Experimental Investigation of an Automobile Air-Conditioning System using Integrated Brushless Direct Current Motor Rotary Compressor

¹ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
² UTM-Ocean Thermal Energy Center (UTM-OTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Semarak, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
³ Automotive Development Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
⁴ Efficient Energy & Thermal Management Research Group, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka

^a Corresponding author: mohdfirdaus@utem.edu.my

Abstract

The present study presents an experimental investigation on the effect of condenser air inlet temperature and dimensionless parameter of X on the performance of automobile air-conditioning (AAC) system using integrated brushless direct current motor-rotary compressor and electronic expansion valve. The other components of AAC system are from original component of AAC system used for medium size passenger car. The experimental results showed that the increment of the condenser air inlet temperature and X caused an increase in condensing temperature, cooling capacity and compressor work, while decreasing the coefficient of performance (COP). Meanwhile, the evaporating temperature increase with the increment of condenser air inlet temperature, but decrease with decrement of X. In general, AAC system have to work at higher value of X in order to produce more cooling capacity, thereby increment in compressor work also occurs due to energy balance. However, at higher value of X, the COP of the system dropped due to dominant increase in compressor power, as opposed to a rise in cooling capacity. Due to this reason, the best operation of this compressor occurs at X = 4.96 for constant T₅ (35ºC), or at T₅ = 30ºC for constant X (4.96).