Air Conditioning question

[Philossifer]

Originally Posted by Maroon 5.0 LX

The primary function of the receiver-drier is to separate gas and liquid. The secondary purpose is to remove moisture and filter out dirt.

Here is a good site that explains the different components of your AC system: http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/ac1.htm

That's a good point but most Fords don't have a Receiver/Drier. They have an Accumulator.

A Receiver is located on the “high side” between the outlet of condenser and the inlet of the evaporator. Its main purpose is to store liquid refrigerant so the metering device always has a supply of liquid refrigerant. The expansion valve (orifice) in a receiver/drier type system will not work with vapor; it can only meter liquid. The Receivers secondary function is to remove moisture from the refrigerant. Usually, systems that have a Receiver aren't critically charged; in other words, the amount of refrigerant in the system is (to a certain degree) does not have to be within specs. The expansion valve can meter the refrigerant regardless of what’s happing on the high side, so if the high side is a little too high because of too much refrigerant, the system will still cool properly.

An Accumulator (on the other hand) is located on the “low side” between the outlet of the evaporator and inlet of the compressor. Its main purpose is to keep liquid refrigerant from going to the compressor. Liquid can not be compressed so any liquid refrigerant that finds its way back to the compressor can/will severely damage it. Accumulators also have a desiccant bag in them which absorbs moisture from the refrigerant. This type of A/C is a critical charge system. Too much refrigerant will flood the evaporator with liquid refrigerant and not enough will starve the evaporator.

Not trying to be a smart-ass but a lot of people mistakenly call an accumulator a receiver and vise/versa.
Phil