CO2 Bulk Storage System

I don't work much with CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs, but my understanding is that R-134a is the most common substitute for R-12. Opinions vary, but you will need to look at replacing the thermostatic expansion valve or orifice, the compressor oil, and any Viton seals. The new thermal performance will be around 10% less, and the discharge pressure somewhat higher. If your old system had some reserve capacity, all of this may be okay. Google "r-12 vs r-134a" for more discussion.

Since this is CO₂ (= R-744), there might be some ways to use the CO₂ as an expendable refrigerant, which should be simple if you can tolerate the loss of some of the CO₂. There might also be ways to recompress the CO2 and return it to the bulk tank, but I am not familiar with the details. So these are just some ideas.

CO2 has been used for many years as refrigerant, but there is a technology that converts CO2 into synthetic gasoline at price below 7c/l. The technology is used in Poland where it was developed @ Lublin. The gasoline is less polluting than "normal" The production involves CO2 emitted from coal firing electric power station, so people of Lublin are blessed with inexpensive gasoline sold in local gas stations.

Disposing CO2 or storing it screw up environment even more than releasing it. The nonsense should stop, before we poison all aqua-fares as it threatens sulfur production by bottom bacteria and total destruction of bio atmosphere. The "bottom dead-zone:in ocean near Washington State increases and now it covers several million square miles. This madness should stop, before it is too late:

Hi Darold

Let me understand you.
You have a refrigerated container, with 6 tons of CO2. The refrigerant gas use is the R-12, and wants to replace it.
Why not use some of this gas as refrigerant?
The technology is old (from 1920), because of its high pressure was left to use, manufactured with the HCF, and today is getting the CO2.
Europe is banning the use of fluorinated gases.
And there's a whole new range of compressors for CO2.
This gas does not harm the ozone layer, if it is a greenhouse gas.
But the Montreal treaty assigned a value of 1, against 10.000 HFCs.
And if you work with CO2 if you know its benefits and its dangers.

One option that may be applicable is Propane.It is said to work in unmodified R12 systems, at some increase in efficiency. This change is popular with Mercedes owners. YMMV.

If the bulk CO₂ market extracts CO₂ from the air and returns it to the air via usage or leakage, that would be carbon neutral. CO₂ from fossil fuel is not from the air to start with, so exhausting it to the air is not carbon neutral. (Although the carbon in fossil fuels was derived from the air eons ago.)

Darold, The system can be upgraded to 404A using a kit. Contact the manufacturer (Tomco or whomever) and request it. The kit for a 6 ton tank should cost about $1,000.00 or less. You should also try to keep your pressure closer to 300 degrees F as you will blow off vapor when you get to 325. While this will result in a drop in temperature in the tank, it is not a very efficient way to cool. In a high temperature environment you can either provide a sun shade for the tank or provide dual refrigeration systems.

Why go thru a conversion when you an replace thr R12 with Duracool 12R as a direct replacement. It is hydrocarbon based and more efficient, about 30%

R407C is the direct and allowed replacement I believe.

Hello Darold,

R744-A may be of help. Refrigeration process may be by vacuum/compressor or heat pump absortption type. Co2 is commonly used in shipping refrigeration, and ships frequent places well above 100*F.

Cheers

Peter