Cooling in 2021: Emerson Plans to Open New Transcritical CO₂ Test Lab

In 2021, U.S. component manufacturer Emerson will complete the construction of a new transcritical CO₂ (R744) test lab at its main campus in Sidney, Ohio (U.S.).

This will be Emerson’s second CO₂ R&D facility, following its Helix Innovation Center in Dayton, Ohio, which opened in 2016.

“Emerson will continue to invest heavily in the research and development of natural refrigerant technologies,” said Andre Patenaude, Emerson’s Director of Solutions Integration, in an interview with this website about Emerson’s plans in 2021.

“These labs are designed to accelerate product development, collaborate with OEM partners and end-user customers, and help deliver simplified CO₂ solutions for the industry,” he added.

Emerson will also continue to develop compression technologies, controls and valves for CO₂ in commercial refrigeration, Patenaude said.

Among these solutions is a new CO₂ rack supervisor and facility management controller for transcritical CO₂ booster systems. Built with native applications, this system helps to not only manage standard system operation requirements, but also address high-ambient strategies, while providing enhanced integration with Emerson’s CO₂ case controls, Patenaude said. 

“On the industrial side of things, we will continue investing in the development of CO₂ compressors, including a new heat pump CO₂ compressor,” he said.