A/C Refrigerant System Operation

REFRIGERANT FLOW
During stabilized conditions (air conditioning system shutdown), refrigerant system pressures are equalized on both the high and low pressure sides of the system.

When the blower motor is on and the A/C-heater function selector switch is in any air conditioner position, the A/C clutch field coil is energized and the clutch plate is pulled into contact with the A/C compressor pulley. The clutch plate and hub assembly then rotates the compressor shaft.

When the compressor shaft is rotated, the pistons are alternately moved back and forth with respect to their cylinder bores. As each piston is pulled through its cylinder bore, the pressure in the cylinder suddenly reduces to a pressure (or vacuum) considerably lower than the refrigerant system. The higher refrigerant system vapor pressure overcomes the suction reed valve spring pressure, forcing itself though the reed valve and into the lower pressure (or vacuum) area inside the compressor cylinder. The spring pressure on the reed valve closes the valve when the refrigerant system suction vapor pressure and the compressor cylinder vapor pressure are equalized.

As each piston is forced into its respective cylinder bore, the refrigerant vapors from the suction side of the refrigerant system are compressed into a decreasingly smaller area, thus increasing the refrigerant vapor pressure and also raising the refrigerant vapor temperature. The higher refrigerant vapor pressure now assists in sealing the suction reed valve closed and also opens the discharge (high pressure) reed valve as the cylinder pressure exceeds the higher pressure side of the refrigerant system.

When the compressed higher pressure and temperature refrigerant vapor is discharged into the high-pressure side of the refrigerant system, the discharge reed valve spring pressure and the high-side refrigerant pressure closes and seals the reed valve, thus preventing the discharged gas from entering the compressor cylinder. The compressor's refrigerant vapor compression cylinder then begins again.

The high-pressure and high-temperature compressor discharge refrigerant gas is released into the top of the A/C condenser core, via the A/C manifold and tube. The A/C condenser core, being close to ambient temperature, causes the refrigerant vapor to condense into a liquid when heat is removed from the refrigerant by ambient air passing over the fins and tubing.

Liquid refrigerant from the A/C condenser core exits from the bottom of the A/C condenser core and enters the condenser to evaporator tube and the inlet side of the A/C evaporator core orifice located in the inlet tube.

The inlet filter screen of the A/C evaporator core orifice removes coarse contaminant particulates, which may be present in the liquid refrigerant, before the liquid refrigerant enters the calibrated opening of the A/C evaporator core orifice. The outlet end of the A/C evaporator core orifice has a fine mesh filter with four open side slots in the body of the A/C evaporator core orifice, upstream of the filter. This filter removes fine contaminants and causes some of the refrigerant to exit through the non-filtered side slots. The side slots and filter act as a refrigerant flow noise suppressor.

Pressure in the A/C evaporator core is reduced as a result of air conditioner compressor suction. As the pressure is lowered and the condenser to evaporator tube pressure increases, the liquid refrigerant passes through the A/C evaporator core orifice and enters the A/C evaporator core at a low pressure and as a cold liquid. As airflow passes over the plate/fin sections of the A/C evaporator core, the refrigerant inside absorbs the heat and changes into a vapor.

Compressor suction draws the vaporized refrigerant and oil mixture into the suction accumulator/drier where the heavier oil-laden vapors fall to the bottom and the lighter vapors and oil mixture continue their path to the A/C compressor through the top of the vapor return tube. A desiccant bag, located inside the suction accumulator/drier, absorbs and retains moisture which may be circulating in the refrigerant system.

The heavier oil-laden refrigerant also returns to the A/C compressor through a small liquid bleed hole near the bottom of the vapor return tube. The liquid bleed now provides a controlled second opportunity for the accumulated refrigerant and oil mixture to revaporize as it passes through the opening to re-enter into the main vapor flow path to the suction side of the A/C compressor.

REFRIGERANT SYSTEM
The A/C refrigerant system is a clutch cycling orifice tube type. The system consists of the following components:
^ A/C compressor
^ A/C clutch
^ A/C condenser core
^ A/C evaporator core
^ suction accumulator/drier
^ refrigerant lines