General information (Opel Insignia A)

Heater

Engine coolant is the working fluid of the car's interior heater. Coolant is supplied under pressure to the heater core through the inlet hose.

The heater core is located inside the air conditioning unit. Heat from the coolant flowing through the heater core is transferred to the air passing through the air conditioning unit. The heated air is supplied to the passenger compartment, providing a comfortable temperature.

The amount of warm air supplied to the passenger compartment is regulated by opening or closing the temperature flap of the air conditioning system.

The coolant exits the heater core through the return hose and returns to the cooling system.

Air conditioner

The working fluid of the air conditioning system is a refrigerant. Currently, only R-134a refrigerant is approved for use in automobile air conditioning systems. It is a low-temperature gas that can transfer excess heat and moisture from the passenger compartment to the atmospheric air.

The air conditioning compressor is driven by a belt from the crankshaft and is activated by activating the electromagnetic clutch. The compressor creates pressure in the vaporous refrigerant, which heats up when compressed. The refrigerant exits the compressor and enters the condenser under pressure through a hose. The air conditioning system is mechanically protected from excessive pressure by a relief valve. If the pressure sensor fails or the system is clogged and the pressure increases, the relief valve opens and releases the pressure.



Compressed refrigerant vapors enter the condenser under high pressure and at high temperature. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser, it gives off heat to the environment. Due to cooling, the refrigerant condenses and changes from a gaseous to a liquid state.

(Source is on this resource: «OpelBook.ru»)

The condenser is located in front of the radiator to ensure maximum heat transfer. The condenser is made of aluminum and has fins that provide rapid heat transfer. The semi-cooled liquid refrigerant leaves the condenser and enters the expansion valve via the liquid line.

The expansion valve is located between the condenser and the evaporator. It is the dividing point between the high-pressure and low-pressure circuits of the air conditioning system. In the expansion valve, the pressure of the refrigerant drops and it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state, and its temperature drops sharply. The expansion valve also measures the amount of liquid refrigerant that then flows into the evaporator.

The refrigerant from the expansion valve under low pressure enters the evaporator core. The atmospheric air passing through the air conditioning unit is cooled and dried by the evaporator, since the moisture from it settles in the form of condensate on the evaporator plates and is then removed from the car, flowing down special channels. The refrigerant in the evaporator is heated, after which it again enters the compressor through the intake line in a vaporous state, completing the heat exchange cycle. In the compressor, the refrigerant is again compressed and the cycle is repeated.

The conditioned air is distributed through the air conditioning unit throughout the vehicle interior, ensuring the required air temperature.