208
Service.
Self Study Programme 208
Air Conditioner in the Motor Vehicle
Fundamentals
1,6
1,4
1,2
MPa
1,0
0,8
sure0,6
res
P 0,4
0,2
0
30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Temperature oC
air
condition
Air conditioning systems have long ceased to be The design of the refrigerant circuit of an
regarded as luxury equipment. air conditioner is identical in all vehicles.
Air conditioners have become a factor in active Air conditioner refrigerant circuits only vary in
safety, and today can almost be considered as respect of how they are adapted to meet
an integral part of a vehicle s safety refrigeration requirements.
specification.
In this Self Study Programme, you will familiarise
10 years ago, only about 10 percent of yourself with the basic purpose and design of an
all newly registered vehicles were fitted with an air conditioner.
air conditioning system. By 1996, air conditioners You will learn the functions of the component
were being installed as standard in more than parts in the refrigeration process, the special
one in four newly registered vehicles. characteristics of the refrigerant and why air
conditioners require special service
Customer demand for air conditioning is rising specifications.
continually.
The component parts shown in the following SSP
are common to most air conditioners.
Please note that the figures specified
are given by way of example only.
Depending on refrigeration requirements, the
absolute values vary from vehicle to vehicle.
New Important
Note
The Self Study Programme Please always refer to the relevant Service Literature
is not a Workshop Manual for all inspection, adjustment and repair instructions.
Service literature.
2
Table of Contents
The in car climate . 4
Why air conditioning
The physics of the cooling system 6
Applied physics MPa
o
C
The refrigerant 8 R
The cooling system . 12 134a
The principle of