EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONER PERFORMANCE AS A FUNCTION OF PRESSURE DROP IN THE REFRIGERANT PIPE SYSTEM LAYOUT

摘要

The layout of automotive air conditioning pipe system is becoming a complex issue due to increasing space restrictions, as a result of downsizing to reduce vehicle weight and, consequently, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Pipe system layout directly influences pressure drop and, thus, air conditioner performance. This work presents an experimental study on the influence of pipe system layout of an automotive air conditioner with variable compression ratio. Experiments were performed in prototypes of compressor suction pipes of different geometries and dimensions. The air conditioner performance was evaluated simulating real vehicle operating conditions through cool down tests carried out in a cold chamber. The results allowed for the definition of the best pipe system layout to provide high refrigeration system performance and low temperature in the vehicle cabin.