Work

Performance Evaluation of Automotive Air-Conditioner using Condensate Drain as Discharge Line Cooler

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Automotive air conditioning (A/C) systems increase fuel consumption. Improving the A/C performance reduce the automotive fuel consumption. One of the methods of improving the automotive A/C performance is the use of condensate drain as a discharge line cooler. Condensate is generated by the automotive A/C during the operation. The large temperature difference between the condensate drain and discharge line made the condensate a potential cooler for the discharge line. Lowering the discharge line temperature causes subcooling and decrease in compressor power input. This research was carried out on an automotive A/C with an engine rotation of 1000 rpm, where the discharge line is equipped by a 1-inch diameter pipe with a length of 15 cm. The large pipe serves as a heat exchanger between the condensate drain and the discharge line. The data collection was carried out after 30 minutes of the A/C operation. The results showed that the use of condensate as a discharge cooler reduced the input power by 9.7%, from 1.477 kW to 1.346 kW. In addition, this method also produced subcooling of 2.1oC, and increased the cooling capacity by 6.8%, from 4.849 kW to 5.177 kW. Consequently, COP improvement of 17.1% was obtained.

Source: Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences

DOI: 10.37934/arfmts.129.2.256265

Authors: Ismail Wellid, Kasni Sumeru, Apip Badarudin, Rifal Mulki Pratama, Muhammad Nuriyadi, Sulaimon Shodiya

Institutions: Politeknik Negeri Bandung, University of Maiduguri

Language: English

Topic: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi