CCR installs 1,000th CO2 system

GERMANY: Further evidence of the growing popularity of CO2 as Carrier Commercial Refrigeration passes its landmark 1,000th CO2OLtec transcritical refrigeration installation in Europe.

The 1,000th CO2OLtec transcritical refrigeration system, which uses transcritical booster technology to deliver cooling for low- and medium-temperature applications, was installed in a Kiwi Laskentunet discount supermarket in Norway.

The first CO2OLtec range was installed in 2004 and the 500th in 2012 in a Famila supermarket in Friesoythe, Germany. Two years on, the technology now provides more than 100MW of medium-temperature capacity to more than 1,000 sites in 19 European countries. Germany has the highest number of CO2OLtec systems in operation, followed by Norway and Switzerland.

The CO2OLtec refrigeration system is said to improve energy efficiency by an average of 10% compared with HFC systems in mild to cold climates. It is now also being used successfully in warmer climates thanks to the development of specialised solutions, such as ejectors, economisers and mechanical sub-coolers.

“Carrier has made tremendous progress toward tearing down the former ‘CO2 equator’, thanks to new technological developments,” explained Christoph Brouwers, director, mechanical systems programmes, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Europe.

“A number of projects have been delivered in Spain and Italy, including a successful field trial of innovative controllable ejector technology,” he added.

“We see more and more customers turning to natural refrigerant solutions for their refrigeration needs. At Carrier, the number of CO2OLtec projects in operation has more than doubled over the past two years,” said Gunter von Starck, director, marketing, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Europe.