. Many of the new air conditioning systems and most new luxury automobiles use a clutchless compressor fitted with a compressor control valve. The orifice tube, even though it is similar to the expansion valve, has an extra responsibility. This is important since too much refrigerant is bad for the air compressor. Across from the friction plate is another friction plate attached to the rotor that powers the air conditioner. The car ac compressor is majorly the heart of the air conditioning system. It is important that built-in desiccants remove moisture from the refrigerant. It is also positioned right in front of the radiator. As the name suggests, it “compresses” the refrigerant so that it turns from a gaseous state into a liquid state. What comes out of the AC vents is cold and dry air. How to replace AC compressor when it does not work anymore? Cold air from the receiver-drier moves through the evaporator core. The air that flows through the condenser removes the heat in the high-pressure refrigerant, cooling it down. This device turns or “condenses” the high-pressure, high-temperature, vaporized refrigerant coming from the compressor. Filtering air is essential to prevent water from entering the air compressor. https://www.carbibles.com/how-does-a-car-air-conditioning-work An automotive air conditioning system works a lot like the AC system that you have at home or the office. The system would still be able to absorb the passenger compartment’s atmospheric air, but that’s it. Even though refrigerant is the common denominator of all components of the system, the air compressor is the reason why this fluid is able to pass through each section while undergoing pressure and temperature changes. The job of the compressor is to move liquid refrigerant around in a pipe. Clutches. The cool refrigerant liquid flows into the orifice tube or expansion valve. It still has chemicals, but at least it does not have a strong environmental impact unlike the latter. The pressurized liquid refrigerant circulates through the series of tubes located in the condenser. Kitchenistic helps you find the latest and gratest An air conditioner (AC) in a room or a car works by collecting hot air from a given space, processing it within itself with the help of a refrigerant and a bunch of coils and then releasing cool air into the same space where the hot air had originally been collected. Battery. Because the refrigerant is cooler, heat moves from the air and into the refrigerant. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is usually located before the radiator. The compressor, as the name suggests, puts pressure on the coolant in the system. The compressor compresses or pressurizes the refrigerant, turning it into a liquid form from its gaseous state. In essence, the AC compressor performs for the system the same function that your heart does in your body — it provides the circulation of a precious fluid, the refrigerant, through the air conditioning system. That’s why air compressors exist to make the standard AC system compatible with cars. It is responsible for keeping the refrigerant flowing and thereby ensuring smooth performance. So, in case there is any problem with the compressor, the entire air conditioning system will also be affected. The water vapor or moisture in hot air condenses to form a liquid state. It puts it under high pressure and then forces it towards the air conditioner’s condenser, which is where it changes state from a gas into a liquid. Once the button is pressed to turn on the AC, a clutch activates the air compressor through electromagnetism. Basically, without a compressor, the whole system will never produce cool air. To better understand the functions of an AC compressor, learn the components of the whole system first. products you will love. More about orifice tubes, what these components need is an accumulator, not a dryer. From the air compressor, hot gas is radiated by the condenser. Refrigerant comes in two major forms: R-12 and R-134a. Like other types of air conditioning systems, the AC in your car cools the air that is already in the car. In this video, I show you how to tell if a car's AC compressor clutch is engaging. A damaged or failing compressor will not be able to properly regulate the refrigerant flow in the AC system, and as a result, the AC will not function properly. Now that we have realized that there is more to air conditioners than just simply providing us with cool temperature, let’s find out the answers to this question: “What does an AC compressor do?”