Evaluation of an Electrically Driven Automotive Air Conditioning System Using a Scroll Hermetic Compressor with a Brushless DC Motor

A completely hermetic refrigeration system can be one of the viable candidates for minimizing CFC emissions currently being released from automotive air conditioning systems which utilize an open type compressor with shaft seal and rubber hoses.

A series of system simulator tests and vehicle heat chamber tests was conducted using a prototype semi-hermetic scroll compressor with a brushless motor and a specially modified alternator. A conventional fixed displacement compressor was used in the original air conditioning system as a baseline, and the proposed electric system was evaluated on the same car to attain a comparable cooling performance. Heat influx to the passenger compartment was reduced by applying glazing film and insulation material, and the heat dissipation was increased by a high performance condenser.

Several other factors to determine the feasibility of this new system are also discussed.