Heat recovery makes CO2 (R744) one of the “best choices” for industrial refrigeration applications because it provides the ability to provide “a total thermal solution,” said Stefano Truglio, Sales Manager at Crea Spa.
The Italian company, founded in 1983, designs and manufactures custom large-scale refrigeration systems. CO2-based equipment makes up 99% of Crea’s work production, Truglio told NaturalRefrigerants.com, adding that the remaining 1% usually uses propane (R290) refrigerant.
“CO2 is a refrigerant with exceptional properties and with the correct custom-tailored design, a CO2 plant can achieve the best refrigeration results and provide a solution for the entire facility, which saves money,” Truglio said. “The key is recovering, as much as possible, the free heat based on the customer’s specifications.”
“With active reclaim, where we purposely run the refrigeration system at a higher pressure when [so that] we can control the quantity of heat coming from the CO2 system,” he added, noting that a buffer tank on the system gives further thermal load flexibility.
Crea has worked with CO2 since 2004, and Truglio spoke with NaturalRefrigerants.com about the company’s work in the space to date along with the new markets and technologies it’s considering.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How many CO2 refrigeration systems has Crea installed?
Stefano Truglio: We have installed more than 1,200 industrial-size refrigeration systems, with more than 500 of those using CO2 as the refrigerant. Today, we have a strong commitment to natural refrigerants, with a focus on CO2 solutions. New projects account for roughly 70% of our installations, retrofits 30%.
With our in-house technicians and engineers, we provide a turnkey solution, including design and manufacturing, using Dorin or Bitzer compressors. Our R&D group tests not only every new rack component but also all emerging technologies, ensuring everything meets our standards before being integrated into our refrigeration systems. We generally work and cooperate with contractors to install a system, and if requested, we can design with them the whole refrigeration system.
We mainly sell our racks in Italy. However, we have installations globally, including a CO2 system in Turkey. Our core business is currently focused in Italy and Europe, but our systems have been installed worldwide, from Asia to South America to the Middle East.
“Our core business is currently focused in Italy and Europe, but our systems have been installed worldwide, from Asia to South America to the Middle East.”
Stefano Truglio, Sales Manager at Crea Spa
What are some of the largest CO2 refrigeration systems Crea has built?
ST: A few years ago, we designed, produced and installed a 2MW (568.7TR) CO2 system for a company in the bakery industry. The system supports food processing, spiral freezing and cold storage. The heat recovery system maximizes the facility’s energy efficiency, producing 65°C (149°F) hot water for processing applications. We are in the process of providing a 1.2MW (341TR) system for a new facility for the same company.
A contractor recently installed a 2MW transcritical pump CO2 system that we designed and built in a fish-processing facility. The system provides freezing temperatures down to −46°C (−50.8°F) and includes heat recovery features to further increase overall system efficiency.
What emerging technologies or markets are of interest to Crea?
ST: Last October, we brought a water-to-water R290 heat pump to Chillventa 2024, and we have received requests for CO2 heat pumps for HVAC applications. However, up to date, our business has primarily focused on selling equipment, and CO2 refrigeration remains the core of our business.
We are actively seeking a reliable partner for service and maintenance in the U.S., and we are confident we’ll identify the right one in the near future. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and are certain that CREA’s CO2 systems will soon be installed across the U.S.
We recently received a request from a company in the Middle East. While standard CO2 systems are generally not suitable for desert climates, properly designed and engineered solutions can perform very well. With the right approach, excellent results are absolutely achievable.