. While not a “component” of an automotive air conditioning system, the refrigerant is the lifeline of the system. Car AC compressor becomes vital in such situations. Clutchless compressors use a thermistor, transducer, and solenoid to perform the same functions electronically that the electromagnetic clutch does mechanically. The following are the functions of the compressor. To avoid putting the AC system at risk because of the area’s damaging airborne elements, the dryer collects all impurities – solid or liquid – from the filtered gas. It is controlled using a clutch system where its shaft is engaged and disengaged to a rotating shaft of the flywheel using an electromagnetic switch. The compressor is the most common air conditioner part that can get faulty or break completely. This allows fresh air coming from the outside of the vehicle to come in contact with the liquid refrigerant. Looking at the different parts of an automotive AC system, it should already be obvious how such technologies cool the air inside the cabin. Besides, refrigerant and air compressors go hand in hand. The accumulator removes moisture and dirt from the air that goes throughout the entire AC system. Only expert technicians can solve vehicle-related AC problems. In the cabin of your vehicle, when you press the AC button the air compressor immediately kicks on. As air from the cabin circulates through the ducts, it is blown past the evaporator core and the heat is released. Without it, heat will not be able to move out from the system and bring cooling comfort to everyone in the passenger compartment. When you turn your AC on, in most car models you will hear a “click” sound that comes from the AC compressor being switched on. A desiccant removes moisture that may be present in the refrigerant. The battery stores energy in chemical form so it can be released as electricity to run your … It also helps to separate the impurities away from the AC system’s parts. This switch will shut the compressor off if the high-side pressure exceeds some abnormal pressure, to prevent damage to the ac compressor, hose or line in the ac system and probably venting refrigerant into the atmosphere. Kensun AC/DC Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor Pump for Car 12V DC and Home 110V AC Swift Performance Inflator for Car, Bicycle, Motorcycle, Basketball and Others 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,973 $69.49 $ 69 . In most modern cars on the market today, the ac compressor is driven by a belt that is an engine-accessory belt. With a lack of oil, the compressor will not function efficiently and will cause premature wear. Help us to show you A fully functioning compressor is required in order for the air conditioning system to provide the best performance in the car and continuously blow out cold air. The different types of auto compressors vary in how they handle air exchanges between the car interior and the A/C system. The refrigerant moves into the accumulator or receiver drier. Car air conditioners work to make our rides more comfortable and our journeys a lot more worthwhile. It works through a sequence of events in a fairly simple process. Whenever you turn on the car AC system, the compressor pumps gaseous or vaporized refrigerant to the condenser. In fixing the AC, the two options are recharge and replacement, depending on the level of malfunction. There would be no cycle, throwing the idea of a system. Because the liquid refrigerant in the system is now “hotter”, it turns into its gaseous state again. A fully functioning compressor is necessary for the air-conditioning system to provide peak performance. The air coming from the passenger compartment gets drawn into the evaporator and blasted through the evaporator core. Unlike the old fixed displacement compressor (FDC), the variable displacement compressor (VDC) automatically varies its pumping capacity to meet air-conditioning demands. As the name implies, the expansion valve allows the expansion of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant coming from the receiver-drier. Since the AC functions to cool down the air, the compressor does the actual work. Starting from the condenser, the expansion valve gauges the pressure and heat. Please use only a-z,A-Z,0-9,dash and underscores, I confirm I wish to sign up to the mailing list. Also, when the air conditioner is turned off, then the clutch disengages from the compressor and stops the airflow. Meanwhile, oil is so essential for car movement that every vehicle must have a filter for it to ensure its maximum performance. 49 $79.99 $79.99 Refrigerant’s importance as an automobile fluid is comparable to the likes of antifreeze and oil. Your car air conditioner is supposed to run quietly, but when it starts to produce noises, Your car’s AC compressor could be failing. You might look at the air conditioning compressor as the heart of the air conditioning system in your car. Location of the ac cut-off switch. For more depth, let’s go over the whole system again to give you a clearer picture of what an AC compressor does. Good thing the AC system has an orifice tube or expansion valve. Air transfer One of the very important functions of air conditioner is heat transfer. The process also reduces moisture in the evaporator’s air-side. What is Direct Injection & How Does It Work? We do not recommend DIY fixing and maintenance unless you are a pro. It is the reason why the blower can pump out cool air all over the passenger compartment. Air conditioning (A/C) systems for cars can be an invaluable feature, especially in warm climate areas. The now-hot, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant circulates back to the compressor, ready to begin a new cycle. Finally, we are going to discuss the AC compressor’s function in a nutshell. If not, ice crystals can form and lead to blockage and mechanical damage. This is not true. Let’s find out the answers. When it is finally filtered, the expansion valve lowers its pressure. It is actually the final component before cool air finally reaches the passenger compartment. As such, it draws its power from the engine. An air conditioning compressor clutch gets its power from the flywheel of your car’s engine. Sitting at the heart of these systems is a device about the size of a large coffee can, called a compressor. Near the rotor is an electromagnet--a coil of wire which produces a magnetic field when current is run through it. