Carbon dioxide

Variable frequency drives from Welshpool-based Invertek Drives have been retrofitted to a CO₂ based HVACR system at a hospital in Trondheim, Norway.

In a three-year research study testing the viability of German manufacturer Liebherr’s CO₂ (R744) air-conditioning system on a long-distance passenger train, the “eco2jet” project showed an energy efficiency improvement of 30%.

Functioning prototypes show how CO₂ (R744) can be successfully used in applications such as bottle coolers, refrigerated containers and mobile air-conditioning without increasing costs or compromising on efficiency as compared to HFCs, according to Stefan Elbel, CEO of Creative Thermal Solutions (CTS), the Urbana, Illinois (U.S.), HVAC&R research company.

Started accepting orders for commercial freezers using natural refrigerants.

A new group, the Coalition for Green Heating and Cooling, aims to persuade Italian and EU policymakers to pursue more aggressive measures in the upcoming revision of the F-gas Regulation, including support for natural refrigerants across HVAC&R sectors.

This summer’s heatwave in the UK has created havoc for many supermarkets with multiple stories of refrigeration system failures, lost stock and lost sales. All refrigeration technologies have been affected by this extreme weather, but now, with so many retailers using CO₂ systems, Daniel Clark owner and MD at Preston-based CO₂ systems manufacturer Isentra, asks whether 130bar transcritical systems have now become a necessity?

The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA), a government agency that supports other federal agencies, has shortlisted a CO₂ (R744)-based heat pump from Likido as one of nine “next-generation” building technologies.

EcoChill’s on-farm CO₂ cooling and water heating system for dairy farms could realize significant savings, presented Matthew Darby during ATMO APAC.

A study of two air-to-water reversible CO2 (R744) heat pumps with ejectors at a Swiss shopping center led to improved system performance at a subsequent installation, according to an article by Jonas Schönenberger, Head of Research and Development at Swiss engineering consultancy Frigo-Consulting.

A CO₂ air conditioning system from German manufacturer Liebherr has been successfully tested in a passenger train in Austria.

Transport refrigeration company Ecooltec Grosskopf has developed a new generation of electrically-driven transport refrigeration unit using CO₂ and the hydrocarbon refrigerant R1270 (propene).

German compressor manufacturer BOCK is expanding its transcritical CO₂ (R744) compressor portfolio with two efficiency-improving technologies: a new Line Start Permanent Magnet (LSPM) motor technology series, and the DCR22 CO₂ compressor output controller.

Leading manufacturers of CO₂ (R744) refrigeration systems see robust growth in the adoption of transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems for commercial and industrial applications in North America.

Alaska-based Denali Brewing and Spirits has completed the commissioning, site training and startup of its PROGreen CO₂ (R744) chiller from U.S. manufacturer Pro Refrigeration; it is one of the first CO2 process cooling chillers installed in the U.S.

Since bringing its transcritical CO₂ (R744) condensing units to the Australian and New Zealand market in 2020, Japanese manufacturer Panasonic, in partnership with its New Zealand-based subsidiary McAlpine Hussmann, has seen a steady growth in sales each year.

Italian compressor manufacturer Dorin has tested a process-cooling CO₂ (R744) chiller in several North American climate zones and found that they have “great potential” in combined cooling and heating applications.

More than 60% of German electric buses (e-buses) in 2021 used Konvekta’s CO₂ (R744) heat pump systems, according to a recent statement from the German manufacturer.

While Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has focused its rollout of natural refrigerants on CO₂ (R744) systems, the company also has its eye on hydrocarbons.

The EU-funded project Refrigerants, Naturally! RefNat4LIFE has recently launched two free online courses – also known as massive online open courses (MOOC) – on natural refrigerants to support store owners’ and technicians’ transition away from f-gases.

An ice rink in Pirkkala, southwestern Finland, has reduced its annual energy consumption from 500MWh to 350MWh, a saving of 30%, by replacing an old R404 system with a new CO₂ (R744) rack with two-stage heat recovery.