CO2 Solutions - Sporlan Division | Parker US
Commercial Refrigeration

Energy management solutions for supermarkets.

CO₂ is rapidly gaining traction as the favored refrigerant for supermarket applications, with Sporlan spearheading this shift. The introduction of refrigerant regulations such as the global Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the European F-gas regulation has hastened the search for alternative solutions. Consequently, CO₂ has emerged as the most practical and efficient choice among natural refrigerants for use in supermarket applications.

Product Spotlight

90HP Series Filter-Drier

The 90HP Series sealed model filterdriers were created for safeguarding HVAC/R CO2 (R-744) systems. The 90HP protects compressors, valves, and other system components from the harmful effects of moisture, acid, and solid debris.

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Want to optimize your CO2 solution? Contact a Parker Sporlan Applications Engineer.

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Discussion on Refrigerant Changes in the HVACR Industry and What to Expect

Parker Sporlan Supermarket Seminar: Supermarkets of the Future

What to Know About A2L Refrigerants: It's Not That Scary

Parker Sporlan Transcritical CO2 Flow Controls

Supermarket Refrigeration CO2

CO₂ is rapidly becoming the preferred refrigerant for food retailers. Each year, approximately 10,000 supermarkets are transitioning to transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.

 

Significant advantages are offered by CO₂, especially for those aiming to minimize their environmental footprint. By replacing HFCs with CO₂, food retailers can drastically lower their stores' Global Warming Potential (GWP) to as minimal as 1. If correctly implemented, transcritical CO₂ systems can also cut costs and enhance reliability, making it an appealing option for any store owner.

 

Historically, transcritical CO₂ has been primarily used by supermarkets with large refrigeration equipment. However, an increasing number of small format stores are showing interest. Despite the reputation of transcritical CO₂ for being intricate and challenging to handle, advancements in technology are making it more user-friendly and straightforward to implement.

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Industrial Refrigeration CO2

The adoption of carbon dioxide (CO2) in industrial refrigeration systems is on the rise, given its multitude of advantages. CO2's outstanding thermodynamic qualities make it an excellent choice for industrial refrigeration. It possesses a high volumetric cooling capacity that could potentially result in the design of smaller, more efficient systems. Transcritical CO2 systems excel in applications requiring low temperatures, making them perfectly suited for industries such as food processing and storage that demand low-temperature conditions.

 

However, there are challenges associated with using CO2 in industrial refrigeration. The most notable is that CO2 operates at higher pressures than most other refrigerants, which requires specific design and safety considerations. It also means that technicians working with CO2 systems need to be well-trained to handle these pressures.

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System Efficiency

Optimizing the efficiency of CO2 refrigeration systems is a key area of focus. This could involve improving the design of the system, selecting the right components, and effectively managing the heat recovery. It's especially important to maintain efficiency in higher ambient temperatures, where CO2 systems can traditionally struggle due to the critical point of CO2.

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High-Pressure Management

CO2 refrigeration systems operate at higher pressures than traditional systems. Therefore, a significant area of focus is on designing and maintaining systems that can safely and reliably handle these pressures. This includes the use of appropriate materials, safety devices, and maintenance procedures.

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Environmental Impact

Given the increasing concern about climate change and the tightening of regulations around refrigerants, another major focus area is minimizing the environmental impact of CO2 refrigeration systems. This includes not only the direct impact of the refrigerant itself (where CO2 already performs well with a GWP of 1) but also the indirect impact through energy usage. Optimizing system efficiency to reduce energy consumption is a key part of this.

Configure Your CO2 Compatible Components Using Virtual Engineer.

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