A vehicle’s air conditioning system is one’s best friend in the summer heat. Not only does air conditioning help to set a personalised driving conditions, it also provides many health benefits regarding air quality and driving safety. Providing a relaxed, cool environment for comfortable driving, many of us forget that this feature requires repair, maintenance, and some TLC for quality use.
How does air conditioning work in a car?
Believe it or not, there isn’t a block of ice stored in your bonnet, in fact, the cold air that is generated for automotive A/C systems is hot air made up of hot gases. This hot gas is then strategically removed during a multi-step process and successfully released in a refreshing, cool state.
The way an air conditioning system works is considered rather confusing, but dissecting the unit and learning about each part can make everything a lot simpler. This can also help with any repair or maintenance questions. Finding the route of an issue will always lead to a simpler solution.
Parts of car air conditioning
Whether you’re just looking to learn about your new car, or have detected an issue with your car’s air conditioning system, learning about the parts of A/C can help with the whole repair and maintenance process.
Compressor
The compressor is the main, primary part of all A/C systems. If you require cool air, a working compressor is essential. The compressor works as the power unit of the system. This part of an A/C unit separates the low-pressure side from the high-pressure side, working to compress the gas into high temperatures. The compressor is found mounted to the front of the engine.
Condenser
Mounted at the front of the vehicle, behind the grill, the condenser works to decrease the temperature of the refrigerant. While it maintains its high pressure, the condenser uses forced air through a fan or vehicle movement to transfer the heat.
Metering device
The metering device lowers the refrigerant pressure, quickly transforming it to a refrigerant temperature. This is located between the dryer and the firewall.
Dryer
Mounted between the condenser and metering device. The role of this particular feature is to contain the liquid and separate it from the gas, reduce moisture, and strain the contaminants. A dryer is also responsible for trapping any harmful debris, moisture and liquids.
Evaporator
The evaporator is the last process in the car conditioner system. This part of the system is responsible for cooling the surrounding air, and removing moisture before being released into the environment.
Refrigerant
Refrigerant is accessible in a fluid or gaseous state, capable of absorbing heat from the surroundings. The refrigerant is present in air conditioning units inside copper coils. As this gains more heat, gas gets converted from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid.
Benefits of car air conditioning
The benefits of air conditioning whilst driving are endless. With technical advances and the option of having both hot and cold air in one location, air conditioning moulds the ideal travel temperature for anyone driving. Let’s take a look at the top advantages of your car’s air conditioning system.
- Cleans air inside the car : Air conditioning offers more than a comfortable temperature. This system also helps to remove impurities from the air inside your vehicle.
- Removes odour : Air conditioning helps to keep a car clean of foul smells and impurities which are inflicted through shut windows or hot temperatures.
- Clear windscreen : An air conditioning system has the ability to keep the moisture and mist away from your windscreen, resulting in a safe and clear driving experience.
- Comfortable driving experience : The primary advantage here is the comfortable, relaxed and personalised environment A/C can offer.
- Aerodynamic : As you typically keep windows shut whilst A/C is on, outside noise also helps to keep your car’s aerodynamics at a neutral level.
How much fuel does air conditioning use?
The way in which a car’s air conditioning system works means that a level of energy is required to carry the cool gas into the cabin of the vehicle. Using your air conditioning system in a car could increase your fuel usage by as much as 10 per cent, and the effects are particularly noticeable on short journeys as you’ll be using strong power for a short space of time compared to a longer journey where it’ll either be switched off or used at a low setting. There are a variety of ways that you can save fuel while driving, including accelerating and braking slowly and lightly, sticking to speed limits and ensuring your tyre pressure is correct.
Air Conditioning Near Me
There’s nothing worse than going from a cool, refreshed car to a sweaty, overheated apartment. Here at Lee Jackson Air Conditioning, we have a team of air conditioning installers with over 15 years in business. We offer our customers a fully personalised air con solutions for both commercial and domestic environments.
Offering air conditioning systems across Nottingham, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, give us a call on 0800 949 9070 or drop us an email and our friendly team will get back to you to discuss the next steps.
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