CO2 Refrigeration: Debunking 3 Common Myths

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With HCFCs being phased out worldwide by 2030 due to their harmful environmental impact, plant owners are searching for sustainable refrigerant alternatives. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is commonly used as a cryogenic refrigerant, but it has also been used as the working fluid in mechanical refrigeration systems as far back as the 1800s. Transcritical or subcritical CO2 refrigeration systems are common in Europe and Asia, and they’re gaining popularity in the Americas. In the northern U.S. and Canada, transcritical CO2 systems have become a cost-effective choice in many food processing, cold storage and commercial facilities. Subcritical CO2 cascade and volatile brine systems are best used for low-temperature freezing and higher temperature secondary refrigerant applications.

Mechanical refrigeration using CO2 can be an attractive alternative to other refrigerants, but many have written off the refrigerant due to these common misperceptions:

Myth #1: CO2 is too dangerous

Given the right conditions, all refrigerants have the potential to cause harm. Some of the characteristics that drive fear of CO2 are the same that provide its benefits. High operating pressure is “scary,” but it’s the feature that enables lower equipment costs and greater energy efficiency. With proper design, construction and commissioning, a mechanical CO2 system is just as safe as any other.

Myth #2: CO2 refrigeration requires leak detection that other refrigerants don’t

Like many refrigerants, CO2 is a colorless and odorless vapor. Thus, it does require leak detection in the machine room as well as the cold rooms. However, leak detection instrumentation is required in unmanned machine rooms regardless of the refrigerant. In fact, many operators require leak detection for ammonia in the cold rooms too, despite its self-alarming odor. Cryogenic CO2 is widely used in processing facilities with ventilation and leak detection at the points of use. It is important to note that the right leak-detection technology is required with CO2 because of its presence in the human body. Instruments that only measure oxygen levels are not adequate.

Myth #3: A CO2 system is more expensive to install and operate

In most cases, CO2 cascade systems are less expensive to install and operate than two-stage ammonia systems for low-temperature applications.

The unique physical properties of CO2 provide an advantage when used as a secondary refrigerant for higher-temperature applications, too. Its high vapor density and volatility combine to achieve much smaller piping and pumping requirements when compared to chilled glycol systems, thus reducing capital and operating costs. As a volatile brine, CO2 can provide energy savings of up to 10-20 percent for high temperature systems and 20 to 30 percent for medium temperature systems.

When investing in a new refrigeration system, owners and operators should consider using CO2 cascade or volatile brine systems. Whether looking to minimize ammonia charge, reduce carbon footprint, or both, CO2 is often a viable and cost-effective option, providing:

  • Cost-effective installation and operation
  • Improved energy efficiency when compared to glycol
  • Reduction in ammonia charge and PSM compliance costs
  • Sustainability with 0 ozone depletion potential (ODP) and 1 global warming potential (GWP)

Are you attending ATMOsphere 2017? Be sure to connect with the Stellar group who will be there. Want to learn more about the viability of implementing a CO2 system in your food processing or distribution facility? Feel free to email me at

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  • Hello, great article. Can you explain what you mean by “volatile brine” systems? I am not familiar with that term. I am also wondering if you can elaborate on CO2 viability under two scenarios: 1) a facility that is completely dedicated to cooler temperatures (i.e. no freezers at all) and 2) one that has a combination of coolers and freezers. Thanks.

    • Stellar says:

      Good questions Peter, we’ll be responding shortly.

    • Stellar says:

      Thanks for your question Peter.

      Volatile brine refers to liquid co2 when used as a secondary refrigerant. The application is similar to chiller systems using glycol as the secondary refrigerant, except the co2 is volatile, meaning at or near its boiling point. This feature makes it absorb lots more heat per unit mass than water/glycol can.

      For storage coolers less than 40F, volatile brine systems are more efficient and less expensive than glycol chillers, because they don’t require large flow rates, large pipes, pumps, and pump energy. Direct expansion of ammonia for storage coolers is still less expensive to construct. In cases where ammonia minimization is a primary objective, CO2 brine is often a better choice than glycol chillers.

      However, in cold stores where both freezers and coolers are involved, volatile brine is often combined with CO2 cascade systems to serve both. In general, the lower the temperature, the better CO2 performs.


  • Andrew G Carr says:

    What is meant by transcritical and subcritical in reference to CO2?

    What about fish processing applications like blast freezers, plate freezers and storage freezers?

    How do the pressures compare to R22 and Ammonia?

    • Stellar says:

      Hi Andrew,

      Thanks for reading my post!

      The terms “transcritical” and “subcritical” both refer to the “critical point” of a substance. Critical point is a technical term used to describe the pressure above which the properties of a vapor and a liquid are indistinguishable. All refrigerants have a critical point.

      The term “transcritical” (sometimes called “supercritical”) describes refrigeration systems where part of the refrigeration cycle (compressor discharge) operates above the critical pressure. “Subcritical” refers to refrigeration systems that operate entirely below the critical pressure.

      Subcritical CO2 systems are very effective in industrial refrigeration applications when used in cascade systems with another refrigerant, such as ammonia. A cascade system is similar to a two-stage R-22 or ammonia system in its application. The difference? The CO2 handles the low-temperature part, and the ammonia only refrigerates (condenses) the CO2. The two refrigerants are separated by a special heat exchanger. In cascade systems, the ammonia charge is much lower than standard ammonia systems, and it stays in the machine room. CO2 goes to where the cold is needed.

      The seafood applications you mention are excellent CO2/NH3 cascade examples. There are already working examples of CO2/NH3 cascade systems for plate freezers, blast freezers and storage freezers in North America. I actually wrote another blog post on this titled, Six Reasons to Consider a CO2/NH3 Cascade Refrigeration System, which you may find helpful.

      Here are common CO2 refrigerant temperatures and pressures:

      Blast Freezers
      -55°F = 106 psia
      -40°F = 146 psia

      -25°F = 196 psia
      +20°F = 422 psia

      Co2 Condensing temperatures
      +25°F = 455 psia

      I hope this was helpful!

  • Swayam Prakash says:

    hello sir, can you explain me why we are using refrigerants like R-134a, R-407c , R-410A etc which have more global warming potential , and not using co2 which has GWP onlu 1 still now.

  • Ramgopal says:

    Can you kindly explain what practical problems may be encountered when CO2 is used as volatile brine, in place of, say glycol? Are there any problems related to unstable operation or pump failures with CO2?

    • Stellar says:

      Thanks for reading! The volatile brine system would be as stable as any other pumped liquid system, so long as the electrical power was also stable. In a power failure of extended duration, the loss of the CO2 condensing system can eventually result in CO2 overpressure and a release through the safety pressure relief valves. Many large CO2 refrigeration systems include a small standby refrigeration system whose sole purpose is to condense CO2 in case of a power failure. They are usually powered by an emergency power generator.

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