How it Works
Rotary Vane Style Compressors
Rotary Vane compressors are generally found on Import vehicles and operate a lot like the old rotary engines. The center “rotor” is slightly off center, and the vanes sweep against the outer wall. As the “rotor” rotates off center, it generates a vacuum in the larger area as it spins the refrigerant along. When the refrigerant reaches the smallest area of the rotation, it is forced to compress and leaves the chamber as a high pressure.
It is important that vane compressors are supplied with oil. Any restriction blocking oil can result in a devastating effect. It is also necessary that the compressor is correctly “primed” before installation. If the compressor is not primed correctly, the vanes will not be lubricated, and upon startup of the air conditioning system, the compressor will not pump correctly. Therefore, the compressor will appear to have failed when it has not.