Electric air conditioning compressor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 09:07:24 am
content: I am looking for an air conditioning compressor that will work at around 72V or 110V. Does anyone make these?

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 09:20:45 am
content: you might be able to find a 110V AC compressor with a universal motor, but no clue as to suppliers (Assuming you are after a DC motor)

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 10:17:34 am
content: It would have to be DC.

author: jhpadjustable
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 10:17:54 am
content: Yes. Here's a couple of Chinese listings to get you started. Purswave makes at least one that might suit, but you might not love the price.https://purswave.en.made-in-china.com/product/oSwJhGzVbacl/China-Vcxz135DC72-72V-Inverter-DC-Compressor-for-Air-Conditioning.htmlBoyard might make them but who can tell if they're just SEO-happy.https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/product-detail/r134a-12v-dc-air-conditioner-compressor_60129408508.html

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 11:21:15 am
content: The better AC compressors are run by a VFD drive anyway. So the inverter runs from DC anyway. Tho the voltage is a bit tricky since even rectified 110V american mains is more voltage than what you have.The amount of power you need also plays a big role. Is this a little 1kW compressor or a 10kW beast?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 11:43:24 am
content: I'm looking at 3-6kW cooling (1.5-3kW input). I think there is some negotiating to do on the supply voltage with the customer so if we present with a voltage they can take their over 1kVDC down to what we want.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 11:52:46 am
content: If they have 1kVDC available, looking at the bog standard inverter drive Panasonic/etc. aircon units would do the trick. Just step down to some 300VDC.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 12:10:09 pm
content: In that case take a 220V so called "inverter compressor" air conditioner and take it apart to find the DC bus capacitors. Then put 300V DC into those. Maybe you can just put 300V across phase and neutral and have it work (Its possible this might make the active PFC upset tho)Most switching supplies run perfectly fine from 100 to 350V DC into the input.Just make sure its NOT a air conditioner with the classical asynchronous motor driven compressor. Those will blow up if fed DC

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 10:06:54 pm
content: Boss wants something rugged.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 11:17:28 pm
content: Best choice would probably be a cooling unit for a refrigerated shipping trailer, not sure what voltage they run on but I would have to guess 24V from the truck or 120/240V when plugged in. (I wouldn't be surprised if the truck supplies 120V or 240V from an onboard inverter or generator - the wiring for 24V would be really thick for that kind of power.)The A/C compressors out of EVs and hybrids are also designed to withstand intense vibration, but I don't think they're really designed for a lot of operating hours.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2019, 11:32:57 pm
content: Rugged in terms of what?Electrical stress? Mechanical stress? Harsh environment? Lasting decades of continuous operation?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:17:43 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on December 25, 2019, 11:32:57 pmIt would be on a moving vehicle so mostly shock and vibration.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:33:57 pm
content: Train AC units, so probably not a good place for a scroll or other hermetic unit, the vibration will kill them pretty fast. You might want to look into semi hermetic compressors that are piston based, with a 3 phase motor as drive, and then a standard inverter block driver for them. At least with that you can use a 3 phase input converter, meaning you need around a 400VDC power supply to drive it.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:35:55 pm
content: 6kW in a vehicle? it gotta be a very large vehicle with medium sized ball/meeting room at behind? shock to a compressor will be my least concern damper can be made as its support. there are copper piping connected to condenser and cooling coil etc that you have to get all of them right, people wont enjoy exploding R410a gas in a confined space. if the boss or you have to ask, and this is for company business or contract (worst if government), why dont ask the expert such as York or whoever company specialized in mobile air conditioning in your area? they dont just give you the product, but the advice as well.. ymmv.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:38:56 pm
content: We typically use piston compressors but driven off an engine. This time we have DC power but the cooling has suddenly been increased from one unit to several so i think it is more a case of find what we want and then get them to supply the voltage we need.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:57:09 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on December 26, 2019, 01:35:55 pmVehicle:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 02:06:22 pm
content: if York or Denso doesnt produce nor know who can, it probably means custom built compressor, send a design to china factory or few engine driven compressors tucked to a suitable AC/DC motor, not pretty. ymmv.Quote from: Simon on December 26, 2019, 01:57:09 pmoic... bus... maybe you can poke the nearesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scania_ABto see how they do it, or to make friends...

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 02:35:46 pm
content: I don't think scania run 72+ volts. With 6kW I'd rather have a decent voltage.