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Attaining a higher flexibility degree in CO2 compressor racks

Abstract

CO2 compressor racks have shown their suitability for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems at any
location and climate. Even if some references state that CO2 units can compete in capital cost with any other
alternative solution, often investment costs are still the main barrier for the global expansion of CO2.
This work explores, numerically and experimentally, the implementation of “pivoting” compressors, i.e.
compressors that can operate in the medium temperature (MT) and parallel compressor suction groups,
depending on ambient conditions, cooling loads and use of ejector. The objective is to increase the flexibility
of CO2 compressor racks, keeping the efficiency and, potentially, reducing the investment. This study shows
that this solution with “pivoting” compressors is beneficial in ejector-supported systems, since the investment
cost of the ejectors is compensated by a lower number of installed compressors, as compressor capacities can
be applied in more flexible ways.
Keywords: Refrigeration, Carbon Dioxide, Compressors, Switching, Pivoting.
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Category

Academic chapter

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Ángel Álvarez Pardiñas
  • Luca Contiero
  • Armin Hafner
  • Krzysztof Banasiak
  • Lars F.S. Larsen

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Energy Research / Termisk energi
  • Denmark
  • University of Padua
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Year

2020

Publisher

International Institute of Refrigeration

Book

Proceedings of the 14th IIR-Gustav Lorentzen Conference on Natural Refrigerants - GL2020

ISBN

9782362150401

Page(s)

512 - 517

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository