Working Principle of Automotive Air Conditioning System Condenser

Working Principle of Automotive Air Conditioning System Condenser

The working process of a tube-fin condenser revolves around the phase change of the refrigerant from gaseous to liquid state, specifically divided into three stages:

1. High-temperature gaseous refrigerant entry: The compressor compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state (temperature approximately 70-120℃, pressure approximately 1.5-2.5MPa), which is then delivered to the condenser inlet through a high-pressure pipe.

2. Forced convection cooling: When the vehicle is in motion, the low-temperature outside air (at a speed ≥40km/h) naturally flows over the tube-finned structure of the condenser, carrying away heat.

3. At low speeds or when the vehicle is stationary, the air conditioning system automatically starts the condenser fan (axial flow fan), forcibly blowing air over the surface of the tube fins to ensure uninterrupted heat dissipation.

4. Refrigerant phase change and output: As the high-temperature gaseous refrigerant flows within the heat exchange tubes, it releases heat to the air through the tube walls and fins, gradually cooling and condensing into a medium-temperature, high-pressure liquid state (temperature approximately 30-50℃, pressure similar to the inlet), ultimately flowing through the outlet to the expansion valve to enter the next refrigeration stage.