Chillventa 2024: Refra to Showcase CO₂ Subcritical Cascade System with R1270 Subcooling Circuit

Lithuanian OEM Refra will showcase a CO₂ (R744) subcritical cascade system with a propylene (R1270) subcooling circuit at Chillventa 2024, the company told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

The design allows a CO₂ refrigeration system to continuously operate in subcritical mode to maintain efficiency in high ambient conditions, Refra explained, with propylene cooling the CO₂ refrigerant.

“[Subcooling] makes the system particularly effective in warmer regions where traditional [CO₂] systems struggle,” the company said.

Refra will showcase its products in booth 7A-440 in hall 7A.

CO₂ system details: “The [CO₂] system to be showcased at Chillventa is designed for smaller applications, with a cooling capacity of 39 kW [11.1TR], and is suited for use with one or two evaporators,” Refra told NaturalRefrigerants.com.

• The thermal exchange between CO₂ and propylene allows optimized temperature control at low levels by minimizing energy loss during heat transfer to improve system performance, the company noted.
• The system provides “precise temperature control,” Refra said, with applications for supermarkets, food processing, manufacturing, data centers, chemical plants, commercial buildings and agriculture.
• The company indicated that it can manufacture higher-capacity cascade systems to meet larger cooling demands.

Demo high-temperature heat pump: Refra will present a demo high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) at the event capable of outlet temperatures of up to 80°C (176°F) using a natural refrigerant blend with a GWP of 3.

• The company did not reveal the blend of refrigerants used in the HTHP. However, it did indicate that the product includes safety features to manage refrigerant flammability.
• The new HTHP, with applicability for apartment complexes, district heating systems and large commercial buildings, will not require modifications to current infrastructure in retrofit applications, Refra said.
• The HTHP is expected to complete testing and hit the market in 2026.

Recent news: Refra, founded in 1994, manufactures natural refrigerant chillers, condensing units, heat pumps and refrigeration systems.

• In testing earlier this year, Refra found that a magnetic expansion valve produced by Siemens increased propane (R290) heat pump efficiency by 16.5% compared to a conventional electronic valve.
• In an interview earlier this year, Aleksej Pavšukov, Refra’s CEO, told NaturalRefrigerants.com that he sees the core of the company’s future business turning to manufacturing R290 HVAC systems, including chillers and heat pumps.
• Refra carries the ATMO Approved Natural Refrigerants Label, having obtained its first approval in February 2024. ATMOsphere is the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Quotable: “Refra’s CO₂ cascade units are part of a growing portfolio of green cooling technologies,” said Refra. “These systems contribute to environmental sustainability and drive significant reductions in operational costs through enhanced energy efficiency.”