Carbon dioxide - compact refrigerant for creative solutions

High pressure, high effect

Carbon dioxide (R744) has an ODP of zero, a GWP of one and is virtually unlimited. It is also very cheap: many industrial processes produce CO2 as a by-product. It is suitable for compact air-conditioning systems, deep-freeze warehouses and, for example, supermarket refrigeration. Another field of application is cascade systems for sub-zero temperatures, where ammonia systems form the first stage and CO2 systems the second.

Over the past few decades, carbon dioxide has established itself as a refrigerant mainly in stationary applications, including domestic hot-water heating, but it can also be used for mobile air conditioning, cooling or heating in vehicles or on ships. Due to the high pressures involved, CO2 refrigeration systems are relatively compact and can also be used for smaller output ranges.

GEA CO2

Think about your design

Due to the high pressures required in CO2 refrigeration systems (or heat pumps), a special design of the compressors and the entire refrigeration system is required. In addition to pressure-resistant components, this can mean additional work for sensors and control technology.

The narcotic or suffocating effect of CO2 plays a subordinate role when used as a refrigerant. The filling quantities are typically so small that no lethal concentration can form in the room (even in a technical center). For example, the filling quantity in Germany is limited to 0.07 kg/m³ in accordance with DIN EN 378.

Refrigerant CO2
GEA Natural refrigerants - NH₃ CO₂ HC

Webinar: Natural refrigerants

Join GEA’s on-demand Cooling Club webinar on Natural Refrigerants, entitled “Back to the future – Refrigeration technology with natural refrigerants in times of climate change”. Learn from the experts why to make the switch from F-Gas refrigerants to the more environmentally friendly, future-proof, energy-efficient, natural refrigerants such as Ammonia and CO2.

GWP

The global warming potential (GWP) is a value that indicates the contribution to global warming. The GWP refers to the value of CO2 (GWP=1) as a benchmark. This means that a gas like R404A with its GWP of 3922 contributes 3922 times more to global warming than the same amount of CO2. Natural refrigerants have a GWP of 0 to 5.5.

ODP

The concept of the ozone depletion potential (ODP) is used as a measure of the effectiveness of a chemical compound in the degradation to the ozone layer it can cause, relative to the standard compound trichlorofluoromethane (R-11 or CFC-11) being fixed at an ODP of 1. Natural refrigerants have an ODP of 0.

GEA Solutions for natural refrigerants

Receive news from GEA

Stay in touch with GEA innovations and stories by signing up for news from GEA.

Contact us

We are here to help! With just a few details we will be able to respond to your inquiry.