Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 08:55:29 -0800
Reply-To: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Dramatically Improving AC capacity
In-Reply-To: <0d9d01c16aae$e754e980$5d086d18@videon70882>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
All,
I've, been toying with the engineering idea to integrate a second AC
unit into the front heater/fan unit. The air blowing in or pulled by
the squirlcage fan would flow through the AC fins just like the
heater core. This would alow for no interior modifications and the
use of all the existing front vent system. But rather than blowing
warm outside air it would blow cool conditioned air .... just like
all the other frigin vehicles!
The trick is two fold:
1) Tapping into the existing high and low pressure AC hoses up front
by the radiator. Also refilling the system for the increased
capacity.
2) inserting the AC evaporator into the the stock front heater unit
in a way that will fit under the dash and still allow existing
vent/heat to operate.
The engineering of connecting a front and rear ac unit is not too
hard since this is done on US Cheby vans. Just a T connection and a
regulator valve.
The hard part is to identify a potential area of void in the existing
heater unit and duct work and to find an evaporator that will fit.
The rest is a glue job.
Just my thoughts on AC improvements.
Joel
89 Syncro Westy
Rochchchchchcester NY. at a cool 38 degrees this morning
--- Marshall Ruskin <mjruskin@HOME.COM> wrote:
> Hi Volks:
>
> The one deficiency remaining unresolved with our Vanagons - is the
> inadequate capacity of the AC system, and I'd like to start a
> thread dealing
> with remedying that.
>
> Problem:
>
> The AC capacity of our Vanagons is inadequate to reject the amount
> of heat
> to necessary to maintain passenger comfort on very hot and humid
> days.
>
> Background:
>
> Many of us have worked hard to improve our AC system's efficiency,
> both by
> improving the thermodynamic efficiency and by improving the
> airflow, and
> that's great. However, on very hot and humid days - it is barely
> adequate
> but usually inadequate for complete respite from discomfort.
>
> Discussion:
>
> There are several approaches to improving the AC system available:
>
> 1. increasing the capacity of the existing system;
>
> 2. installing a higher capacity system to replace the existing
> one;
>
> 3. Installing a secondary AC system to provide additional
> heat-rejection
> capacity;
>
> 4. Alternative approaches not listed.
>
> Each of these approaches is a compromise between cost (including
> time), ease
> of implementation, reliability and likelihood to meet performance
> requirements.
>
> Action:
>
> I request that specific ideas be brought forward from the list, and
> that
> these ideas be framed by the points 1 - 4 above. By framing the
> ideas as
> requested, we can keep the discussion organized.
>
> Regards,
>
> Marshall Ruskin, 84 Westy
> Aloha from Winnipeg!
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