Shopping for Auto Parts -- Air Conditioning (A/C Condenser, A/ Compressor)

Introduction

If you are in the market for auto parts, you likely would welcome some tips and suggestions when it comes to auto parts and finding the best parts for your needs. Through this article, you are provided some basic information about auto parts -- specifically information about air conditioning, A/C condenser, A/C compressor.

A Look at Air Conditioners

Air conditioners can be found in people’s homes, businesses and vehicles. They all operate very similarly and are designed to cool a small area like a car or a larger area like an entire home.

Understanding Freon

Freon is the chemical that is used in an air conditioner to convert the gas to a liquid and then back again. The Freon is used to transfer heat from the air inside the car or home to the outside air.

The Major Elements of Air Conditioning -- Understanding Your Auto Parts

There are three major components to an air conditioner. These parts are a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The evaporator is located inside the car as part of the heater. The compressor and condenser are located on the outside or in the engine area on the air portion of the air conditioner.

How Your Air Conditioning Works

The Freon or the chemical first goes to the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas, then the compressor squeezed the Freon. This process compacts the molecule of the fluid closer together and the closer they are together the higher its energy capability and its temperature.

When the Freon leaves the compressor it is hot and is now a high pressure gas that flows to the condenser. The condenser in a vehicle is the radiator, which has vents all around it to allow the heat to dissipate more quickly.

As the Freon continues its journey it leaves the condenser at a much cooler temperature and it has now changed from a gas to a liquid again. This liquid is under high pressure and now enters the evaporator through a small hole. Once on the other side it begins to evaporate into gas and the liquids pressure drops.

During this exchange of evaporation it extracts heat from the air around it. The heat from the air is what is needed to separate the molecules of the fluid from a liquid to a gas. The vents on the evaporator also help to exchange the thermal energy with the surrounding air.

When the fluid leaves the evaporator it has cooled and is now a low-pressure gas. Then it begins it journey all over again and goes back to the compressor.