Liquid CO2 pumping is a high-capacity carbon dioxide pump that can increase the liquified gas’s delivery pressure to 10,000 psi. It’s utilized to provide liquid CO2 to SFE equipment, both new and old. Liquid CO2 pumping presents unique issues for high-pressure pumps. CO2 has the propensity to turn gaseous, thus keeping the temperature and pressure on the system’s input and outflow under careful control will assist in keeping the CO2 in a liquid form. Industrial laundry cleaning, CO2 re-fill stations, and CO2 component cleaning are examples of typical uses.
Below the critical temperature of 31 degrees Celsius and above the triple point of -56.6 degrees Celsius, carbon dioxide exists as a liquid with a pressure of 4.18 atmospheres. CO2 gas is typically transported, stored, and handled in liquid form, either in cylinders or non-insulated storage tanks at 45-65 bar, or in refrigerated tanks at -35 C to -15 C at pressures of 12 to 25 bar.
The demand for liquid CO2 has skyrocketed in a variety of sectors. This shows the wide range of uses for this gas. A liquid CO2 pump is mounted beneath an SFT-110 or 120 SFE, freeing up important lab bench space. It injects supercritical fluid reaction chemistry and other high-pressure CO2 applications into reaction chambers.
Compressing and transporting supercritical fluid CO2 with a centrifugal pump has various advantages. It allows for the avoidance of the last compression steps, resulting in less particular compression effort and, as a result, less energy consumption. Because the process is carried out at low temperatures, heat losses are reduced and the material is not subjected to thermal stress. With the use of a centrifugal pump, the amount of energy required to compress CO2 may be greatly lowered.
APPLICATIONS OF LIQUID CO2 PUMPING
In the entertainment sector, liquid CO2 pumping is commonly utilised to generate extraordinary effects. Many distinctive effects are easier and more cost-effective to accomplish using liquid CO2. Without it, these effects would necessitate the use of costly pyrotechnics: In TV production, liquid CO2 pumping is utilised to generate homogeneous cloud effects. In a music event, these clouds are employed to expose lighting beams. The gas is used to amplify the impact of spotlights. Passing compressed CO2 through a pool of highly refined mineral oil creates a foggy look.
The changing face of food distribution and retailing is reverberating across the numerous companies that provide building services and related equipment. As food retail outlets grow in size and the turnaround of frozen and perishable foods gets faster, businesses with vast cool rooms and freezer facilities are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, important elements of retail equipment that were originally built for industrial plants must be altered or redesigned. You’ve definitely seen movies featuring foggy sequences, but they were most likely shot in a hot desert. To create a low-lying fog appearance, liquid carbon dioxide is combined with fog machines. The fog generators generate theatrical fog, which is cooled with liquid CO2 pumping. When it’s cold, the fog sticks close to the ground, but when it warms, it disperses evenly.
Liquid CO2 pumping is a tricky topic at retail stores where freezer cabinets and cold storage facilities are required. Because it is suitable for refrigeration and preserving proper atmospheric conditions during the transportation of food goods, this extremely adaptable material is quickly gaining popularity among retailers. However, it is 1.5 times heavier than air, has essentially no odour, and may be fatal if inhaled in concentrations more than 10%. Because of the risk of gas leakage into the atmosphere, the Liquid CO2 pump must ensure 100% containment due to the low viscosity of CO2 in liquid form and the necessity for it to be pumped at high pressures due to its weight.
During Liquid CO2 pumping, users must be aware of the challenges that this molecule might provide. For starters, because it is a low-viscosity substance, leakage between the faces of the mechanical seal can occur with a traditional centrifugal pump, resulting in gas escaping into the atmosphere. Second, ice accumulates on the pump’s components, causing the mechanical seals to freeze and the pump to fail. For these reasons, a sealless or canned pump should be considered. The canned pump will continue to work even if it is totally encased in ice.
The canned Liquid CO2 pumping motor is completely leak-proof thanks to its double containment design, which does not have a shaft sealing device. There is no leakage to the atmosphere even in the improbable case of a stator lining rupturing. Furthermore, the lack of mechanical seals and the use of maintenance-free sliding bearings rather than roller bearings guarantee that the MTBF is maximised.
Torque is transmitted electro-magnetically without shaft penetration, with rotation created by the stationary motor stator winding. A thin stator liner serves as the sealing element between the two components, which is commonly made of Hastelloy material for minimal electrical losses during operation. Cold storage depots, supermarkets, slaughterhouses, breweries, diaries, cool ships, and rail tankers are just a few of the places where liquid CO2 pumping is used. A constant flow regulator intended for placement at the refrigerant output can be included with the unit. This regulator allows for precise flow rate control and allows pumps to operate safely in a range not generally available to pumps with discharge orifices. Furthermore, without exceeding the measured quantity of flow, operating near the unconstrained pump flow curve may be accomplished.
Liquid CO2 pumping’s relevance in the food business cannot be overstated. This liquid gas is used extensively in the food business for refrigeration, preservation, storage, and softening. Pumping liquid CO2 is a significant cryogenic cooling agent. It is used as a food preserver as well as in cooling applications to keep food at a consistent temperature. During the shipping of ice cream, liquid carbon dioxide is also employed. Because of its large volumetric cooling capacity, it is favoured. Beverages were initially carbonated naturally, but today’s bottled drinks are softened and stored using pressurised CO2. Because liquid CO2 is such a flexible solvent, it is also used to extract caffeine from coffee.
Because of its anti-flammable qualities, liquid CO2 is employed as a fire extinguisher. The gas operates by depriving the flames of oxygen, which is required for combustion. Liquid carbon dioxide is used in fire extinguishers designed to put out electrical fires. This is because, in addition to extinguishing the fire by removing oxygen, the pressurised gas cools the hot surfaces, limiting additional damage. The liquid is poured into oil wells where it gets miscible with the oil during oil recovery. It decreases the oil’s viscosity and allows it to flow freely until the point of removal. Liquid CO2 pumping is a useful gas with a wide range of uses. The culinary and entertainment sectors are among the most notable uses of it today. Contact us immediately if you’re seeking a dependable and experienced specialised provider of beverages dispensing gas and cellar gas equipment.
OUR PRINCIPAL
Kiron Hydraulic Needs Private Limited, in association with CAT Pumps, offers a comprehensive solution for liquid CO2 pumping. Cat Pumps has been delivering liquid CO2 pumping solutions for over 20 years. Cat Pumps has established itself as an industry leader by working closely with research centres, universities, equipment manufacturers, and site locations to provide ideal solutions. Cat Pumps has developed a diverse product line for liquid CO2 applications thanks to two decades of liquid CO2 system engineering and tight client relationships.