Imagine replacing a noisy, wearing-down metal compressor in a fridge with a liquid-based system that pushes gas more smoothly. It uses CO2, which is safe for the planet, instead of harmful chemicals. This switch makes the cooling process much more efficient and helps the machine last longer because there is less friction.
Cooling accounts for 20% of global electricity use and relies on harmful fluorinated refrigerants. Current mechanical compression is inefficient and prone to wear, driving up energy costs and carbon emissions.
A thermodynamic model and CFD simulations for a hydraulic CO2 cycle, and the selection of a stable liquid piston fluid (1-butylpyrrolidin-2-one). A 17.6 kW pilot system is being engineered.
If you are a warehouse operator dealing with high electricity costs for deep-freezing at -40 °C — this project developed a hydraulic CO2 system that can potentially raise the Coefficient of Performance from 2.6 to nearly 9. This significantly lowers the energy needed to maintain ultra-low temperatures.
If you are a facility manager dealing with massive heat loads and carbon footprints — this project developed a liquid-piston compression system that could reduce climate-change impact by over 50%. It provides a sustainable way to keep servers cool while cutting operational costs.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with strict regulations against HFC and CFC refrigerants — this project developed a CO2-based hydraulic cycle that works for temperatures up to +12 °C. It offers a high-performance, zero-ozone-depletion alternative that is more reliable due to reduced friction.
Based on available project data, the system can reduce energy consumption by up to 40% compared to mechanical compressors and potentially increase the Coefficient of Performance from 2.6 to nearly 9.
The project is engineering and testing a pilot system at a 17.6 kW scale to reach TRL4.
Based on available project data, the project is coordinated by Universitat Rovira i Virgili with a consortium of 7 partners; specific licensing terms are not provided in the summary.
It uses CO2 (R744), a natural refrigerant with zero ozone depletion and a global warming potential of one, displacing harmful HFC and CFC refrigerants.
The project period runs from 2024-09-01 to 2027-08-31, aiming to reach TRL4 by the end of the term.
The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, consisting of 7 partners across 4 countries. With an industry ratio of 43% (including 3 industrial partners and 2 SMEs), there is a strong link between the 3 universities/research centers and the commercial market, ensuring that the technical development of the hydraulic CO2 cycle is aligned with industrial needs.
Contact Universitat Rovira i Virgili (ES)
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