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It is the reason why everything in the system works together. The compressor used to air condition your car works in a similar way to the one in the refrigerator in your kitchen. Well, read on. Air conditioner compressors are lifesavers for drivers living in hot climates or only experiencing summer months in cold areas. The first thing you activate as soon as you press the AC button is the air compressor. At high temperatures and pressures, the refrigerant is liquid. To start the system, the compressor controls the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. It is best to get familiarized with the different components of the vehicle passenger cooling system to better understand the process of air conditioning. When the comp… As such, if you are wondering why you have two “radiators”, the one in front is the condenser. The compressor and the clutch are two of the essential parts of the air conditioning system of your car. You need to take proper care of your ac compressor and look for any signs that tell you of a need for repair. This component prepares the refrigerant for entry into the evaporator. On the other hand, it is obvious that something is wrong if it takes too long for the car to get cold. At low pressures and temperatures, the refrigerant takes on a gaseous form. Your vehicle’s A/C condenser is usually located in the front of the radiator, giving it the … The compressor works like a pump. Because of the expansion, there is a reduction in pressure. The compressor connects to the crankshaft via a drive belt. The belt turns a rotor, which has a friction plate attached to it. At the same time, the system collects and drains the condensate. Among all the components of the modern vehicle AC system, the evaporator is the only one that’s located inside the passenger compartment. Many consider the compressor as the heart of the air conditioning system of the car. The AC Compressor starts to work right after the vehicle is started. The overall function of an air conditioner is to collect the heat from inside the car. The compressor pumps, or forces, the liquid from the evaporator into a condenser and expansion valve, and then back to … Meanwhile, for the sake of the evaporator, it controls the pressure of refrigerant. Then, a cycling clutch switch regulates or gauges the temperature inside the evaporator to keep the component from completely freezing. There are some folks who think that an air conditioning system in a car creates cold air. If it is not properly functioning, the functionality of the entire aircon will be compromised. All of these are signs of a car AC compressor failure. The air conditioning expansion valve, which is better known as the Car AC expansion valve, is a component of the car air conditioning system that is found inside virtually every automobile. In the past, R-12 was the original type. Higher Temperatures Than Normal In The Cabin. So, if someone asks, ‘how does a car AC work?’, you already know how to explain it. A working compressor is essential if you want the car AC to blow cold air. On most cars, A/C compressors are driven by an engine-accessory belt. This is essentially how air conditioners work. What happens is that heat moves from the liquid and into the air. Then, the refrigerant passes the condenser to cool down. Also, it stops moisture from combining with refrigerant. It also controls the refrigerant that enters the evaporator. We mentioned before that the evaporator absorbs heat from the passenger compartment. One of the most common problems in the car’s AC systems is that the compressor isn’t working properly or not working at all. The AC compressor of all cars is driven by the engine belt, and it has a lot of spinning internal components that use bearings to be able to function. Once the button is pressed to turn on the AC, a clutch activates the air … Antifreeze is one of the factors that make it possible for people to use cars during cold weather or season. The invention of AC had nothing to do with automobiles. The colder temperature you set, the harder the AC compressor works to cool down the air. A key component of any car air conditioner system is the compressor. It doesn’t produce it. This will also pave the way for providing you with the answer to the question, how does a car AC work? As a warm-up for the detailed explanation of what does an AC compressor do, the main purpose of this component is to put pressure on the refrigerant and change the temperature when activated. However, in 1994, the United States banned the use of chlorofluorocarbon fluids after it was proven that CFM has bad effects to the ozone layer. The refrigerant vapor needs to be raised to high level till it can condense by rejecting its heat through the condenser. Then, the condenser continues depressurizing, cooling, and liquefying it for the dryer. The rest of the components are in the engine bay. We shall try to illustrate here the sequential steps on how such a system works. Because the condenser contains a higher-temperature liquid, there is a temperature gradient between the liquid and the fresh air. Compressor Clutch Basics. 