Energy Recovery, a San Leandro, California (U.S.)-based manufacturer of pressure-exchanger devices, has joined the world’s leading CO2 refrigeration manufacturers as a bronze partner of the R744.com marketplace.
Energy Recovery plans to market a pressure-exchanger device designed to significantly improve the efficiency of transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration systems in high-ambient-temperature locations.
The transcritical CO2 pressure exchanger, model PX G1300, uses high-pressure gas from the gas cooler to boost the pressure of low-pressure flash bypass gas. The higher pressure gas can then be channeled back to the gas cooler rather than to the medium-temperature compressor, thereby saving energy.
Energy Recovery has determined that the PX G1300 can reduce energy consumption of transcritical CO2 system by an estimated 18% to 28% at an ambient temperature of 70°F (21°C), and by an estimated 40% to 62% at an ambient temperature of 90°F (32°C).
The device consists of only four pieces, a rotor and three stators containing an array of channels arranged around the axis of the rotor.
The PX G1300 would be an alternative to existing technologies that enhance the efficiency of transcritical CO2 systems in warm climates, such as an ejector or a parallel compressor.
According to Efficient Energy, ejector technology typically manages “less than 200psi (14bar) of pressure differential boost,” while the PX G1300 “is able to manage an unlimited differential boost as required by the system, and therefore continues to perform as temperatures rise.”
Energy Recovery has marketed its pressure exchanger technology over the past 30 years in the desalination industry. The device can recover up to 60% of otherwise wasted energy in the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination process, the company says.
Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Energy Recovery has manufacturing, research and development facilities across California and Texas with sales and on-site technical support available globally.
Energy Recovery’s inaugural ESG report was shortlisted this year for “Best 1st Time Sustainability Report” by Corporate Register Reporting Awards, along with eight other corporations.
