Why your A/C Compressor is Important
by Staff Writer

The a/c compressor is commonly referred to as the heart of the system, a belt driven pump that is fastened to the engine. It is responsible for compressing and transferring refrigerant gas. The A/C system is split into two sides, a high pressure side and a low pressure side; defined as discharge and suction. Since the compressor is basically a pump, it must have an intake side and a discharge side. The intake, or suction side, draws in refrigerant gas from the outlet of the evaporator. In some cases it does this via the accumulator.

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A/C RECEIVER-DRIER/ Accumulator Don't be confused with the jargon, typically a receiver/drier is used on import vehicles and an accumulator is used on domestic vehicles. The are essentially the same type of part and function in a similar manner according to the a/c system. The drier is used before the evaporator and after the condenser. These units are usually found on the high side of the a/c systems which use a thermal expansion valve. This type of metering valve needs liquid refrigerant. Using a receiver/drier or accumulator ensures that the valve gets the proper liquid refrigerant. Functions of a receiver/drier or accumulator include: 1) To receive liquid refrigerant and maintain a certain level of liquid at the bottom at all times in a properly charged system. 2) To trap and absorb moisture using a stack of pellets called desiccant and filter out contaminants or non-condensables. 3) To keep the liquid and gas divided. The receiver/drier or accumulator are typically an oval-shaped, bottle-like metal unit and some are attached to hoses. A sight glass can be found on the top of most import driers, such as the mercedes units. An a/c technician will use this sight glass to charge the system. If vapor bubbles are visible in the sight glass, the a/c system is not operating under the proper conditions. For a R-134a a/c system, the use of the sight glass is not suggested, as cloudiness and oil which separates from the refrigerant can be mistaken as bubbles. That leads to a dangerous overcharged condition. The dessicant which removes moisture from within the receiver/drier or accumulator does not come standard. Each receiver/drier or accumulator will vary. The desiccant type can be found on a sticker located on the receiver/drier or accumulator. It is important to check prior to installation because some desiccants are not compatible with R-134a. Most new receiver/driers and accumulators now use a dessicant type XH-7, which is compatible with both the R-12 freon and R-134a freon. Suggestions for the maintanence of your receiver/drier or accumulator: 1) Change the receiver/drier or accumulator each time an a/c system is empty regardless of the reason for loss of refrigerant. 2) Replace the drier every 3 years, because desiccant pellets will break down and clog up the expansion valve. Thus causing system shut down and perhaps damage to the compressor as well. 3) Think of the receiver/drier or accumulator as a disposable item, same as you would fuel, oil or an air filter. 4) Anytime any part of the a/c system is changed, the receiver/drier or accumulator should be replaced too to prevent corrosion and moisture in the a/c system. NOTE: that moisture is the most harmful enemy of the air conditioning system If any moisture is in the system, it will combine with the refrigerant to form hydrochloric acid which is extremely corrosive to metal components. Again, it is vital that the receiver/drier or accumulator is replaced when servicing an a/c system. If you do not change the receiver/drier or accumulator there will usually be serious damage to the other parts of the system, which could prove to be very costly. Don't jeopardize being back at square one on a later day, always change the receiver/drier regardless. Industry standard also dictates that there be proof of replacement of the receiver/drier or accumulator at the same time of installation of a compressor for the warranty to be valid.

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