What's so Special about Air-Conditioning Compressors?

By: Thomas Yoon

What's the difference between an air-conditioning compressor and an air compressor?

Obvious question? Or is there more to it than the different kind of gas that the compressor handles?

Of course the refrigerant gas has something to do with the design of the air-conditioning compressor. For one thing, the refrigerant gas has a unique property of being a liquid at normal room temperatures, and it can become a gas at a slightly higher temperature.

Furthermore, the lubricant oil can mix freely with the refrigerant gas! And the lubricant have to be recovered and returned back to the compressor.

A bit complicated isn't it?

The gas suction for the air-conditioning compressor is taken into the lubricant portion of the compressor. This may be the crankshaft housing, or similar. The body of the compressor is constructed in such a way as to be able to suck the gas from there. Many reciprocating compressors incorporate a safety head at the top cylinder head. Any accidental liquid return will not be able to damage the compressor.

Until next time…

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