How AC Compressor Works

An air conditioner (AC) compressor is a crucial component that plays a key role in the cooling process of an AC system. Its primary function is to compress and circulate the refrigerant, which is responsible for removing heat from indoor air and releasing it outside. Here’s how an AC compressor works:

How AC Compressor Works

  1. Refrigerant Circulation: The AC system operates on a closed-loop refrigeration cycle. It uses a chemical refrigerant, typically a type of gas, to transfer heat from one place to another.
  2. Evaporation: The refrigeration cycle begins in the indoor unit (evaporator coil) of the AC. Warm indoor air is drawn into the AC, and a fan blows this air over the evaporator coil. The refrigerant inside the coil is at a low pressure and low temperature, causing it to evaporate and absorb heat from the indoor air. As a result, the indoor air becomes cooler.
  3. Compressor: After absorbing heat from the indoor air, the refrigerant in gas form enters the compressor, which is located in the outdoor unit of the AC system. The compressor is typically a motor-driven pump.
  4. Compression: Inside the compressor, the refrigerant is compressed. The compressor’s function is to increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas. By compressing the gas, the refrigerant becomes highly pressurized and reaches a high temperature.
  5. Condensation: The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant then flows to the outdoor condenser coil, which is another part of the outdoor unit. In the condenser coil, the refrigerant releases the heat it absorbed from the indoor air. As a result, the refrigerant changes from a gas to a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid.
  6. Expansion Valve: The high-pressure liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve or metering device. This device reduces the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, causing it to expand rapidly. As the refrigerant expands, it becomes a low-pressure, low-temperature mixture of liquid and vapor.
  7. Evaporation (Again): The low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant is cycled back into the indoor evaporator coil. Here, it repeats the process of evaporating, absorbing heat from indoor air, and cooling the air.
  8. Repeating the Cycle: The entire cycle continues repeatedly as long as the AC is in operation, maintaining the desired indoor temperature by continuously absorbing heat from indoor air and releasing it outside.

This continuous cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation is what allows the AC system to cool indoor spaces effectively. The compressor plays a central role in this process by pressurizing the refrigerant and ensuring the flow of heat from indoors to outdoors. It’s a vital component of any air conditioning system.

How AC Compressor Works

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