Copeland has introduced its transcritical CO2 scroll compressor equipped with dynamic vapor injection (DVI) technology to the North American market.
This development aims to enhance the flexibility and sustainability of distributed CO2 refrigeration systems, offering solutions for both new installations and remodeling projects.
Shifts in CO2 Refrigeration Technologies
The demand for CO2 refrigeration technologies that cater to varied application sizes and needs is rising rapidly
The food retail industry's refrigeration systems are evolving due to stricter regulatory demands, emissions reduction goals, and a shift to using natural refrigerants with lower global warming potentials (GWP). The demand for CO2 refrigeration technologies that cater to varied application sizes and needs is rising rapidly.
Industry data highlights a growth spurt in transcritical CO2 systems in North America, with ATMOsphere's report noting a rise in supermarket CO2 market penetration to 5.8% from 4.1% in the previous year.
By December 2024, approximately 4,100 food retail stores in North America had implemented transcritical CO2 systems, marking a 40% increase from 2023.
Features of the Copeland Transcritical CO2 Scroll Compressor
Copeland's latest compressor launch integrates the company's holistic system design philosophy, contributing to the transition towards low-GWP refrigerants. This addition is part of Copeland's extensive CO2 compression portfolio, featuring both fixed- and variable-speed configurations, coupled with DVI technology.
The portfolio already includes transcritical and subcritical semi-hermetics, subcritical scrolls, advanced control systems, variable frequency drives, and essential system components for a CO2 booster system.
Dynamic Vapor Injection: Enhancing Efficiency
The simplified design of Copeland's transcritical CO2 scroll compressor reduces the complexity of system installation
The innovative DVI technology embedded in the compressor enhances system efficiency by allowing high-pressure vapor to pass through the compression cycle, eliminating parallel compression requirements for flash tank vapor.
This leads to significant improvements in efficiency, design simplicity, and cost reduction, allowing the system to deliver efficient, reliable CO2 refrigeration across different climates.
Furthermore, the simplified design of Copeland's transcritical CO2 scroll compressor reduces the complexity of system installation and maintenance while minimizing required components, resulting in a smaller and lighter unit. This contributes to a lower total cost of ownership by improving system reliability and decreasing downtime and maintenance costs.
Commitment to Sustainable CO2 Solutions
Kurt Knapke, Vice President and General Manager for Copeland's cold chain sector, emphasized, “With this solution, we’re combining Copeland's unmatched CO2 domain expertise, innovative supermarket test labs and rigorous manufacturing capabilities to support the next generation of sustainable CO2 refrigeration solutions in both centralized and distributed system types.”
Copeland is initially launching a 460-voltage scroll compressor in North America, with plans to expand voltage options by 2025 and 2026.
Copeland, a pioneer in compression technologies and controls solutions, announced the launch of its transcritical CO2 scroll compressor with dynamic vapor injection (DVI) technology in North America.
The Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compressor marks a new era of flexibility, scalability and sustainability for distributed CO2 refrigeration systems, both for new installations and remodels.
Adoption of new CO2 refrigeration technologies
Increased regulatory requirements and emissions reduction goals, plus the transition to lower-global warming potential (GWP) and natural refrigerants, are driving changes in refrigeration equipment and system architectures within the food retail industry. These shifts are leading to the adoption of new CO2 refrigeration technologies that can scale to meet a wider variety of application sizes and requirements.
Recent industry data shows that North America is experiencing accelerated growth of transcritical CO2 systems. According to ATMOsphere’s latest report, CO2 market penetration in supermarkets reached 5.8 percent, compared to 4.1 percent in the previous year. As of December 2024, there were approximately 4,100 food retail stores in North America using transcritical CO2 systems, up 40 percent from 2023.
Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compressor
This launch from Copeland leverages the company’s integrated system design approach and will play a vital role in the industry’s transition to low-GWP refrigerants and the company’s overall CO2 solution portfolio by addressing global refrigeration trends, especially in small to medium food retail settings.
The Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compressor is the latest addition to a comprehensive CO2 compression portfolio, which includes transcritical and subcritical semi-hermetics, subcritical scrolls, advanced controls and monitoring, variable frequency drives and system components to support a fully integrated CO2 booster system. The new compressors are available in fixed- and variable-speed configurations; all featuring DVI technology.
Innovative DVI concept
The dynamic vapor injection process enhances system efficiency and performance, allowing for high-pressure vapor, such as refrigerant gas, to be digested through the compression cycle. DVI eliminates the need for parallel compression to digest flash tank vapor, resulting in improved efficiencies, design simplicity and applied cost reduction. The innovative DVI concept delivers efficient, reliable CO2 booster refrigeration in any climate, overcoming design challenges inherent in larger CO2 systems.
By significantly reducing system complexity, Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compression technology offers favorable total cost of ownership advantages, including easier installation and maintenance, fewer components, a simplified piping system, and a smaller rack in both size and weight. Thanks to its simplified design, the Copeland transcritical CO2 scroll compressor improves system reliability and reduces system downtime, which collectively lowers system maintenance costs.
Next generation of sustainable CO2 refrigeration solutions
“With this solution, we’re combining Copeland's unmatched CO2 domain expertise, innovative supermarket test labs and rigorous manufacturing capabilities to support the next generation of sustainable CO2 refrigeration solutions in both centralized and distributed system types,” said Kurt Knapke, vice president and general manager, cold chain, for Copeland.
Copeland is working globally to develop and launch this solution, beginning with a 460-voltage scroll compressor, its first in North America. The company plans to release additional voltages through the end of 2025 into 2026. Learn more about Copeland’s transcritical CO2 scroll compressor and the application of CO2 refrigeration at Copeland.com.
