Enex launches ‘first-ever’ transcritical CO2 flat gas cooler rated to 140bar
January 29, 2024
Italian HVAC&R manufacturer Enex has launched what it calls the “first-ever” industrial CO2 (R744) flat gas cooler with a 140bar (2,031psi) pressure rating, calling it “a revolutionary product for transcritical systems.”
In a press release, Enex said the 140bar rating is an “exclusive characteristic in the HVAC&R market” that allows its flat gas cooler “to operate at high pressures and increase cycle performance.”
“[It] is the ideal solution for CO2 transcritical systems that require high efficiency, low noise and long-lasting performance,” said the company.
“The flat gas cooler represents a breakthrough in the use of CO2 as a natural refrigerant for transcritical systems,” said Fabrice Segura, COO and President of the Heat Exchanger Business Unit at Enex. “It is the result of our extensive experience and expertise in the field of heat exchangers.”
Range of capacities
Designed for outdoor use, the new unit is available in more than 100 different models and can match system requirements with cooling capacities ranging from 15 to 900kW (4.3 to 255.9TR). All models use standard axial fans with electronically commutated motors.
The unit’s finned coil is made of 7mm (0.28in)-diameter copper tubes and louvered aluminum fins built in a “floating pack system,” which Enex says “allows the coil to levitate and avoid leaks.” Construction also includes headers made of stainless steel and K65 and casing built from pre-painted aluminum.
The company reports that the new cooler is suitable for use in supermarkets, cold rooms and industrial refrigeration as well as with heat pumps.
Customization options include copper fins, a speed controller and wiring the unit to a centralized box with magnetothermic switches.
“We are confident that the flat gas cooler will set a new standard in the market and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption,” said Segura.
According to Enex’s website, the company has installed more than 3,000 transcritical CO2 industrial and commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems across Europe since its founding in 2004.
The company has also helped advance the adoption of heat pumps in Europe by participating in the EU-funded MultiPACK project, which aims to demonstrate the performance and efficiency of the next generation of standardized CO2 cooling and heating in commercial and public buildings. Enex installed its heat pumps in two locations in Northern Italy, gathering data that it said showed them to be “reliable” at providing space heating, cooling and domestic hot water.