CO2 air conditioner is class performer

GERMANY: The University of Bayreuth has handed over a CO2-powered air conditioning system to the Kulmbach Vocational School Centre (BSZ) for use in its operations and teaching.

The system, which was developed by the university’s Centre for Energy Technology (ZET), has a cooling capacity of 18kW. It includes a Bitzer Ecoline transcritical reciprocating compressor with frequency converter and SWEP plate heat exchangers.

As a demonstrator, it will serve vocational training in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration technology in Kulmbach. The project was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection.

“The air conditioning system installed today gives pupils at BSZ access to the most up-to-date know-how research has to offer. As future specialists, they can use this system to develop an understanding of important energy technology issues that need to be solved while complying with strict ecological requirements,” said BSZ director Alexander Battistella.

“A first test run recently met with great interest among the students of BSZ. In class, they learned about the ecological advantages of CO2 as a refrigerant and learned about current changes in EU law aimed at increasing climate protection.”

The construction of the plant, part of the project – FutureClimate – Development of Sustainable Air Conditioning Concepts – was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection to the tune of approximately €240,000 for three years.