COMPRESSORS


Growth in demand for remanufactured


transcritical CO2 compressors


Demand for remanufactured transcritical carbon dioxide-based compressors is rising sharply in the UK, according to Green Point UK, Bitzer UK’s specialist services arm.


“S


ales of remanufactured Bitzer transcritical CO2


units are up 40% year- on-year, with a quarter still to go,” says


Will Pribyl, Green Point UK General Manager. A combination of factors is responsible, he says.


“Following the initial take-off of transcritical CO2 systems in mainstream refrigeration a couple of


decades ago, the number of CO2 compressors


coming to the end of their natural working life is increasing rapidly.” Until recently, the obstacle to processing these units and returning them as-new into service has been the high pressures required for full quality assurance testing. Following recent technical advances, however, this is now possible using a high-pressure hydraulic test rig –– developed by Green Point UK –– that is able to safely test compressor bodies up to 180 Bar, overcoming safety concerns related to use of conventional pneumatic-based test systems.


It has enabled the company to receive end-of-


life transcritical Bitzer units and return them to full original specifi cation, with quality underpinned by the manufacturer. Will Pribyl says: “This is a live issue for many national contractors, who have comprehensive contracts with customers. First-time fi x is vital, as call-backs for faults or repairs can eliminate profi ts. Our comprehensive remanufacturing and testing process, overseen and backed by Bitzer, gives total confi dence that our transcritical units will perform to specifi cation, with safety assured by rigorous testing.” Transcritical units are remanufactured using the same proven approach used for standard reciprocating compressors, which includes replacement of all key wear parts and motors with genuine Bitzer replacements, with the added step of replacing all external bolts with new. Use of transcritical CO2


compressors took off in the 20 December 2023 • www.acr-news.com


early 2000s as a number of UK supermarkets championed the solution as a low-GWP alternative to high-GWP refrigerants, putting the UK in the vanguard of the switch to carbon dioxide cooling. Green Point UK is one of the fi rst in the company’s global network of remanufacturing centres to introduce this service for high pressure CO2


units, as a result of its role in developing the


critical compressor pressure testing technology. Green Point’s operation in France, the company’s global lead remanufacturing centre, has also now adopted similar hydraulic testing for transcritical units, and the service is being rolled-out to other countries, in line with market requirements.


The UK service covers all Bitzer Ecoline 2, 4, and 6-cylinder transcritical compressors, which are deployed in thousands of applications across the UK, including supermarkets, food and drink manufacturers and industrial process applications. The largest transcritical compressor


remanufactured by Green Point UK to date is Bitzer’s 6DTE-50 unit. However, in principle there is no restriction on the size of compressor that can be reprocessed to as-new condition, including Bitzer’s recently introduced 8-cylinder compressor. Remanufactured transcritical units are covered


by a one-year warranty as standard, with an optional further one-year extension, as for new compressors. Will Pribyl said: “As increasing numbers of CO2


compressors in the fi eld come to the end of their natural life, and as F-gas restrictions continue to drive the switch away from synthetic refrigerants, we foresee continued acceleration in demand for remanufactured transcritical compressors. “It is an attractive option environmentally, as it conserves material resources, embodied carbon and contributes to the circular economy. It also makes sense commercially, as it reduces customers’ capital costs at a time when budgets are under pressure.”


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