CO2
CO2 in refrigeration systems
Already used in the 19th century, in particular on trawlers to produce the cold necessary to preserve the fish, then replaced by fluorinated refrigerants, CO2 offers thermodynamic and environmental properties useful in refrigeration and is now a credible alternative to fluorinated fluids.Its remarkable thermodynamic properties allow the construction of high energy efficiency installations.
CO2 is the reference unit, with a value of 1, used to measure GWP (Global Warming Potential). Its impact on global warming remains moderate compared to the most common HFCs, such as R404a, which has a GWP of 3260 kg CO2 Eq. or R134a, with a GWP of 1300 kg CO2 equivalent. Using CO2 instead of HFCs guarantees your installations will continue to meet regulatory requirements in the future and comply with your company's sustainable development policy.
It is possible to use CO2 in refrigeration systems in two different ways:
- as a secondary refrigerant (without compression)
- as a primary refrigerant (with compression): it is used in "subcritical" cycles (below 30°C) in a cascade system with another refrigerant or alone in a "transcritical" cycle (above 30°C)
With more than sixty installations operating with CO2 in a wide variety of industries, AXIMA REFRIGERATION counts among the major players in the rebirth of CO2 refrigeration in France.
