China: Growing market for CO2 refrigeration

As one of the largest HCFC consumption countries, China faces a tough task to reduce HCFC. Some companies have now initiated research and development programmes on CO₂ refrigeration. Meanwhile, the number of real-life applications of R744 industrial and commercial applications in China is growing.

China is the world’s largest refrigeration and air conditioning market and the biggest supplier of room air conditioners. In 2009, the country was responsible for over 58 % of HCFC consumption in developing countries. Its industrial and commercial refrigeration is one of the largest users of HCFC. China faces the challenge to freeze HCFC consumption by 2013 and reduce its use from this level by 10 % by 2015.

Industrial application of CO₂

In China’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry, some companies have initiated research and development programs on CO₂ refrigeration. The applications of CO₂ in compressor and heat pump systems are growing. Some domestic companies are developing their own CO₂ refrigerating units.

Zhenjiang Gaoxiang began to produce CO₂ refrigeration units in 2010. As the R744 refrigeration market in China is still in its infancy, lacks mature technology and market demand, the company’s CO₂ technology is imported from Dorin, the Italian CO₂ compressor producer and its target is the overseas market.

Yantai Moon has already gained the ability to develop CO₂ refrigeration systems independently. The company produced China’s first domestically made NH₃/CO₂ screw cascade refrigeration system (SCRS) in 2008. The system has been inspected and accepted by the expert group from Shandong Science and Technology Bureau and was awarded the Science and Technology Award by the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF) in 2009.

Commercial application of CO₂

In China’s air conditioning industry, CO₂ is less popular than R290 (propane) and until now still has no application. However, CO₂ refrigeration has a growing potential in the Chinese cold storage and retail industry. Up until now two supermarkets have adopted CO₂ refrigeration systems and the number is likely to grow as a result of high demand for fresh food and people’s concern for food safety in China.

Another important application area for CO₂in China is in heat pumps. The market potential seems promising as the heat pump hot water market is taking off. In 2011, China released CO₂ heat pump standard GB/T26181-2010 for hermetic motor-compressors for household and similar use heat pump water heaters using CO₂ refrigerant. Although there is no CO₂heat pump water heater produced or sold in China now and the market for compressor needed in such heaters is still under development, the standard indeed sent a very positive signal to the development of R744 heat pump in the market.