Quote:
Originally Posted by lorainfurniture
So, I am trying to wrap my head around the fundamentals of the a/c system. I don't have any car related question, but I think if I, and others understand the basic operation, it would help in diagnosing any future problems.
This is what I understand so far:
1. Start at the compressor: refrigerant is compressed to the point that it becomes a liquid, it gets pumped through the condenser to cool the liquid refrigerant.
Q: Why exactly does it get hot? Is it mainly because of the compression?
2: The now cooler (still liquid) refrigerant passes through the receiver/dryer where it is basically filtered of any dirt/moisture.
3: Goes via "high side" line to expansion valve,
Q: From what I understand, the expansion valve is kinda like a garden hose sprayer. When the refrigerant is "sprayed" it boils and evaporates,
Q2: Is the refrigerant already at boiling point before it actually gets there? Does it not boil because of the pressure and lack of having anywhere to boil out?
4: The now "boiled" out refrigerant is now a vapor. At this point, it absorbs heat from the cabin, and transfers it back to the compressor via the low side line.
Q: What specifically does the accumulator do in this process?
I might be way off, but I was hoping one of the a/c gurus might be able to chime in and correct me.
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Not enough time to do a full writeup, but I can point out a few fast facts.
Refrigerant exits the compressor as a gas, not liquid. A hot gas, yes, but gas nonetheless. Traversing the condensor, the gas gives up heat to the airflow over the condensor, and in the process condenses into a liquid.
The expansion valve is the dividing line between the high side and the low side. Remember, the low side of the expansion valve is plumbed to the suction side of the compressor. Recall that liquids boil at a lower temperature under lower pressures. So the liquid refrigerant boils after passing through the expansion valve, in the process absorbing heat from the airflow passing over the evaporator.
Basically, what you have is a heat pump. You boil the liquid in the airflow through the cabin, hence absorbing heat. Then you condense the vapor in the airflow outside the car, hence giving off heat. In the process, you move heat from the cabin to the air outside the car.
I've not looked, but bet google could find you some decent descriptions.