A car's climate control basic system is responsible for maintaining a comfortable interior cabin air temperature.
If you've ever had a hot or stuffy ride in a car that's only slightly refreshed, then you know how uncomfortable it can be to sit inside with inadequate climate temperature control. Backseat temperature controls are the number one feature parents look for when purchasing used mini-vans.
Conventional air conditioning systems (A/C) work by cooling the air before pumping it into the car's cabin. Here, a compressor pumps refrigerant from a high-pressure tank to a low-pressure one where heat is dissipated into the atmosphere from the entire car as it undergoes a phase change from liquid to gas. In this process, its temperature decreases and its entropy increases.A/C units require an external power source for this ac system cycle, which makes them expensive to run when you consider all of the electrical work required to circulate cool air through the system. Vehicles also use their engine's power output in order to provide A/C comfort, which can limit fuel economy.
Even though there is a difference between air conditioning and climate control, they are not really interchangeable terms, many climate control systems and A/C are often used interchangeably when speaking about vehicles' heating and cooling systems. This may be because almost every vehicle automatic climate control system unit combines both heating and cooling modes into a single unit but with two controllers.
Modern climate control systems use a refrigerant to move heat rather than actually cool the air. This is because it can be compressed into a liquid at high pressure with a little temperature drop, which means that it causes less entropy in the process of turning into gas, producing cold air. A compressor works by repeatedly increasing and decreasing this pressure, which forces more heat through the system before finally dissipating it through fins attached to the outside of the unit. Here the standard equipment undergoes another phase change, this time from a gas back to liquid so that it can start over again on what is basically an endless feedback loop that results in ambient temperature. High-pressure hoses carry pressurised gas between components like valves and tubing (also made out of metal) and a thermal expansion valve or capillary tube, which regulates the specific temperature depressurisation process through advanced systems. All of these active components require an external power source to run. In fact, some high-end luxury cars end up using more gas when they have their climate control systems on due to the additional electrical work required to maintain the temperature inside.
This lets you set different temperatures for the front and back seats with an added auto button. You can segregate climate controls into two temperature controls/three-zone systems, one for the driver and another for the passengers in the back. This is why most cars have dual climate control knobs located on the dashboard of vehicles that offer this feature while others have a four-zone climate control feature for passages to experience the same temperature. The number of temperature sensors used also varies according to how many people might be using the system at any given time. Having more than one sensor ensures that the desired temperature is reached and that each person will feel comfortable during a ride no matter where they are sitting even those seated in the engine bay. Some systems even let you set different rear cabin temperatures for side windows so that you can prevent too much heat from ruining your car's upholstery as well as your mood. Such features are common on three-zone climate control systems.
Other common features include those listed below:
Auto climate control is where the air con automatically sets fan speed, operational mode and temperature preferences based on environmental factors such as air entering or time of day. If it gets too cold, warm up the car before you even get in. If the air inside is going to be hot later on during your journey, turn on the A/C beforehand. This will save fuel while preventing discomfort from changing weather conditions during your ride.
This shows you what is going on inside your vehicle.
Many modern car manufacturers have added detectors that tell the system when to switch from re-circulating air to fresh air in order to keep the air nice and fresh. A/C units need to be run for a few minutes in order to push all of the previous air out.
Some climate controls also come with an auto mode that allows you to control the system without having to constantly adjust it yourself. This can save time and energy while helping you avoid distractions in heavy traffic conditions with half-degree increments.
When you have a problem with your A/C unit, you need to call in a professional who has car engine experience working on these systems during car repair. There are several components that must work together in order for the climate control system to function properly. There are many parts of the climate control system that should be replaced every few years, such as: