CO2PACK Kide Project, financed with EU FEDER funds

The gases commonly used as refrigerants in refrigeration equipment have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP).

This means that, if released into the atmosphere, these gases significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect. This is one of the main factors in global warming. In this context, the European Commission approved Regulation (EU) 517/2014 on fluorinated gases in 2014 (known as the F-Gas Regulation), which mandates the gradual phase-out of high-GWP refrigerant gases. This regulation particularly targets sectors that use large refrigerant charges and have significant leakage rates, such as the industrial refrigeration sector.

KIDE is a company dedicated to the manufacturing, marketing, and installation of cold rooms, panels, doors, commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment, as well as drying and ripening systems.

In the CO2PACK project, TECNALIA was involved in the design, characterisation, and validation of the functional prototype; IK Ingeniería conducted the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA); and ISEA managed and coordinated the project.

Motivating factors

• Ecodesign of equipment.
• Reduction of greenhouse gases (CEIS).

Objectives

• Develop an industrial refrigeration system for low temperatures (-20˚C) using CO₂ as the refrigerant with a GWP of 1, compared to the current refrigerant with a GWP of 4,000.
• Redesign the thermodynamic cycle.
• Operate at high pressures.
• Maintain cooling capacity and energy efficiency.

Results

• Manufacture of a prototype CO₂-based cooling machine and validation on the test bench.
• Reduction of the environmental impact of climate change by 8.08% compared to the current machine.
• Reduction of 4,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions per year.
• Moderate cost overrun, within expected limits.
• Development of guidelines for the industrialisation and optimisation of the prototype.
• Obtaining and using Life Cycle Analysis as a guide for improving environmental impact.

Conclusions

The developed refrigeration technology far exceeds the requirements of the European F-Gas regulation, providing a pathway for the development of a whole range of new refrigeration machines, reducing the impact of climate change while maintaining energy efficiency.