What Components Make Up an Automotive Refrigeration System?
2 Answers
The automotive air conditioning refrigeration system consists of components such as the compressor, condenser, receiver-drier, expansion valve, evaporator, and blower. These parts are connected into a sealed system using copper pipes (or aluminum pipes) and high-pressure rubber hoses. During operation, the refrigerant circulates through this closed system in different states. Below is relevant information: The refrigerant circulates through this sealed system in varying states, with each cycle comprising four fundamental processes: 1. Compression Process: The compressor draws in low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas from the evaporator outlet and compresses it into high-temperature, high-pressure gas before discharging it. 2. Heat Dissipation Process: The high-temperature, high-pressure superheated refrigerant gas enters the condenser, where, due to the drop in pressure and temperature, it condenses into a liquid and releases a significant amount of heat. 3. Throttling Process: The higher-temperature and higher-pressure refrigerant liquid passes through the expansion device, causing its volume to increase while its pressure and temperature drop sharply, exiting the expansion device as a mist (fine droplets). 4. Heat Absorption Process: The mist-like refrigerant liquid enters the evaporator, where, because the refrigerant's boiling point is much lower than the temperature inside the evaporator, it evaporates into a gas. During the evaporation process, it absorbs a substantial amount of heat from the surroundings, after which the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor re-enters the compressor.
I've been driving for thirty years and have seen all kinds of air conditioning system failures. The core components include the four major parts: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The compressor acts like a heart, pressurizing the refrigerant. The high-temperature gas flows through the condenser at the front of the car, dissipating heat and turning into a liquid. It then passes through the expansion valve to reduce pressure before entering the evaporator. Inside the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the cabin and evaporates into a gas, carrying away hot air to achieve cooling. There's also a receiver-drier that filters out impurities and moisture, with pipes connecting the entire system. I remember last time my compressor seized up, causing the AC to fail, and it cost me 800 yuan to replace. I recommend checking the pipe seals before each summer, as aging rubber parts can cause refrigerant leaks.
