Hillphoenix Launches Compact System to Maintain CO₂ Charge During Outages

U.S. OEM Hillphoenix has announced the launch of ChargeSecure, a charge preservation system for CO₂ (R744) refrigeration systems that “offers peace of mind during power outages and service events,” the company said.

Designed specifically for Hillphoenix CO₂ systems, ChargeSecure minimizes downtime during power outages and service events by maintaining the charge in the refrigeration system. When the power comes back on, the system can restart immediately – “helping stores get back up and running faster,” said Hillphoenix.

“With our decades of experience in natural refrigeration systems, we designed ChargeSecure to offer a layer of security for food retailers using our CO₂ systems, so they can get back to doing what they do best – serving their customers,” said Ousama Sabra, Systems Senior Product Manager at Hillphoenix.

ChargeSecure uses the existing CO₂ in the system to operate instead of relying on legacy refrigerants.

“As the adoption of CO₂ refrigeration systems continues to accelerate, ChargeSecure addresses the growing need for a charge preservation solution with a low-GWP impact,” Sabra said.

ChargeSecure automatically kicks in when it detects a power outage and/or pressure increase beyond a predefined threshold. It maintains the CO₂ pressure in the flash tank by compressing it into the gas cooler and then expanding it back into the flash tank.

According to Hillphoenix, benefits of ChargeSecure include:

• Cost Savings: Retailers can avoid the time and expense of recharging CO₂, while also helping protect perishable goods from loss.
• Low Power Consumption: Requiring only 1.5amps to operate, it uses six times less energy than conventional charge preservation units.
• Flexible Installation: It can be mounted on the wall or floor – anywhere within 15 feet of the rack – indoors or outdoors.
• Small Footprint: With no heat exchanger required, its compact footprint measures 12.75in by 18.8in (32.4cm by 47.8cm).
• Extended Operation: Backup battery provides prolonged periods of continuous operation.

For retrofits, ChargeSecure features plug-and-play integration into existing Hillphoenix CO₂ racks. Hillphoenix will be offering factory-installed ChargeSecure units in new racks.

“As the adoption of CO₂ refrigeration systems continues to accelerate, ChargeSecure addresses the growing need for a charge preservation solution with a low-GWP impact.”

Ousama Sabra, Systems Senior Product Manager at Hillphoenix