U.S. manufacturer Emerson has announced an expansion of its CO2 compression portfolio with the development of what it calls the refrigeration industry’s first transcritical CO2 screw compressor, which is designed “for the rigors of high-pressure industrial CO2 refrigeration.”
The new Vilter-branded transcritical CO2 compressor, which will be available for sale later this year, will complement a new Vilter subcritical CO2 compressor, available immediately. Both compressors will be highlighted at the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) 2023 Natural Refrigeration Expo in Long Beach, California, March 12 to 15, in booth #411.
The new CO2 portfolio is designed “to answer the industry’s call for industrial-grade CO2 refrigeration solutions” as alternatives to HFCs and ammonia, said Emerson, adding that “to date, CO2 refrigeration technologies have been based on commercial-grade, multi-compressor strategies, which have been proven overly complex and less reliable under harsh industrial conditions.”
“Building on our legacy of innovation, we have engineered the industry’s first transcritical CO2 screw compressor — built for heavy-duty industrial requirements and rated for CO2 transcritical pressures,” said Gary Chafee, Business Development Manager – Industrial CO2 Solutions, for Emerson’s Climate Technologies business.
“The new Vilter transcritical CO2 compressor,” he added, “is based on proven single-screw compression technology and features a complete packaged solution, including on-board controller, suction valve/strainer, inverter duty motor and an oil management system. In addition, the transcritical CO2 compressor are built for maximum flexibility, capable of scaling from single-, dual- and tri-compressor configurations per capacity requirements, all while utilizing the same oil management system and controller.”
The new transcritical CO2 compressor is designed for the high stage of a CO2 transcritical system and is engineered and rated to withstand CO2’s high pressures in transcritical mode. It will be available in seven displacements with a power range from 100 to 800HP per compressor, up to 1,600HP in dual configuration and 2,400HP in tri-configuration.
The subcritical CO2 compressor is designed for the low side of CO2 transcritical or cascade systems and is available in 11 displacements with a power range from 100 to 800HP per compressor.
“Building on our legacy of innovation, we have engineered the industry’s first transcritical CO2 screw compressor — built for heavy-duty industrial requirements and rated for CO2 transcritical pressures.”
Gary Chafee, Business Development Manager – Industrial CO2 Solutions, for Emerson’s Climate Technologies
