China is the world’s largest refrigeration and air conditioning market and the biggest supplier of room air conditioners. In 2009, the country was responsible for over 58 % of HCFC consumption in developing countries. Its industrial and commercial refrigeration is one of the largest users of HCFC. China faces the challenge to freeze HCFC consumption by 2013 and reduce its use from this level by 10 % by 2015.

Industrial application of CO2

In China’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry, some companies have initiated research and development programs on CO2 refrigeration. The applications of CO2 in compressor and heat pump systems are growing. Domestic companies like Shenzhou, Gaoxiang and Moon Group are all developing their own CO2 refrigerating units.

In 2008, China’s Shandong Shenzhou Machinery successfully developed its CO2 refrigerating units after years of research. The CO2 refrigerating system was also exported to France in 2011. Shenzhou’s CO2 system was installed to update its French client’s old refrigerating system to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Zhenjiang Gaoxiang began to produce CO2 refrigeration units in 2010. As the R744 refrigeration market in China is still in its infancy, lacks mature technology and market demand, the company’s CO2 technology is imported from Dorin, the Italian CO2 compressor producer and its target is the overseas market.

Yantai Moon has already gained the ability to develop CO2 refrigeration systems independently. The company produced China’s first domestically made NH3/CO2 screw cascade refrigeration system (SCRS) in 2008. The system has been inspected and accepted by the expert group from Shandong Science and Technology Bureau and was awarded the Science and Technology Award by the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF) in 2009.

Commercial application of CO2

In China’s air conditioning industry, CO2 is less popular than R290 (propane) and until now still has no application. However, CO2 refrigeration has a growing potential in the Chinese cold storage and retail industry. Up until now two supermarkets have adopted CO2 refrigeration systems and the number is likely to grow as a result of high demand for fresh food and people’s concern for food safety in China.

Another important application area for CO2 in China is in heat pumps. The market potential seems promising as the heat pump hot water market is taking off. In 2011, China released CO2 heat pump standard GB/T26181-2010 for hermetic motor-compressors for household and similar use heat pump water heaters using CO2 refrigerant. Although there is no CO2 heat pump water heater produced or sold in China now and the market for compressor needed in such heaters is still under development, the standard indeed sent a very positive signal to the development of R744 heat pump in the market.

Reference