THE latest CO2 technology, developed by Luvata’s coils and coolers division, has been selected by The Coca-Cola Company for use in vending machines for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Giovanni Simeoni, head of sales and marketing, product development and r&d for Luvata’s ECO-Heatcraft division, explained the benefits of using CO2 as a refrigerant: “In addition to the environmental advantages, it has a higher heat-transfer coefficient than traditional refrigerants, which can lead to increased efficiency in the heat transfer equipment it is used in.

“The higher volumetric efficiency of CO2 refrigerant (known as R744) also means that the cross-sectional area of pipes used in heat transfer equipment can be reduced. As a result, equipment has the potential to be smaller, lighter, more efficient and better for the environment.” This is one of the first launches in the hvacr market from Luvata following its acquisition of leading coils and coolers manufacturer, ECO Group.

Luvata has many years of experience in thermodynamics and an in-depth knowledge of heat transfer. As a result, the company is a supplier of many key multi-national companies, including Tesco, to which Luvata has supplied refrigeration coolers for a large ‘eco-supermarket’, as well as Coca-Cola.

Antoine Azar, global technical manager – CO2 project, from The Coca-Cola Company commented: “As a company we are committed to sustainability and minimising the environmental impact of our operations. At the 2008 Olympic Games, all of our coolers and vending machines will feature CO2 refrigerant. Until recently, CO2 had only been used as a refrigerant in commercial applications.

Luvata believes the promising results seen from this new technology will mean that, over the coming years, its market will expand to include refrigerated transport, automotive and residential air conditioning, as well as commercial and marine applications.”

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