Automotive Air Conditioning Parts

During uneasily hot or warm humid trips, it is so comfortable to drive with an air conditioner in the car. There are types of air conditioner systems intended to let the driver and passengers feel more comfortable in a vehicle. As drivers or vehicle operators, we need basic information about each and every part of our auto air conditioner to help us troubleshoot when needed.

Here is a list of automotive air conditioning parts:

1. Air conditioner compressor – This is the most important among all automotive air conditioning parts. Compressors are mechanical devices that increase the gas pressure as it reduces its volume. The principle behind it is that, since the air (or vapour) is compressible, then the compressor can reduce the gas volume. They are sometimes mistaken for pumps. Both increase the pressure on a fluid and they can transport the fluid through a duct or pipe. The difference is that, a compressor is technically for air and a pipe is for liquids. So as liquids are relatively incompressible, the pump’s main action is to pressurize and transport the liquids.

2. Condenser – In air conditioning, a condenser is the device used for heat transfer, condensing air from its gaseous to its liquid state, basically by cooling it. This heat exchanger comes in various designs and in many sizes. Because it is one of the basic automotive air conditioning parts, car AC condensers are small.

3. Accumulators or Receiver Driers – Accumulators have inlets, filters, and outlets. It serves as a container that receives vapour, refrigerant liquid, and oil from the evaporator. It also separates the vapour from the liquid and oil, and then releases the vapour to the compressor. Auto accumulator contains desiccant, which is used to absorb moisture. It prevents unnecessary excessive operation of the compressors for improved energy efficiency.

4. Clutches – Air conditioner clutches consist of a resistive type of temperature sensor that is connected to the power dividers. This mechanism provides threshold voltage and triggers voltage.

5. Evaporator Cores – These automotive air conditioning parts are removable assemblies where tubes (inlet, outlet, oil return tube) are securely attached. Since these are removable, the tubes can be adjusted to any desired angle.

6. Compressor Kits – Auto air compressor kits incorporate a high pressure, low volume portable compressor unit and a low pressure, high volume portable compressor. These units have rechargeable batteries.

7. Expansion Valves/ Orifice Tubes – Expansion valves or orifice tubes have valve chambers and passages where refrigerants enter.

8. Blower motor – This device has a blower fan, tube, compensation conductor, and a motor to drive the fan.

9. Cooling fan – This is a fan rotated by a motor to forcefully circulate the air. It is housed in a frame that has a through hole with a predetermined inside diameter for the fan to be mounted on. The smaller part of the through hole sucks the air while the larger part discharges air. With this, the device can minimize noises in the operation.

It is important to know the different parts of your air conditioning unit so that when your car air conditioner breaks down, you know at least what to touch and move or remove and replace. Anyway, when you bought the air conditioning system, most probably, you were provided with a vehicle air-con application guide and detailed component information.