Honeywell has deployed HFO refrigerant blend R450A in combination with CO2 in a cascade refrigeration system.
The installation is at a 12,000m² refrigerated distribution centre operated by Spanish food cooperative Covirán in Coslada, Madrid.
Covirán, which is made up of more than 2,800 small and medium-sized independent retailers, worked closely with its specialist partner Systemfrost to develop the solution.
Systemfrost designed a cascade system utilising CO2 and R450A, which has a GWP of 601 and is marketed by Honeywell as Solstice N13.
It was designed to meet key criteria around energy efficiency, emissions reduction and refrigeration performance.
The blend is a mix of 42 per cent R134a and 58 per cent HFO1234ze(E). R450A has a GWP of around 601, less than half that of R134a.
The total charge of R450A in the Covirán system is 1,020kg.
Honeywell said the Systemfrost installation covers three freezer rooms, one dual-temperature room and a large, chilled dispatch area.
It is expected to reduce annual energy consumption and lower direct carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent annually compared to a similar system using R134a.
Systemfrost worked closely with engineering consultant Tewis to accommodate the lowest possible GWP refrigerant into the most efficient design.
Tewis is a Spanish-based leading specialist international refrigeration energy consultancy that has pioneered work with R450A by developing a system to replace R404A.
- with the Cooling Post