Air conditioning

Have you ever wondered how the air-con system in your car actually works? The automotive air conditioning trainer enables students to find out how a typical system works whilst learning the principles of refrigeration. By using authentic components, students learn how to perform fault finding and servicing using a safe and accessible system. The product has been designed specifically with hands-on training in mind and it can also be used by students to perform the safe recovery and recharging of refrigerant.

Complete with compressor, condenser, receiver dryer, expansion valve and evaporator, the unit is pre-installed with R134a type refrigerant which is an HFC non-ozone depleting gas and is in line with global emissions guidelines. The system is furnished with high and low-side pressure service ports that facilitate easy connection of a gauge set or for the recovery and re-charging of refrigerant. These ports are typical quick coupler type as would be found on modern vehicles.

The speed of the motor which simulates the vehicle engine is variable by means of a
electronic, digitally controlled three-phase inverter drive. This enables the demonstration of the effect that compressor speed has on the system
performance. The system is designed to be bench mounted and run from either a 230 V or 110 V ac supply. There is a 12 V dc output socket which enables the connection of ancillary equipment, such as a UV leak detection lamp.

Features

• Uses actual automotive components
• Suitable for both technician and vocational teaching
• Portable design
• Uses non-ozone depleting HFC refrigerant 
• Enables hands-on access to all components
• Simulates common faults
• Variable speed motor simulates car engine
• Available for either 110V or 230V mains connection

The provision of a sight glass enables students to observe the state of the refrigerant in the high pressure side of the system. This assists with the diagnosis of simulated common faults which can be applied by the instructor, e.g.:

• Blocked TEV (Thermal Expansion Valve)
• Blocked receiver drier
• Faulty valve plate

The student will observe the effect of the faults by monitoring system pressures (using optional manifold gauges) changes in the cooling duty, observing changes on the digital thermometer and observing the state of the refrigerant in the sight glass. A high pressure cut-out switch shuts the compressor down if the high side pressure becomes abnormally high.