How to Clean and Diagnose a Faulty Air Conditioning Compressor
In the hot summer working environment, an excavator or loader that can "blow cool air" is a lifesaver for the operator. Whether it can cool or not depends on a key component: the air conditioning compressor!
But do you know? The working environment of the air conditioning compressor on heavy equipment is much worse than that of a family car. If you don't pay attention to maintenance, the air conditioning compressor on heavy equipment will not cool at best, and the whole machine will stop working at worst!
This article will explain the following three practical questions in a simple and easy-to-understand way:
- How does air conditioning compressor work
- How to clean air conditioning compressor
- How to know if air conditioning compressor is bad
How Does Air Conditioning Compressor Work
The compressor is the power source of the refrigeration system. If it doesn't work, there will be no air conditioning! In construction machinery, the air conditioning compressor is generally driven by the engine belt. It uses mechanical energy to compress the refrigerant and promote the circulation of the entire refrigeration system.
Its working process can be simply understood as four steps:
1. Inhalation of low-pressure gas
The low-temperature gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator is inhaled by the compressor
2. High-pressure compression
The compressor compresses the refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure gas
3. Discharge to the condenser
The high-pressure gas dissipates heat in the condenser and becomes liquid
4. Circulate for cooling
The liquid refrigerant flows through the expansion valve and becomes cold again, and enters the evaporator in the car to absorb heat and refrigerate.
Construction machinery usually operates continuously in high temperature, high dust and high load environment. The compressor is extremely burdened, so understanding its operating principle is particularly important for users to maintain it later.
How to Clean Air Conditioning Compressor
Compressor cleaning may seem simple, but it is especially critical for construction machinery! Since construction machinery operates in harsh environments such as mining areas, construction sites, and sandy land all year round, air conditioning compressors are very likely to absorb dust and oil, which will affect their heat dissipation and operating efficiency over time.
The following are practical methods for cleaning compressors:
1. Turn off the equipment and cut off the power
Safety first, especially when the diesel engine is not completely cooled, do not operate.
2. Open the engine compartment to check the position of the compressor
Generally located on the side of the engine, connected to the belt system.
3. Use compressed air or dry brush to clean the surface dust
It is not recommended to use high-pressure water for direct flushing;
If there are oil stains, wipe the surface with an appropriate amount of detergent;
It is also important to clean the surrounding condenser and pipe interfaces.
4. Focus on checking the belt and wiring interface
Aging and slipping of the belt will directly affect the compression efficiency of the compressor;
If the electromagnetic clutch plug is loose, it will also cause the compressor to fail to engage normally.
MyMROmarts recommends that you perform maintenance checks once a quarter, or make reasonable adjustments based on the intensity of equipment use.
How to Know if Air Conditioning Compressor Is Bad
What are the symptoms of a broken compressor in construction machinery? These are the most common ones! Construction machinery does not have intelligent prompts like private cars, and many times the problem has to be judged by "people". The following are typical signs of failure:
1. The air conditioner fan blows normally, but it is not cool
The refrigerant circulation fails, and the compressor is likely to not work.
2. There is a "click" when the equipment is just started, but there is no subsequent response
The electromagnetic clutch of the compressor fails to engage or is stuck inside.
3. The engine is obviously struggling or even stalls after turning on the air conditioner
The compressor is overloaded or the bearings are severely worn, causing the engine to be overloaded.
4. The belt makes abnormal noise or slips obviously
The compressor bearing is stuck and the belt tension is insufficient, which can cause this situation.
5. Oil stains or traces of refrigerant leakage appear
The aging of the compressor body, joints or O-rings is a common source of failure in high-pressure systems.
If you find the above problems, it is recommended that you stop using the air conditioning system immediately and find a professional technician to repair or replace it.
On heavy equipment, the air conditioning compressor affects the user's comfort and even affects the driver's safety and work efficiency. It is the "power pump" of the entire refrigeration system; regularly cleaning dust and oil, checking belts and lines can extend its service life; no refrigeration, abnormal noise, heavy load, etc. may indicate a fault, don't ignore it!
If your equipment needs to replace the compressor, welcome to MyMROmarts. We provide air conditioning compressors suitable for Caterpillar, Komatsu, Kubota, Volvo and other brand engineering machinery, shipped worldwide, worry-free after-sales.