2. To be honest, the idea of AC alone is already promising. Unfortunately, R-12 was filled with CFM. Next, it enters the dryer for the elimination of impurities. It aims to pressurize the refrigerant to make it pass the condenser until it reaches the evaporator. At the same time, it must absorb heat from the passenger area to completely give way to low temperatures. Before anything else, it is a must to know first the function of refrigerant for the car’s AC system. The AC compressor is the central component of your vehicle's AC system and if your AC compressor is failing, you will not get cool air. In elementary science, we learned that condensation results from the rapid cooling of hot or warm air. As you may know, refrigerant liquid circulates within the system and flows to … The low-pressure liquid refrigerant moves through the evaporator. How does it do this? Contrary to what you might be thinking, there is more than just one type of compressor. Expansion valve- It is a device used in car air conditioning system to expand the high pressure, low … The function of the car ac compressor is to keep the air conditioner blowing cold air. The A/C compressor ironically sucks refrigerant into an area of low pressure created by varying methods depending on the type of pump system ( such as pistons, scroll vacuum, and rotary vanes) it is then compressed, and actually despite popular belief makes the temperature rise, extracting heat from the rest of the car rather than blowing cool air. Once the desired temperature is reached, it automatically reduces its capacity to maintain the desired temperature. Fans help blow the cold air through the vents and allow the cooling of the cabin. Most importantly, a bad ac compressor can prove to be dangerous. The first thing you should know is exactly what an air conditioning compressor does inside your vehicle. What happens now is that the air exiting the evaporator is cold air. Is it a complicated process demanding the involvement of a professional mechanic? To know more about lesser known car parts, find out the main functions of bushings, brake calipers, and ball joints. The purpose of an AC compressor is to cool the air that is moving through the cabin of your vehicle. This allows for the creation of drier air in the passenger cabin. The thermal expansion valve is the boundary between the high-pressure side of the system (including the compressor, condenser, and receiver) and the low-pressure side of the system. The evaporator looks like a very small radiator with fins and tubes. Find you AC compressor and visually inspect it for rust, physical damage, oil leaks or paint damage. A belt drive attached to the engine spins constantly, providing energy for the AC compressor. The most straightforward way of explaining the purpose of refrigerant is that it is a type of fluid that turns hot air into cold air. We curate, you discover! This component produces cold fluid by converting the properties of the hot gas. An air compressor is a machine that uses an electric motor or gas engine to power a device that sucks in successive volumes of air from the atmosphere, compresses (squeezes) each volume of air in a confined place to increase its pressure by making the volume smaller, and then transfers the high-pressure air to a receiver tank, according to the EnergyTechPro educational website of DTE Energy. During the hotter months, the AC compressor has to work harder to maintain the temperature you set. One of the first signs which is really to recognize … This leads to the creation of a cooler refrigerant while also maintaining the integrity of the system. While accumulators are for orifice tubes, receivers or dryers work with expansion valves. Compressor Control Valves. Functions of an AC Compressor. It is one of the most recognizable parts of the modern automotive AC system because it is very easy to check. In your car's air conditioning unit, the compressor is kind of like the engine that makes it all work. The A/C is an element in the vehicle that is driven by the engine to increase the pressure and the corresponding saturation temperature. It reduces fluid pressure, allowing it to move to the evaporator a lot easier. When the cars cabin temperature is high, it increases its refrigeration capacity until the desired temperature is reached. There must be something that divides the evaporator and condenser. The Best Cabin Air Filters (Review) in 2020. It makes the air cooler till you achieve the desired temperature. products! When the air conditioner is turned on, the clutch engages with the AC compressor and starts to supply the conditioned air. As soon as you turn on the AC, the evaporator makes sure that you will feel cool in just a matter of seconds. However, there should be a special air compressor to make that notion into reality. This is what the condenser does. 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