What is the working principle of car air conditioning refrigeration?
2 Answers
The working principle of car air conditioning refrigeration is: After pressing the AC button, the compressor clutch engages, and the engine drives the compressor to operate. The compressor continuously compresses the refrigerant and delivers it to the evaporator. Inside the evaporator, the refrigerant expands and absorbs heat, thereby cooling the evaporator. The cooled evaporator then cools the air blown by the blower, allowing the air conditioning vents to blow cold air. Car air conditioning refers to the air conditioning device installed in vehicles, which can cool, heat, ventilate, and purify the air inside the cabin, providing a comfortable environment for passengers, reducing driver fatigue, and improving driving safety.
I remember the basic principle of car air conditioning cooling is to use the refrigerant cycle to absorb heat from inside the car and release it outside, the whole process is quite like magic. Simply put, it involves four components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. When you turn on the AC, the compressor first compresses the refrigerant into a high-pressure, high-temperature gas in the engine compartment, then the gas flows to the condenser (usually near the front radiator) where it releases heat to the air and turns into liquid. Next, the liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, where it instantly drops in pressure and temperature, turning into a low-temperature liquid spray that enters the evaporator. In the evaporator inside the cabin, as air blows over it, the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, cooling the air, and the fan blows the cold air inside. Meanwhile, moisture is expelled outside the car, which is why you see water dripping under the car. I think this design is very clever, but during maintenance, you need to check the refrigerant level—if it's low, cooling performance suffers. Regularly cleaning the AC filter can prevent odors, and opening the windows for a while before using the AC in summer helps cool the car faster.