How to Detect Refrigerant Leakage in Car Air Conditioning?
1 Answers
There are several methods to detect refrigerant leakage: 1. Visual Inspection: This is the simplest and most primitive method, but also the least effective. Very minor leaks may not be detectable at all. 2. Electronic Leak Detection: This is a new and popular method in recent years. A detection probe is moved around potential leakage areas, and an alarm from the device indicates a significant leak. However, electronic detection can be affected by external factors like gasoline, exhaust fumes, or odors, which may lead to incorrect detection. 3. Water Immersion Test: Commonly used for components like compressors, condensers, and evaporators. The method involves filling these parts with compressed air and then immersing them in warm water (around 50 degrees Celsius) to observe for bubbles. Warm water is used to reduce surface tension, as colder water has higher surface tension, making minor leaks harder to detect. 4. Fluorescent Leak Detection: This method uses fluorescent dye that emits bright yellow-green light under UV/blue light. The dye is added to the air conditioning system in a specific ratio. After running the system, a UV lamp and special glasses are used to detect leaks, which appear as yellow fluorescence. The advantages of fluorescent detection include accurate localization, visible leakage points, simplicity, portability, and low repair costs.
