Heat Reclaim from CO₂ System Another Plus for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in China, the heat generated by transcritical CO₂ ice-making systems will be utilized for dehumidification, ice surface maintenance and hot water at the new National Speed Skating Oval, which could save about two million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

That report comes from a recent article in Beijing-based, English-language news channel CGTN, which covered the use of transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems at the National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the Ice Ribbon, which is being built for the Beijing Winter Olympics. This is the first time transcritical CO₂ refrigeration will be used to make ice at the winter Olympics.

The article quotes Ma Jin, chief engineer for the project, who added that the power supply for the venue will be provided by renewable energy.

According to the Olympics.org website, CO₂ systems will be used in the Beijing 2022 speed skating, figure skating and short track venues, as well as the ice hockey training venues. R449 will be used in the ice hockey and curling venues.

Construction of the Ice Ribbon is scheduled to be completed this October, according to the CGTN article.

Qingdao Haier Carrier Refrigeration Equipment Company Ltd., a joint venture established in 2001 by Qingdao, China-based Haier Group and U.S.-based Carrier, will supply the transcritical ice-making system for the Ice Ribbon.

The Ice Ribbon will cover an area of around 12,000m² (129,167ft²) and have a maximum cooling capacity of 4MW (1,137TR). The system is a modularized semi-industrial system, according to a press release from Carrier, and the ice surface can be controlled “divisionally” to meet the requirements of five skating disciplines, including speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey.

The advanced refrigeration technology from Carrier will be able control the ice temperature variations to within 0.5°C (0.9°F).

Liu Xinping, who heads the sustainability division of the General Planning Department, Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, pointed out in the CGTN article that China's dedication to sustainability could have a far reaching impact on the sports industry.

"By advocating environmental sustainability and driving coordinated development to improve people's quality of life, Beijing 2022 could galvanize broader change and create a strong model for positive interconnection between the Olympic movement and the hosts," she observed.

"It could become a powerful driving force behind the Green Olympics," she added.