Summer is one of the best times of the year, celebrated for its sunshine, its energy, and its warmth. In spite of being internationally known for its epic winters and cold temperatures, Canada offers some fantastic summers as well. There will, however, be complaints about the heat with these hot and humid temperatures. In fact, nothing beats the cooling effect of a fresh new car on a hot day.
An uncomfortable experience can be driving in a stuffy steel box without air circulation. There’s nothing quite like stepping into an air-conditioned space to provide respite from the heat. A car’s air conditioning system was first patented by Packard in 1939. As of 2010, almost 99% of all cars sold have air conditioning. In 1969, about half of all cars sold had air conditioning.
Using two different pressure stages, the air conditioning system in a car performs two specific tasks. In order to increase passenger comfort, it has two main functions: first, it cools the air that enters the passenger cabin, and then it removes moisture from the air. There are actually some auto brands that integrate the air conditioning system into the defrost setting as well – a feature that helps to reduce the amount of moisture in the car. So how does this work?
A vehicle A/C unit is made up of five essential parts:
- Compressor
- Condenser
- Expansion Tube
- Receiver/Dryer
- Evaporator
Stage of high pressure
Known as a refrigerant, a gas constantly presses on an air conditioning system in cars. It has been discovered that the gas known as R-12, CFC-12, or Freon had a profound impact on the ozone layer for decades. As a chlorofluorocarbon, Freon consists solely of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, and was developed to pose as a replacement for methane, ethane, and propane. All vehicles produced after 1996 were required to use its replacement known as R-134a or HFC-134a.
Compressors are essential pumps powered by belts connected to the engine’s crankshaft. A belt drives a pump that puts pressure on the refrigerant when the shaft lets the refrigerant into the compressor. As an extension tube cools and turns the cooled gas into a liquid, the condenser operates like a radiator. A tiny tank called the receiver or dryer holds the cooled refrigerant before it is sent to the evaporator. Reservoirs contain desiccants, which are hygroscopic substances that maintain a state of dryness in liquids. Like silica salt found in shoe boxes, these desiccants keep moisture out of the air.
Low-Pressure Stage
Through expansion tubes, the cooled liquid is allowed to expand after exiting the dryer. Low-pressure cooling begins with a period of cooling before the refrigerant is sent through the evaporator. Vehicle air conditioners have expansion valves which are one of the more commonly serviced pieces. Over time, they can easily become worn out due to wear and tear.
Both stages of high and low pressure come together in the evaporator. Evaporators are typically found beneath the dashboard of a car. By using a series of coils, it converts the cooled liquid back into a gas. The refrigerant becomes gas after boiling in the liquid and is then expelled through the evaporator as a cold gas.
So knowing your air conditioning system will add value. So thanks for reading this here you can check the best air conditioner brand review and buying guide here.