Condenser HVAC: Description and Operation

The air conditioning condenser is an aluminum fin and tube design heat exchanger located in front of the radiator. It cools compressed refrigerant gas by allowing air to pass over fins and tubes to extract heat. It condenses gas to liquid refrigerant as it is cooled.




The condenser inlet and outlet connections are the male part of a spring lock coupling. A special service tool is required to disconnect the refrigerant lines from the condenser. The procedure to disconnect and reconnect the spring lock coupling is shown in the illustration.