How does the Air-con system work?

An Air-conditioning system is designed to maintain and control air temperature in the passenger compartment. The aim is to create a comfortable environment by cooling or heating the air blown into the air compartment.

In addition using the air-conditioning will reduce dust and smells and reduce humidity which in turn will help with demisting the windscreen more quickly.

Inside the car the air-conditioning system generally consists of a heater, evaporator and a ventilation system including a blower, air duct/s and an air purifier. The remaining components are normally located in the engine bay and these consist of a compressor, condenser, receiver drier / accumulator and an expansion valve.

The Main components of the Air-con system are :
Compressor, Condenser, Receiver Drier / Accumulator, Expansion valve, Evaporator

TXV Expansion valve & Drier Air-con system, Note the receiver drier is on the High side

Fixed orifice tube & Accumulator Air-con system, Note the Accumulator is on the Low side of the System

How the Receiver Drier works

The TXV Expansion valve, being shown here how it works

Fixed Orifice tube, and how it works

An insight into how a compressor works and why it is so important to ensure that the Compressor has oil in it