Condensers
Usually made of aluminum and mounted at the front of the vehicle, condensers are one of the two heat exchangers in a mobile air conditioning system. They are constructed as a series of tubes with fins surrounding the tubes. The fins attached to the tubes increase the surface area exposed to the air.
The function of the condenser is to dissipate heat to the outside atmosphere. Heat from the passenger compartment is picked up at the evaporator, and then the heated refrigerant is transported to the condenser. The refrigerant enters the condenser as a high pressure/high temperature vapor. While passing through the condenser, the refrigerant cools and condenses back into a cooler, high-pressure liquid.
Even in the last days of R12, vehicle manufacturers were looking to improve efficiency and reduce system refrigerant charge amounts. That led to increasing use of newer, more efficient types of condensers.
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.
