BEM3223 / BTHM4023:

AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING

SYSTEM
CHAPTER 4:
Automotive Air-Conditioning System

DRB-HICOM UNIVERSITY OF AUTOMOTIVE MALAYSIA

Prepared by: Nor Syukriah binti Khalid (NSK) KOMPLEKS AUTOMOTIF DRB-HICOM, LOT 1449, PT 2204,
KAWASAN PERINDUSTRIAN PERAMU JAYA, 26607 PEKAN, PAHANG
T: 09 4242400 ● F: 09 4242500
Classification of automotive
air conditioning systems

Car air conditioners are classified according to

the air conditioner unit mounting location
and by the functions of the air conditioner.

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Mounting Location
Dash Type
The air conditioner unit in this type is normally
installed under the dash panel.

Trunk Type
The air conditioner units is installed in the trunk.

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Dual Type
The cold air is blown out from the front and rear
of the car interior.

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Function
Simple Type
This type consists of ventilator connected either
to heater OR to refrigeration system, used
simply for heating or cooling.

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All Season Type
• This type combines a ventilator with heater
and refrigeration system.
• An all-season air conditioner can be used on a
cold, wet day to dehumidify (dry) the air.

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Components of automotive
air conditioning systems
Compressor

Blower
Condenser
motor/ Fan

Basic Air
Conditioning
components
Control Receiver
Switch Drier

Expansion
Evaporator
Valve

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 Components of air conditioner

Compressor

Function : suction, compress, pumping

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 Components of air conditioner

Types of compressor

Swash plate type

Wobble plate type

Through Vane type

Scroll / Spiral type

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Swash plate type

Suction valve
Discharge valve

Swash plate

Piston
Shaft

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Swash plate type

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Wobble plate type

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Wobble plate type

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Through Vane type

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Through Vane type

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Scroll / Spiral type

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Pressure Relief Valve

Function: To control or limit the pressure in a compressor

- Operating pressure: 35.3~42.2kg/㎠

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Magnetic clutch

No power B+ V

Compressor Compressor

Function : Magnetic clutch is used to connect and disconnect the compr

essor from the engine

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Magnetic Clutch

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Condenser

Function: The condenser is used to cool down the high pressure and high
temperature gas of the refrigerant and change it to liquid refrigerant

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Condenser

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Condenser

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Receiver drier

Function: To remove any trace of moisture and filter out dirt in the system,
serves as reservoir for excessive refrigerant

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 Receiver drier

• THE SIGHT GLASS IS USED TO CHECK AMOUNT OF REFRIGERANT.

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Pressure switch

Function: Act as a safety device that stops the compressor by turning on

and off the magnetic clutch when the pressure on high-pressure side is
extremely high or low.

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Expansion valve
Expansion Valve

Function: Meters liquid refrigerant into the evaporator cores.

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Evaporator

Function: The cold refrigerant passes through the coils of the evaporator,
which vaporizes and absorbs heat from the passenger compartment.

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Evaporator

(Normal condition) (Evaporator freezing)

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 Thermistor

① LOCATION
Inserted into the evaporator fin

Function: Installed in the evaporator in order to detect the temperature of evaporator.

It prevents evaporator from freezing.

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Blower

+ PIN - PIN

Function: Circulate cold air from evaporator to the passenger cabin

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Principle of Operation

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AC operation cycle

High pressure (gas)

High pressure (liquid)

Low pressure (gas)

Low pressure (liquid)

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 High Pressure Low Pressure
High Temperature Low Temperature
Expansion
Receiver drier Liquid Evaporator
Liquid valve
refrigerant refrigerant

Liquid
refrigerant Gaseous Low Pressure
refrigerant Low Temperature
High Pressure
High Temperature
Gaseous
refrigerant
Condenser Compressor
High Pressure
High Temperature

Refrigeration Cycle

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Ventilator

A device for leading the fresh

outside air into the car, that also
serves for ventilating the car.

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Types of Ventilator

 Natural flow-through ventilator

Intake of external air into the vehicle’s interior due to
the air pressure generated by the vehicle’s
movement
 Forced air ventilator (Boost Ventilator)
An electric fan or similar device is used to force air
through the vehicle

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Intake vents are located in places where the air pressure is
positive and the exhaust vents are located in places where the
air pressure is negative.

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 Operation of Damper

Two types of damper operation are used:

1. Lever type
A lever on the control panel is connected to a cable which
moves the damper when the lever is moved.

2. Push-button type
Pressing a push-button on the control panel causes a servo
motor to operate, moving the damper.

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Switches and electrical wiring circuit
Operation of controls
Fan switch control knob
Air flow control Temperature control
knob knob

Air Conditioning Switch

Air inlet switch

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 AIR FLOW CONTROL FUNCTION
Face position Air flow directed toward the
face
Feet/face position Air flow directed toward to the
face and the floor (feet area)
Feet position Air flow to the floor (feet area)

Feet/defroster Air flow to the floor and

position windshield
Defroster position The windshield and door
glasses are demisted

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 AIR INLET SWITCH FUNCTION
Recirculation switch Inside air
recirculation

Fresh switch Outside air recirculation

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 Blower Operation

• Fresh air or re circulated air drawn in by the

blower.
• In figure below, blower speed control lever on the
control panel can change the blower speed in four
steps, from LO to HI.
• The blower speed is controlled by passing current
through resistors with different resistance values
to change the voltage to the blower motor, thus
changing the blower speed.

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Blower Motor Speed Control (Manual Air Con.)

RESISTOR (MANUAL A/CON)

HI 0.35Ω±5% MH 0.91Ω±5% ML 1.44Ω±5% LO

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Automotive Air Conditioning
Electrical Circuit

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Magnetic Clutch Control

When the ignition switch is turned ON with blower

switch in any position except OFF, the heater relay goes
ON. If the air conditioner switch is then turned
ON, the magnetic clutch relay is turned ON by the A/C
amplifier. This causes the magnetic clutch to be
engaged. However, the magnetic clutch is disengaged,
and the compressor goes off, under the following
condition.

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1. Blower Switch OFF
When the blower switch is turned OFF, the heater relay goes OFF, and power is no longer supply to the air
conditioner.

2. A/C Switch OFF

The main power of the A/C amplifier, which is controls the magnetic clutch relay, is cut off.

3. Evaporator Temperature Too Low

If the temperature at the surface of the evaporator falls to 3°C or below, the A/C amplifier shut off the
magnetic clutch relay.

4. Dual Pressure Switch OFF

If the pressure in the high-pressure side of the refrigeration circuit is extremely high or extremely low, this
switch goes OFF. The A/C amplifier senses this, and shuts off the magnetic clutch relay.

5. Compressor Lock-up
If the difference between the compressor speed and the engine speed rises above a certain value, the A/C
amplifier judges that the compressor has locked up, and shuts off the magnetic clutch relay.

6. Refrigerant Temperature Too High

If the refrigerant temperature in the compressor rises above certain specified level, the temperature switch
goes OFF.

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Vacuum Switching Valve (VSV)

Function

VSV allows only a small amount of air to by-pass the closed throttle
valve when it is open, increasing engine speed by about 100 rpm when
energized.

Operation

When throttle signal contact is closed, the ECU will energize the
solenoid whenever engine speed drops below a pre-determined rpm.

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