The very first refrigeration systems ever built used natural refrigerants such as Ammonia (NH3), Hydrocarbons (HCs) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). After the invention of CFCs in 1929, the industry all but forgot these original gases, but the Montreal Protocol in 1987 changed all of that, forcing the large chemical companies to invent the alternative Hydro fluorocarbon (HFC) gases.
Although HFCs do not directly deplete the ozone layer, they are powerful greenhouse gases. These gases are regulated by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and increasing pressure from subsequent regulations and emissions trading systems will force the industry to go back to the same roots that it started from.
However, this time engineers will be far better prepared to deal with the technical challenges of toxicity and flammability posed by these environmentally benign gases, and their public acceptance will inevitably grow as environmental awareness grows.
Green cooling will provide an initial site appraisal to determine & advise if a carbon dioxise refrigeration system could be cost effective and beneficial in terms of pay back.
Once this is initial assessment is completed, a design and project scope will be provided which can incorporate an energy assessment with the specific recommendations detailed accordingly.
In terms of environmental impact, natural refrigerants are all deemed as having close to zero global warming potential in comparison to standard HFC refrigerants such as R407 which has a global warming potential (GWP) of over 1,600.
The range of natural refrigerants includes:
√ R170 – Ethane √ R290 – Propane √ R600a – Isobutane √ R717 – Ammonia √ R744 – CO2
(Also see the refrigerant reference table at the bottom of the page**)
In practice the refrigerant R744 (CO2) is now developing a mire mainstream reputation as the natural refrigerant of choice due to its highly efficient performance as well as the practical nature of its use when compared to hydrocarbons or ammonia.
But why is CO2 deemed to have zero GWP?
Basically because R744 is created as a by product of industrial processes and if captured and put to work in a refrigeration system this gas will have no detrimental effect on the atmosphere.
R744 is suitable for use within many differing applications, from low temperature cooling systems through to high temperature heating packages with a high level of efficiency available across the operating temperature range.
A carbon dioxide refrigeration system will operate comfortable when providing temperatures that allow low temperature frozen/chilled storage or process cooling but the refrigerant will also perform well when providing 80C water for potable or production use.
It can be seen that CO2 is a practical and very well proven option when considering refrigerant choice and is particularly well suited to applications that call for high levels of efficiency.
When comparing system efficiency it is normal for a CO2 system to provide an efficiency level that can be in excess of twice the standard coefficient of performance (COP) that could be expected from a HFC refrigerant.
As such the design team at Green Cooling have extensive experience in applying CO2 systems within both cooling and heating applications and interestingly have proven applications where the CO2 system is providing cooling with heat recovery and in these applications the efficiency is set obviously at an extremely high level.
In terms of environmental impact, CO2 can assist greatly in achieving BREEAM points to contribute to a high standard of overall performance. Unlike other BREEAM measures the use of CO2 within a refrigeration system is able to provide a cost effective and practical method of incorporating a low impact design within the context of building services.
The standard range of Green Cooling low temperature packs provide reliable and efficient operation with the befit of heat recovery, mutli circuit and dual temperature options which allow a bespoke approach to be applied to each project.
A typical Green Cooling 180kW dual temperature pack with heat recovery is shown below prior to being shipped to site.
Green Cooling 180kW CO2 dual temp packaged system
**Table of common refrigerants with red signifying the refrigerants that have already been phased out due to their environmental impact:
Here CO2 is a practical refrigeration choice for the specifier who is looking to apply a refrigerant that will deliver high efficiency along with strong environmental credentials.
Q – What is BREEAM?
A – Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method
Q – How is BREEAM used?
A – Clients & Developers, Property Agents, Design Teams, Managers
Q – Can CO2 assist a specifier/designer in achieving BREEAM excellence?
A – Absolutely, CO2 is an extremely practical method of gaining BREEAM credits from a necessary and required refrigeration system…
These show the main areas of BREEAM where a Green Cooling CO2 refrigeration system can provide real project benefits.
These sections show definite requirements where the application of natural refrigerant-based systems can be both practical and cost effective, the Green Cooling design team hove over ten years of experience with regard to the design, specification and installation of CO2 refrigeration systems.
The market for CO2 based refrigeration systems is still far from becoming mainstream but there has been significant growth within this sector over the past 24 months.
No longer is CO2 purely the preserve of the carbon footprint focused retail sector or the BREEAM specifier, we now see other refrigeration dependent applications recognising the genuine efficiency & environmental benefits of utilising natural & low global warming refrigerants.
The increased activity within the CO2 refrigeration market is driving developments in technology, but one of the main barriers to widening the scope of CO2 application remains the lack of focus and knowledge within the specification community.
For this reason the Italian manufacturer Enex, who are recognised as being one of the leaders in the design & manufacture of packaged CO2 refrigeration equipment, has appointed Green Cooling as their UK distribution partner.
The Green Cooling management team has extensive experience within both the CO2 and Hydrocarbon refrigeration sectors from both design and installation perspectives. This experience is driving the impressive growth of Green Cooling within the specialist area of natural and low global warming refrigeration.
The management of Enex feel that the specialist approach of Green Cooling, which is geared towards providing highly efficient refrigeration systems, with a low environmental impact, fits perfectly with the Enex range of CO2 equipment.
Green Cooling provides a complete service covering the design, specification, installation and commissioning of refrigeration systems across a wide range of critical applications.
The Green Cooling management team have been working alongside the team at Enex for a number of years and this close relationship has now brought the two companies together in a formal distributor/manufacturer partnership.
Garry Broadbent of Green Cooling comments, “We are extremely pleased that we are now able to offer the Enex CO2 range on a formal UK distribution basis”, continuing, “our approach is best practice driven and totally engineering focused which is completely aligned with the way Enex operate”.
It appears that this specialist approach will drive growth across a range of applications.
The Enex range includes low temperature -25°C and medium temperature 0°C packaged CO2 refrigeration units for freezer and chiller applications.
However the Enex range also includes 80°C CO2 air & ground source heat pumps for the production of hot water.
It is clear that the Enex CO2 range will provide very clear & definite benefits for BREEAM projects, however the range will also prove to be extremely beneficial for any project that is geared towards delivering a practical high efficiency refrigeration system.
Enex 50kW packaged CO2 refrigeration unit with dual -25°C/0°C outputs plus optional 100% heat recovery output at 50°C.
