How is the adaptability of Type C Air Conditioning Hose in the air conditioning system of new energy vehicles?

With the acceleration of the global energy structure transformation, the popularization of new energy vehicles has put forward higher requirements for all links in the industrial chain. As the core component of vehicle comfort, the performance optimization of the air conditioning system has become the focus of industry attention. Among them, the air conditioning hose is the "blood vessel" for refrigerant transmission, and its adaptability directly affects the efficiency and reliability of the system.
1. The particularity of the air conditioning system of new energy vehicles
Unlike traditional fuel vehicles, the air conditioning system of new energy vehicles faces multiple challenges:
Higher energy efficiency requirements: The cruising range of electric vehicles is directly related to the energy consumption of air conditioning, and energy loss needs to be reduced through efficient thermal management;
Stricter space restrictions: The battery pack layout compresses the installation space of the air conditioning pipeline, requiring the hose to have higher flexibility and compactness;
Complex dynamic working conditions: The high frequency of start-stop of the electric compressor causes violent fluctuations in the refrigerant pressure, which tests the pressure resistance of the hose;
Upgraded environmental protection standards: New energy vehicles generally use low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants such as R1234yf, requiring the hose material to have lower permeability.
These characteristics make it difficult for traditional air conditioning hoses to fully adapt, and the characteristics of Type C hoses just provide new ideas for solving these problems.
2. Technical advantages of Type C air conditioning hoses
Type C hoses are a multi-layer composite hose, usually composed of an inner layer of corrosion-resistant material, an intermediate reinforcement layer and an outer protective layer. Its core advantages are reflected in the following aspects:
High pressure resistance and pulse resistance
Through the design of aramid fiber or polyester fiber reinforcement layer, the bursting pressure of Type C hoses can reach more than 2 times that of traditional rubber hoses, and can withstand more than 100,000 pressure pulse tests, meeting the working conditions of frequent start and stop of new energy vehicles.
Lightweight and space adaptation
Compared with metal pipes, Type C hoses are about 40% lighter, and the bending radius can be reduced to 3 times the pipe diameter, which is convenient for flexible arrangement in the gap between the battery pack and the motor.
Low refrigerant permeability
Using modified nylon or EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer) as the inner layer material, the refrigerant permeability is reduced by 90% compared with traditional rubber hoses, which meets the use specifications of new environmentally friendly refrigerants.
High temperature and chemical corrosion resistance
The outer protective layer can withstand a temperature range of -40℃ to 150℃, while resisting the erosion of chemical substances such as electrolytes and antifreeze, ensuring long-term stability in complex environments.
3. Adaptability challenges and solutions
Although Type C hoses have significant advantages, the following bottlenecks still need to be overcome in practical applications:
Cost control: The process of multi-layer composite materials is complex, and manufacturing costs need to be reduced through large-scale production.
Connection reliability: The high-frequency vibration caused by electrification may affect the sealing of the hose and the joint, and the buckle structure and assembly process need to be optimized.
Intelligent requirements: In the future, air-conditioning systems may integrate pressure and temperature sensors, and the hoses need to reserve data acquisition interfaces.
Industry practice shows that the use of modular design (such as integrated hoses with pre-installed sensors) and new bonding technologies (such as laser welding) can effectively improve adaptation efficiency.