The car air conditioner helps to keep us comfortable on those hot summer days. The inner mechanics of how air conditioning works in a car can be a little complicated to understand. However, if you are interested in the topic or want to learn automotive mechanics, learning about air conditioning in cars is essential.
How Does Car Air Conditioner Work?
There are many similarities between air conditioners meant to cool structures and air conditioner. The most significant difference is the space that needs to be cooled. The basic working principle of a car air conditioner is how it manipulates refrigerant between a liquid and gaseous state. As the process plays through when the refrigerant changes phases, it absorbs the heat and humidity from inside the car. This cycle allows the system to release cool and dry air.
Refrigerants and Your AC
Without a refrigerant, your air conditioner will not cool. What type of refrigerants does the car air conditioner use? As with many other air conditioning units and systems, car air conditioners operate on R-12 refrigerants. However, this refrigerant was known to cause environmental issues. Now, many manufacturers have transitioned to R-134a and the newer R-1234YF. However, with a renewed focus on the environment, more manufacturers have started to use the R-1234YF as it produces fewer greenhouse gases.
The Components That Make It Work
As with any other air conditioning unit, the compressor is the central part that makes the unit work. What is the compressor? The compressor separates the low-pressure from the high-pressure side. The condenser reduces the temperature of the refrigerant as it maintains high-pressure readings. Next, the refrigerant changes from a gaseous state to a liquid form. It uses a fan to transfer heat among the components. The evaporator changes the liquid state of the refrigerant back to a gaseous state. This cycle results in a cooling effect for the cabin air as it flows across the evaporator. Finally, the dryer removes the water or condensation from the refrigerant. It also features filtering capabilities to improve air quality in your vehicle.
The Refrigerant Cycle within Your AC
How does the refrigerant pass through the car air conditioner? First, the low-pressure refrigerant enters the compressor in its gaseous state. Next, the refrigerant leaves the compressor as a high-pressure refrigerant, still as a gas. As the refrigerant cools, the condenser changes into its liquid form. The dryer or receiver removes the water from the refrigerant as the expansion valve reduces the refrigerant pressure. The last step is when the refrigerant returns to its gas state within the evaporator. This cycle absorbs the heat, and when the air blows through the evaporator, it becomes cool and dry.
Solar Air Conditioning
With new goals to help and improve the environment, solar energy has become one of the most reliable energy sources. Solar power is environmentally friendly, much cheaper, and cost-effective to use. How does it work? In a few short words, solar power harnesses the sun’s rays and energy to power any machine or device. In this case, we’ll be going over solar air conditioning.
Utilising Solar Power
You can use solar energy in a variety of ways. The first thing you will need is a solar panel. It can be helpful when powering an air conditioner because you won’t use any power from the electric company’s power grid, which can save you money. The solar panels capture the power of the sun, converting this power into electric energy. One advantage of using solar power is that you can use it directly or store any excess capacity in a battery pack. When it comes to home air conditioning, this cycle is known as DC power and AC power after using an inverter.
Air Conditioning and Solar Energy
If you want to run an air conditioner with solar power, you’ll have to figure out the BTU capacity you want to run. Each ton of cooling power will use 1,200 watts of solar panels. To run a 5-ton air conditioner, you will need about 20 solar panels at 300 watts each. Ideally, you can invest in a battery pack to store your excess solar power, using it at night or when it gets cloudy. Solar energy will not be your best alternative if you live in an area where the sun is not that plentiful.
Your Air Conditioner’s Size and Design
The cost of installing a solar air conditioning unit can vary. You must find the right size and design to find the right fit for your AC unit. Make sure you also consider the hottest of the year where you live. The prices to install your home’s solar air conditioning unit can range between $4,500 and $11,000. It may also come out a little more if you include additional wiring, batteries, and other needed accessories.
Solar Air Conditioning and Your Car
How about your vehicle? Although running your car’s air conditioning on solar energy is possible, it can be challenging. You’ll need a photovoltaic or PV panel to run solar power for your AC and a battery system to power the electric motor, which drives your compressor. A charge controller is another valuable addition to prevent power loss from your panels. Although newer cars already feature a built-in PV panel, there may be some difficulties if you want to add them to older vehicles.
More Power for Mobile Solar Energy
Remember that you will need a lot of power to run your car’s air conditioner since it’s mobile. The compressor of a solar energy AC unit gets its power from the battery, as the rooftop PV panels charge the battery. Studies have shown that a vehicle’s AC compressor can work with a 230-volt motor as it generates 740 watts of power. The study found that the engine could only run one hour daily at this rate. As efficiency increases for solar power air conditioners in the next few years, it is sure to be a good option for vehicles. Remember to consider your car’s model, age, and engine when investing in a solar air conditioner for your car.
