- Ammonia, CO₂, Engineering, Industrial Refrigeration, Wanganui
Ammonia/CO₂ Cascade: A Retrofit for the Future
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- Design & build cascade ammonia/CO₂ solution
- Will eliminate ~4,000kg of synthetic refrigerant R507 from the system
- Client to receive financial return through R507 buy-back scheme
- System designed for 25+ year life span and reduced maintenance requirements
Our customer’s existing refrigeration system relied on multiple small commercial compressors using a total of ~4,000kg of R507, a high GWP HFC. They engaged Excel Engineering to deliver a future-focused solution that would increase production, eliminate HFCs, and improve energy efficiency.
We successfully designed and implemented a cascade ammonia and CO₂ system that harnesses the benefits of both natural refrigerants.
Ammonia is highly efficient and requires a simpler system while CO₂ is safer and offers excellent thermodynamic properties at low temperatures. By using CO₂ on the low stage and ammonia on the high stage, we significantly lowered the total ammonia charge. This not only lowered safety risks but also created an easier path to compliance, all while achieving our environmental and operational goals.
The compressors were specifically selected for their ability to run at low speeds to reduce wear and tear. This extends service intervals for less long-term maintenance requirements.
This project is a testament to our team’s technical expertise and ability to design innovative, sustainable, and future-proof solutions.
