2006-07-25 22:53:03 · 2 answers · asked by doilooklikeme 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
The same way that a home air conditioner works, except its powered by the engine's drive belt instead of a wall outlet.
In order to understand air conditioners you have to know two fundamental things.
1) when you compress a gas, it heats up.
2) when you expand a gas, it cools down.
So what happens is that refrigerant is basically in a tube thats a loop. The compressor, which is powered by the motor, compresses the gas under high pressure. This heats it up significantly. It then passes into a radiator of sorts, where a fan cools down the temperature. So now the refrigerant is under high pressure and at fairly cool temperature.
It then passed into an insulated area with larger diameter tubing. This causes the refrigerant to expand, and thus its temperature drops. The now-cold refrigerant is passed again through a radiator like structure. A fan blows over the radiator, passing the cold air into the car and onto you. The cycle then repeats over.
Not too complicated, fairly ingenious!
2006-07-25 22:56:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when u press the "on" button :)
2006-07-25 22:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by HOTTürk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