Car air conditioning compressors are one of the most important parts of your car’s HVAC system. The compressor, usually located under the hood or inside the engine compartment, is a metal tube that compresses and expands refrigerant gas to create a cooling effect inside your vehicle. In this article, we’ll discuss the many different types of car air conditioning compressors and what makes them different. We’ll also cover how they work and some tips on maintaining them so they can last longer.
Rotary Compressor
Rotary compressors are the most common type used in cars. They’re more efficient than other types, and they’re used in small cars and large trucks alike. However, rotary compressors are also more expensive than other types.
Reciprocating Compressor
Reciprocating compressors are cars’ most widely used type of air conditioning compressor. They consist of two cylinders that move back and forth to compress the refrigerant, which is then sent through the condenser and evaporator for cooling. Reciprocating compressors work well for cars because they’re simple and inexpensive. Still, they could be more efficient because they can’t maintain a constant pressure level between the compressor and receiver/dryer element.
Vane Compressor
Vane compressors are the most efficient type of air conditioning compressor. Vane compressors offer high power and cooling capacity, which are necessary for vehicles that require a lot of power or have large cooling requirements.
They’re also quieter than reciprocating compressors and can be used when sound is an issue, such as commercial vehicles or race cars. Vane compressors use fewer moving parts than other types of compressors, which makes them less prone to failure because they don’t have delicate parts that could break down over time.
Scroll Compressor
A scroll compressor is one of the most commonly used car air conditioning compressors. Scroll compressors are good for low-pressure applications requiring long discharge lines, such as refrigerators or other commercial refrigeration equipment. They use a scroll-shaped rotor to compress the refrigerant inside the coil and then exhaust it into your vehicle’s cabin. This can help provide energy efficiency because there is less heat produced by an internal combustion engine (ICE). However, since they have no throttling valves or variable speed drives (VSD), they can only run at one speed: full power.
Centrifugal Compressor
Centrifugal compressors are the most common type of car air conditioning compressor. They’re used in vehicles with high power output and are more efficient than other types. This type of compressor is also more durable than other types.
Piston Compressor
Piston compressors are used in residential and commercial air conditioning systems. They are less expensive than rotary compressors, but they can be noisy. Piston compressors are available in a wide range of sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits your vehicle’s needs.
The main advantage of piston compressors over rotary compressors is their quietness. Unlike rotary units, which use an electric motor to drive a pump, piston units use an oil-lubricated piston as their pump. The oil prevents air from entering between the pistons during operation—which would result in loud noises—and keeps them moving smoothly through their stroke cycle without any delay or friction.
Diaphragm Compressor
This compressor, also known as a rotary compressor, uses a diaphragm to compress the refrigerant. These compressors are usually mounted in an engine compartment because they’re not very efficient at compressing air. However, they are more reliable than some other types of compressors and can last up to 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced.
In conclusion, there are many different types of car air conditioning compressors. Each has its pros and cons and should be chosen based on your needs. We hope you’ve learned a little bit about each type today and can decide which one is best for your vehicle!