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2 Unit 1.1

The document discusses different types of refrigerants used in automotive air conditioning systems. It describes refrigerants such as R12, R134a and R1234yf. It also discusses the types of air conditioning systems as vapor compression and vapor absorption. The document provides details on how car air conditioning systems work and environmental concerns related to refrigerants.

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10 views

2 Unit 1.1

The document discusses different types of refrigerants used in automotive air conditioning systems. It describes refrigerants such as R12, R134a and R1234yf. It also discusses the types of air conditioning systems as vapor compression and vapor absorption. The document provides details on how car air conditioning systems work and environmental concerns related to refrigerants.

Uploaded by

NIKASH mani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 1

Refrigerant
R12 -- The Old and Busted One
For many years, R12 was the automotive refrigerant standard. It was effective and
cheap. However, scientists quickly discovered its sinister secret: It was partially
responsible for the rapidly-depleting ozone layer. In 1994, it was banned from all new
cars sold in the US.

R134a -- The One That's (Probably) In Your Car Right Now


In most cars that are on the road today, R134a refrigerant makes the A/C system
blow cold on hot days. Selected for its low flammability and safety, as well as
because it's kinder to the environment, almost every car built since 1994 is equipped
with R134 refrigerant.
However, kinder is the key word. By our modern standards today, it's really not all
that kind to the environment. R134a has been found to have a lot of greenhouse gas
potential, as it can end up in the atmosphere and take forever to break down. For
that reason, all new vehicles sold in America after the year 2021 can no longer use
this type of refrigerant.
R1234yf -- The New Hotness
Or should we say coolness? It is refrigerant, after all.

R1234yf was chosen to replace R134a in all new cars by 2021. Some
manufacturers have already made the switch, or the switch is in progress. In fact,
as of 2018, 70% of new Kia cars already come equipped with R1234yf!

This new refrigerant performs similarly to R134a, but with one important
difference: it breaks down much faster in the upper atmosphere. That means it'll
contribute less to global warming. It's also easy to upgrade a car's A/C system
from R134a to make it compatible with R1234yf.

Be sure to bookmark this page and visit again in 2039 when society finds out
what's bad about R1234yf, and what newer, safer chemical will replace it in your
car!
Vehicle Refrigeration System
1. vapour compression system
a) Freon gas
1. vapour absorption system
b) Ammonia gas

Types of Car Air Conditioning System(


There are two types of car air conditioning systems –
vapour compression system
1. vehicle expansion valve system
2. vehicle fixed orifice tube system.
1. The Expansion Valve System: The expansion valve system is the most common
type of car air conditioning system. It uses an expansion valve to regulate the flow
of refrigerant to the evaporator. The expansion valve ensures that the refrigerant
is released at a constant rate, which helps to maintain the temperature inside the
car.
Advantages of the Expansion Valve System:
More efficient cooling performance
More precise temperature control
Longer lifespan of the compressor
Disadvantages of the Expansion Valve System:
More expensive than the fixed orifice tube system.
Requires more maintenance
2. The Fixed Orifice Tube System:
The fixed orifice tube system is a simpler type of car air conditioning system. It
uses a fixed orifice tube to regulate the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.
The fixed orifice tube restricts the flow of refrigerant, which helps to maintain
the temperature inside the car.
Advantages of the Fixed Orifice Tube System:
Less expensive than the expansion valve system
Requires less maintenance
Disadvantages of the Fixed Orifice Tube System:
Less efficient at cooling the car.
Less precise temperature control.
Shorter lifespan of the compressor.
1. vapour absorption system
b) Ammonia gas
This water will be enriched with ammonia and is pumped to the
desorber or boiler, where a heat source is used to separate
ammonia and water by evaporation.
working principle of ammonia refrigeration system?
Ammonia vapor is compressed. The heated ammonia moves
to the condenser, where it releases the heat and condenses back to
liquid form. The ammonia boils after moving through the expansion
valve into a low-pressure space.

Ammonia, frequently used commercially in large freezing and


refrigeration plants is also called “anhydrous ammonia
Why Should You Service Your Car AC?
It is important to service your car’s AC system regularly to ensure
that it functions properly to reduce the causes of AC failure. Here are
some reasons why you should service your car AC on a regular basis:

1. Prevents (refrigerant) Freon leakage in the car.


2. Increases the lifespan of the AC components.
3. Improves the cooling efficiency of the system.
4. Removes unpleasant odors from the car.
5. Reduces the risk of costly repairs in the future.
Vehicle air conditioning operation
1. vapour compression system
a) Freon gas
1. vehicle expansion valve system
2. vehicle fixed orifice tube system
Car air conditioning (AC) has become a necessity while driving in the summer. It not only
provides a comfortable driving experience but also helps to maintain the temperature
inside the car.

Components of Car AC and Their Function

1.Compressor – compresses the refrigerant gas and sends it to the condenser.


2.Condenser – cools the refrigerant gas and converts it into a high-pressure
liquid.
3.Evaporator – reduces the temperature of the liquid refrigerant and converts it
into a gas.
4.Refrigerant – a chemical that absorbs heat from the air and cools it.
5.Expansion valve – regulates the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.
6.Blower motor – pushes the cool air through the vents and into the cabin.
working

In the diagram above, the compressor (1) compresses the


refrigerant vapor and moves it towards the condenser. The heat of
compression raises the temperature of the refrigerant vapor causing it to be
a high pressure superheated vapor. As this refrigerant moves into the
condenser (2), the condenser rejects the heat in the refrigerant, causing it to
change state and condense into a high pressure, high temp liquid.

As the refrigerant passes through the metering device (3), its


temperature, pressure and state change once again. Some of the low
pressure liquid refrigerant instantly boils off forming “flash gas”. As this
mixture of liquid and gas pass through the evaporator (4) heat is absorbed
and the remaining liquid refrigerant changes it state back into a vapor. At
the outlet of the evaporator 100% of the low pressure vapor flows back
through the suction line to the compressor.
Environmental concerns.
Environmental concerns.

Few motorists know that the air conditioner in their vehicle has been a focus of worldwide
environmental concerns.

The use of AC systems in automobiles has increased energy consumption, resulting in climate change
and adverse environmental effects.

Scientists have found that using the AC reduces pollutants inside a car by 20-34%.

The choice of refrigerants used in automotive air conditioningsystems can have environmental
impacts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information on
acceptable refrigerants and their impacts.

Recent advances and sustainable solutions are being explored to mitigate the environmental mpact
i
of automotive air conditioning systems.
Ozone Layer
The ozone layer acts as a blanket in the stratosphere that protects us from
harmful ultraviolet
(UV) radiation. Scientists worldwide believe that man-made chemicals such as
CFC-12 (also
known by the trade name Freon) are rapidly destroying this layer of gas 10 to 30
miles above the
earth's surface. Strong UV radiation breaks the CFC-12 molecules apart,
releasing chlorine.
Psychrometric
chart

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