Energy Recovery, a U.S.-based manufacturer of pressure exchangers, is seeing growing adoption of its PX G1300 device in CO2 (R744) refrigeration systems, with several OEMS, including Epta, Fieuw Koeltechnik and Kysor Warren, in the process of integrating the PX device directly into their CO2 racks.
This marks a shift from previous installations where the PX G1300 was added to systems after production via Energy Recovery’s Energy Optimizer Module, allowing for easier testing.
According to Ricardo Freitas, Vice President and General Manager of CO2 at Energy Recovery, the company expects PX-integrated CO2 racks to hit the market in the coming months, though each OEM is at a different stage of implementation.
“Our main focus is to sell the pressure exchanger to the OEMs for direct integration into their racks, which will then be sold to end users,” explained Freitas in an interview with NaturalRefrigerants.com at the Chillventa 2024 trade show. “However, there’s a huge installation base of existing CO2 systems, with around 22% of European supermarkets and 4% of those in the U.S. already using CO2 racks.”
To date, Energy Recovery has installed more than 50 of its PX G1300 devices globally in more than 30 installations across the U.S., Europe and Japan. Freitas said the company is currently working on a project for a cold storage facility in South Africa, its first installation in the country. Energy Recovery’s technology is being adopted in both retail and cold storage markets, and Freitas said it’s also beginning to explore the growing heat pump sector.
As global regulations push the shift toward natural refrigerants, CO2 is a reality, Freitas emphasized. In Europe, supermarkets and cold storage facilities have been moving to natural refrigerants since 2022, and similar regulations will impact the U.S. soon, with GWP limits of less than 150 set to take effect in cold storage by 2026 and in supermarkets by 2027.
“It’s an exciting moment for the industry, and we’re expecting a busy few years ahead,” he added.
According to Energy Recovery’s extensive testing, its pressure exchanger brings many benefits to end users, including enhanced COP and increased system capacity. It also enables CO2 systems to operate efficiently in high ambient temperatures without the need for adiabatic coolers.
Chillventa 2024 is being held at the NürnbergMesse exhibition center in Nuremberg, Germany, October 8–10.
“It’s an exciting moment for the industry, and we’re expecting a busy few years ahead.”
Ricardo Freitas, VP and GM of CO2 at Energy Recovery
