WD Catalog 2018

2-5

Go to Chapter Start

Table of Contents

Index

Air Conditioner – System Operation

HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID

(OUT)

OUTSIDE AIR

FLOW

CONDENSER

HOT HIGH

PRESSURE GAS

(IN)

3. Receiver-Drier

The liquid refrigerant continues to move inside the system, out of the

condenser through a tube or hose to the receiver-drier. The receiver-drier

serves as a small storage tank and filter for the refrigerant. It is also a

good location to mount pressure switches and often contains a sight glass

(small window) used to view activity inside the system. The receiver-drier,

Figure 2-6, also separates gas (bubbles) from the liquid with a pick-up

tube as shown in this illustration. Some receiver-driers have a spring to

preload the desiccant pack.

RECEIVER-DRIER

FILTER PAD

MOLECULAR SIEVE

(DESICCANT)

STORAGE

INLET

OUTLET

SCREEN

FILTER PAD

SCREEN

PICKUP TUBE

SIGHT GLASS

Figure 2-5

As the refrigerant gas

moves through the tubing

coil from top to bottom, it

condenses (changes state)

into a liquid. For ease of

installation, condenser

fittings are often routed

close together.

Figure 2-6

This cutaway view of a

receiver-drier shows the

filter elements, inlet, outlet

and refrigerant path. The

sight glass is a small win-

dow into the system used in

diagnosis and when adding

refrigerant (charging the

system).