What Components Make Up an Automotive Refrigeration System?
1 Answers
An automotive air conditioning refrigeration system consists of components such as the compressor, condenser, receiver-drier, expansion valve, evaporator, and blower. These parts are interconnected through copper pipes (or aluminum pipes) and high-pressure rubber hoses to form a sealed system. During operation, the refrigerant circulates through this closed system in varying states. Each cycle involves 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 it condenses into liquid due to reduced pressure and temperature, releasing significant heat. 3. Throttling Process: Higher-temperature and higher-pressure refrigerant liquid passes through the expansion device, causing its volume to expand while pressure and temperature drop sharply, exiting as a mist (fine droplets). 4. Heat Absorption Process: The mist-like refrigerant liquid enters the evaporator. Since its boiling point is far below the evaporator's internal temperature, the liquid evaporates into gas, absorbing substantial surrounding heat during this phase. The resulting low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor then re-enters the compressor. This cyclic process continuously repeats, significantly lowering the air temperature around the evaporator.
