CARRIER Transicold has introduced new CO₂ technology to the world of refrigerated containers with its new NaturaLine design, which it has said will offer efficiencies equal to Carrier Transicold's PrimeLine R134a unit.
'Addressing the special thermodynamic properties of CO₂ necessitated the development of an innovative refrigerant management system, including a new purpose-built, multi-stage compressor with variable-speed drive, a 'gas cooler' with a wrap-around design and a flash tank,' said Mike Griffin, Carrier Transicold's new product development programme manager. 'The patented reciprocating multi-stage compressor maximizes capacity and minimizes power consumption.'

NaturaLine technology replaces the condenser assembly found in conventional refrigeration units with a new heat exchanger called the gas cooler. The gas cooler coil wraps around the fan, maximizing heat-transfer surface area for greater efficiency in a design that is said to be both compact and lightweight.

'The gas cooler makes the overall refrigeration system more versatile in responding to the thermodynamic properties of CO₂, providing gas cooling after each compression stage for better efficiency,' said Mr Griffin.

The flash tank, an entirely new component in a container refrigeration system, is designed to manage the flow and phase change of the refrigerant after leaving the gas cooler. For efficient cooling performance, the patented Carrier design enables final separation of CO₂ from its gas phase to the liquid state before entering the evaporator.