Ultra High Pressure Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers for CO₂ Refrigeration Systems

Application Background – CO₂ Refrigeration in Food Processing

Modern food processing plants increasingly adopt CO₂ refrigeration systems due to their excellent environmental performance and energy efficiency.   However, CO₂ systems operate at significantly higher pressures than traditional refrigerants, especially in transcritical operation.

In such systems, heat exchangers must withstand high pressure conditions while delivering stable heat transfer performance.   HEXNOVAS Ultra High Pressure BPHE units are engineered to meet these requirements in demanding industrial refrigeration environments.

Example of CO₂ Refrigeration Systems Using Plate Heat Exchangers

The following examples illustrate typical industrial refrigeration installations where plate heat exchangers are integrated within skid-mounted refrigeration systems.

Industrial refrigeration skid equipped with plate heat exchangers for heat transfer between cooling circuits.

Typical CO₂ refrigeration rack system used in food processing and industrial cooling plants.

Engineering Challenges in CO₂ Systems

• High operating pressure compared with traditional refrigerants
• Pressure cycling caused by load variations
• High mechanical stress during transcritical operation
• Strict reliability requirements in food processing plants

HEXNOVAS Solution – Ultra High Pressure BPHE

HEXNOVAS has developed a series of Ultra High Pressure Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers designed specifically for high-pressure CO₂ refrigeration applications.

• High pressure mechanical design for CO₂ systems
• Compact heat transfer efficiency
• Gasket-free sealed construction
• Reliable long-term operation under pressure cycling
• Suitable for industrial refrigeration and heat recovery

Typical Applications

• Food processing refrigeration plants
• Industrial cooling systems
• Heat recovery modules
• Secondary cooling loops
• Process cooling installations

Customer Value

By integrating HEXNOVAS Ultra High Pressure BPHE technology into CO₂ refrigeration systems, operators can achieve safer operation, compact equipment design, and improved system efficiency.   This solution supports the transition toward natural refrigerants while ensuring reliable industrial performance.