A/C Compressor Description

• The A/C compressor is a swash plate type that has 7 cylinders. This A/C compressor has the advantages of low power consumption and improved performance at low speeds.
• The A/C compressor compresses the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant vaporized into a high-pressure gas by the evaporator so that the condenser can liquidize it more easily.
• A drain plug is installed in the A/C compressor which improves service when the oil is drained.

Structure 

• The A/C compressor consists mainly of a shaft, a swash plate, seven rods, and seven pistons.
• Seven pistons are fitted on the circumference of the swash plate which is fixed to the shaft.
  Fig 1: Identifying A/C Compressor Internal Components

  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

  A/C COMPRESSOR 

  Operation 

  • As the shaft rotates, the pistons move back and forth inside the cylinders to correspond to the swash plate motion.
  1. As the piston goes down, the outside refrigerant pushes the suction valve down and the refrigerant is sucked into the cylinder so that the volume of the chamber increases and the pressure decreases.
  2. As the piston goes up, the refrigerant is compressed.
  3. The compressed refrigerant pushes the discharge valve up and the refrigerant is discharged from the cylinder.
  Fig 2: Identifying A/C Compressor Operation

  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.