ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 21 REFRIGERATION A guide in three parts The guide was published in three separate parts, the last of which contained the entire combined resource available for free download online. Part 1 looks at CO 2 as a refrigerant, covering the history, policy measures and basic technical aspects related to this gas. It also includes a chapter on applications, showing case studies from around the world where transcritical CO 2 has been successfully deployed. In Part 2, we specifically look at convenience stores as well as commercial refrigeration installations, sharing market research and data regarding the number of installations worldwide and key market trends. Part 3 covers industrial applications, as well as barriers and opportunities for the uptake of transcritical CO 2 systems, looking at the future market potential and trends. There are an estimated 650 transcritical CO 2 installations in the U.S. On average, 93% are in supermarkets and 7% at industrial sites. In Canada, there are an estimated 340 installations, including ice rinks and data centres. In Japan, the use of transcritical CO 2 in small stores has traditionally been the most popular (compared to larger installations). However, in the past three years, there has been a noticeable shift towards using this solution in larger installations as well. This is predominantly thanks to eased government restrictions on the use of CO 2 in larger systems. Future trends At the same time as the data collection process, sheccoBase also conducted a global survey among 250 industry experts on the current use and future opportunities of transcritical CO 2 . More than half the survey respondents were from outside of Europe, representing the global HVAC&R sector. The survey included input from a variety of stakeholders – both from industry and academia, including system and component manufacturers, refrigeration contractors, consultants, engineers, end users; and players from the education and training sector. As a whole, respondents evaluated transcritical CO 2 as a suitable alternative to HFCs and HFOs. It was also found that all- The table shows the breakdown of estimated installations per key region: Image: sheccoBase in-one integrated systems are popular with all participants and that equipment such as parallel compression and adiabatic cooling are considered essential for improving energy e–ciencies. When it comes to the adoption of transcritical CO 2 refrigeration systems around the world, there are various drivers and barriers that influence this choice. Drivers will have a positive impact on the uptake of the technology, while barriers might hinder the progress of it. Some of the key drivers and barriers were highlighted in the industry survey. Training was mentioned as a challenge regularly throughout the survey – often considered a key barrier. Other barriers highlighted included the higher first costs of transcritical CO 2 refrigeration systems and the challenges associated with working with high pressures. The survey respondents also shared an overwhelmingly positive response in terms of drivers, the biggest of which being CO 2 ’s environmentally friendly properties, the limited regulatory constraints, and the increased energy e–ciency. These make CO 2 the preferred choice for end users wanting to future proof their installations and be sustainable. To assess the drivers and barriers properly, it is important look at how transcritical CO 2 systems compare to other available options – such as traditional HFC systems, as well as HFO systems that are now gaining in popularity, and even natural refrigerants, such as ammonia (R717) and propane (R290). The drivers and barriers will change depending on the region as some countries are more advanced in their CO 2 journey compared to others. In some regions, training is plentiful, for example, while other regions might still struggle with component availability. However, as regulatory pressure fast-tracks the move away from harmful synthetic refrigerants, many factors that were previously considered barriers are being addressed to increase the uptake of sustainable refrigeration solutions such as transcritical CO 2 . With the help of extensive research, the ‘World Guide to Transcritical CO 2 Refrigeration’ has highlighted the great potential of CO 2 for the use in refrigeration installations of any size. Although it may not always be the most suitable solution for a particular installation in a particular geographical region, it is certainly worth considering as it often brings great environmental and e–ciency gains. With increasing regulatory pressures to phase down harmful refrigerants and even the low-GWP synthetic refrigerants starting to show warning signs, the future is clearly natural. The refrigerated cabinets of the new Lidl Zero in Woerden, Netherlands, are cooled by an energy efficient transcritical refrigeration system, as built by TEKO Image: TEKO The impressive 4MW industrial transcritical installation at Yosemite Foods in the US, as built by Sphere Solutions Image: Sphere