The present invention relates to a filter/separator for a vehicle air conditioning system, and more particularly to a filter/separator which functions as a filter and as a separator as well.
A conventional air conditioning system for vehicles includes a compressor, a condenser with a cooling fan, a filter for filtering water and other undesired articles contained in coolant, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower, and a separator installed between the compressor and the condenser for separation of gaseous coolant and liquid coolant to prevent liquid coolant from entering into the compressor. Nevertheless, the lowering of temperature of the coolant leaving the compressor by the cooling fan of the condenser is not efficient. In addition, the filter is installed in an engine hood which is exposed to a high-temperature environment, rendering the temperature in the filter to be higher than atmospheric temperature. Accordingly, the temperature of coolant cannot be efficiently and effectively lowered, resulting in bad air conditioning, inefficient compressor operation, and energywaste.
The present invention provides a filter/separator to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.