Effective use of CO2 in ASHRAE book

Because of its good environmental properties and relative safety, there is renewed interest in carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. Carbon dioxide was used in the early stages of refrigeration but fell out of favor with the development of halocarbon refrigerants.

Guidance on the use of CO2 has been added to the ASHRAE 2006 Handbook, Refrigeration.

The handbook covers the refrigeration equipment and systems for applications other than human comfort. It includes information on cooling, freezing, and storing food, as well as industrial applications of refrigeration and low-temperature refrigeration. Primarily a reference for the practicing engineer, the book is also useful for anyone involved in cooling and storage of food products.

“CO2 is a refrigerant with a high coefficient of performance,” said Ron Vallort, a consulting engineer from Chicago who specializes in refrigeration. “Some people hesitated to use CO2 because it operates under a higher pressure and produces lower temperatures than are usually needed in some industries. But it is now coming back as a natural refrigerant with no ozone depletion potential and very low global warming potential.”

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