PLATE 2830769 - Caterpillar

Illustration 1 g01507889
(1) Compressor
(2) Condenser
(3) In-line dryer
(4) Desiccant
(5) Orifice Tube
(6) Evaporator
(7) Accumulator
(A) High temperature high pressure refrigerant vapor
(B) High temperature, high pressure refrigerant liquid
(C) Low temperature, low pressure refrigerant liquid vapor mixture
(D) Low temperature low pressure refrigerant vapor The air conditioner refrigerant begins to flow in the air conditioning system at refrigerant compressor (1). The compressor is designed to change the air conditioner refrigerant from a vapor that has low pressure into a vapor that has high pressure. Also, the compressor changes the refrigerant from a vapor with low temperature to a vapor with high temperature. The increase in pressure causes the increase in temperature.The refrigerant is sent through condenser coil (2). In the condenser coil, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the outside air. This changes the refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure liquid.From condenser coil (2), the refrigerant moves to in-line dryer (3). In in-line dryer (3), moisture is removed from the refrigerant by desiccant (4). Some orifice tube systems will not contain an in-line dryer. In this case, the desiccant is located in accumulator (7).Next, the refrigerant flows to the orifice tube. When the refrigerant is at the orifice tube, the refrigerant is changed from a high pressure and high temperature liquid to a liquid vapor mixture that is low pressure and low temperature.The low pressure and low temperature refrigerant moves to evaporator coil (6). While the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil the refrigerant absorbs heat from the cab. This changes the refrigerant to a low pressure and low temperature vapor.After the evaporator coil, the refrigerant flows to the accumulator. The accumulator stores liquid refrigerant that is exiting the evaporator and the accumulator allows only vapor to continue to the compressor.The low pressure and low temperature vapor returns to the compressor. This marks the end of the cycle. The cycle is repeated continuously.