R-744 (CO2) Air Conditioning System
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In the framework of the EU funded project B-COOL, CRF developed, together with the project partners a low cost and high efficiency air-conditioning system based on a vapour compression cycle using CO2 - identified with the acronym R-744 when used as refrigerant fluid. The EU, as Greenhouse Gas emission reduction measure, banned the refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential higher than 150 for passenger cars Air Conditioning systems starting from 2011 for the new models and from 2017 for all the new vehicles.
This represents a challenge and an opportunity for OEMs and suppliers.CO2 is one of the most promising candidates to replace the present used fluid even if safety, reliability and efficiency are still under evaluation and discussion and the estimated additional cost is of about 100 Euro (ref. A-B segment cars with automatic A/C). Within the B-COOL project A Fiat Panda prototype with R-744 air conditioning has been realised demonstrating that the system performance is similar to the baseline R134a system in term of comfort and fuel economy in mean European climate conditions (e.g. 28 °C – 50% R.H.) while shows 55% high consumption (+0.9 l/100 km) in severe climate conditions (35 °C – 60% R.H.). |