What is a receiver drier?
For reasons we just can’t figure out the number one internet search for mobile A/C components and the number one blog post consistently read is about the function of the system’s receiver drier. With that in mind here is more information on this popular part.
Receiver-driers (also referred to as receiver-dehydrators) look like small sealed metal cans with an inlet and outlet. Receiver-driers are only used on systems that contain expansion valves.
Receiver-driers are comparable to accumulators, although they serve a slightly different function. A receiver-dryer differs from an accumulator in these two ways:
• A receiver-drier is considerably smaller than an accumulator, usually around half the volume.
• Receiver-driers are always located in the high-pressure side of the system, usually between the condenser outlet and the expansion valve inlet.
The receiver-drier’s primary function is to receive and store some liquid refrigerant from the condenser. The liquid refrigerant enters at the top of the receiver and falls to the bottom. A pickup tube with a filter screen extends to the bottom of the receiver-drier. This pickup tube draws liquid refrigerant from the bottom of the receiver-drier. The liquid refrigerant then passes on to the inlet of the thermostatic expansion valve.
Also like an accumulator, a receiver-drier serves as a temporary storage container for oil and refrigerant when not needed for system operation, such as during periods of low cooling demand. The receiver-drier also contains the system desiccant. This is the “drier” function of the receiver-drier.
When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not released into the atmosphere.
You can E-mail us at macsworldwide@macsw.org or visit http://bit.ly/cf7az8 to find a Mobile Air Conditioning Society repair shop in your area. Visit http://bit.ly/9FxwTh to find out more about your car’s mobile A/C and engine cooling system.
Thanks to MACS member Four Seasons for the photo of the receiver drier used in this post.
nice blog posts…good stuff to read
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