EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the first of a two-part series in response to the question: “Should I choose CO2 (R-744) for my refrigeration system?” It was prepared by engineers with M&M Refrigeration (www.mmrefrigeration.com) of Federalsburg, Maryland.
The application of cascade carbon dioxide and ammonia (cascade CO2/NH3) refrigerating systems has been gaining popularity in North America for the past number of years. But to correctly answer the question, “Should I choose CO2 for my refrigeration system?”, one must first identify the objectives for the refrigeration plant.