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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Once the refrigerant is drawn into the suction side, it is compressed and sent to the a/c condenser, where it can then transfer the heat that is absorbed from the inside of the vehicle.

The a/c compressor compresses freon into a high pressure (and since temperature and pressure are relative), high temperature gas which is then sent to the condenser for the process of removing the heat. The fact that this temperature is greater than the outside temperature allows the heat to transfer to the outside air. This then causes the "gaseous" freon to "condense" back to a high pressure liquid. This high pressure liquid is then sent to the restriction in the system (that being an orifice, or a valve of some kind) which lowers the pressure causing the liquid to boil and vaporize (thus the term "evaporator"). It is then in this low pressure gas state that it is capable of absorbing the heat from inside the vehicle and sent back to the compressor for the cycle to repeat itself.

The compressor is lubricated with special oil. It is very important to use the correct oil to the compressor and system. Some seals and gaskets may not work with some oils.

Description: The air conditioning (A/C) electro-magnetic clutch mounts to the front of the air conditioning compressor and electrically engages and disengages according to commands from the A/C system. A/C Compressor designs may vary from one manufacturer to the next as to internal design and components. The A/C system is divided into two sides: high-pressure and low-pressure. The low-pressure side connects to the inlet of the compressor and the high-pressure side connects to the outlet, or discharge, of the compressor.

Purpose: Upon command, the A/C clutch energizes and locks the clutch to the compressor. Once engaged, a serpentine belt or V-belt from the engine drives the A/C compressor. The compressor?s main job is to pump refrigerant through the system so it can remove heat from the interior of the vehicle. Circulation of refrigerant also provides a secondary benefit? It moves refrigerant oil throughout the system, providing lubrication to key parts of the system.

Maintenance Tips / Suggestions: Symptoms of a bad compressor or compressor clutch include poor or no cooling, and a noisy or seized compressor. Have your vehicles air conditioning system checked yearly by a professional technician. The A/C system also operates when the climate control system is in the defroster mode to remove moisture from the interior, so A/C is more than a summertime creature comfort. Operating an A/C system low on refrigerant not only results in poor cooling, it can also damage the system due to poor lubrication flow. Make sure that the technician servicing your car uses the correct refrigerant and refrigerant oil. Use of the wrong refrigerant or oil can reduce system performance or even cause damage.

Vehicles are found to have primarily three different types of air conditioning systems. While each of the three types differ, the concept and design are very similar to one another.

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