Cutting summer CO₂ system water use by 98% with PX G1300 pressure exchanger

ADVERTORIAL

Despite Hollywood cliches about the state, the northern part of California has a typically mild, stable climate with temperatures on the coast rarely going above 21°C. However, the region does occasionally experience sudden, extreme heatwaves with temperatures up to 40°C or more. 

Because of the occasional but severe spikes in temperature, a supermarket in the region used water to cool its CO₂ refrigeration system during the summer. However, the team wanted to explore alternative solutions to lower maintenance needs and reduce water use.

In the summer of 2024, the supermarket retrofitted its CO₂ system with Energy Recovery’s PX G1300 pressure exchanger to reduce water consumption and drive energy savings. The compact module was easily installed inside the supermarket’s machine room next to the parent rack. By incorporating the PX G1300 into the system, the supermarket was able to  increase its water onset point from 24°C to 35°C, eliminating 98% of water usage annually from the system. 

As an additional bonus, the PX G1300 also reduced energy consumption by up to 14% at 34°C, driving an estimated 19,000kWh of annual energy savings. It also enabled an approximately 9°C increase in design temperature to protect the CO₂ system against future heatwaves.

Climate variations will continue to grow in the future, not to mention fluctuations in energy and water prices. With the PX G1300 pressure exchanger, this California supermarket doesn’t have to guess or pivot in the face of what a given year will bring. It can reliably reduce energy consumption and water waste, all while knowing it can effortlessly adjust to whatever weather mother nature has in store. 

Learn more about the PX G1300 and how this supermarket reduced its CO₂ system water usage at energyrecovery.com.