Among the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s), comfort, fuel efficiency and safety are the key factors that drive the vehicle business. The main contributors of vehicle comfort are vibration, noise, thermal comfort (temperature), air quality, light, and ergonomics. In this context, compressor noise plays an important role in the comfort of the passengers. Noise can have adverse effect on occupants in the vehicle starting from mild annoyance and may lead to loss of concentration. It is a big challenge for the automotive engineer to find the source of noise and path through which it is transmitted, and eventually to reduce or dampen it during the product development.
The objective of this paper is to understand the functioning of various compressor’s noise characteristics in static (i.e. initial engagement of compressor) and dynamic condition (i.e. during compressor running). The initial compressor engagement noise was reduced close to 6 ~ 8dB(A) by the implementation of a clutch with rubber damper and the same was confirmed at vehicle level subjectively. In addition, the noise observed inside the cabin generated due to various phenomenon, but the source of compressor noise is identified and implemented various techniques which resulted in noise reduction by 4 to 5 dB(A). Over and above the study shows the scroll compressor has given significant improvement of noise by 10 dB(A) compare to reciprocating compressor at vehicle level.