Emerson bringing CO₂ rack controller to North America

Emerson has recently introduced to the North American market the iProRACK rack controller, which  is specifically designed for CO₂ systems.

Already marketed in Europe, South Africa and Australia, the CO₂ controller is “available now” in North America, though not installed in stores yet, said Stephanie Stine, OEM sales account manager, food retail, for Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions, Kennesaw, Ga. , who talked about the controller at the AHR Expo in Atlanta, Ga., last month.

The unit was successfully tested by an OEM in North America, she added.

The controller manages a wide range of CO₂ functions, including parallel compression, two heat reclaim circuits, high-pressure and bypass valves, suction and condenser controls, and oil management.

The rack controller communicates with Emerson’s E2 store management system as well as its Supervisory store-management platform and its ConnectPlus Enterprise Services platform, which manages all stores in a chain.

Emerson continues to work on a single-screw transcritical CO₂ compressor for industrial heat pumps, said André Patenaude, director food retail growth strategy for Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions. At 300 TR, it would be the largest-capacity CO₂ compressor on the market. “One or two screw compressors could replace 10 reciprocating compressors,” he said. He expects the screw compressor to be ready in a year.

Emerson also offers CO₂ reciprocating compressors up to 40 hp. “We have one displacement left to get to 50 hp,” Patenaude said.