A recent installation carried out in Northern Italy, showcases an advanced transcritical CO₂ refrigeration system supplied by Rivacold, designed specifically for a large, refrigerated logistics center dedicated to the storage and handling of agri-food products.
The logistics facility includes 5 medium-temperature cold rooms, 2 low-temperature cold rooms and one high-temperature cold room, for a total refrigerated area of 4.817 square meters, and serves as a key hub in the regional cold supply chain. The installation represents a full technological renewal of the site’s refrigeration infrastructure: previously equipped with traditional HFC-based systems, the logistics center has now transitioned to a sustainable solution fully compliant with the latest F-GAS regulations. This upgrade reflects the customer’s commitment to reducing environmental impact and improving energy efficiency across their operations.
A Complete CO₂ System Tailored for Customer’s Needs
The refrigeration plant is engineered for an ambient design temperature of +38°C, ensuring stable and efficient performance even in warm climate conditions.
The new system features four Rivacold TX compressor racks operating on R744 (CO₂), a natural refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 1, paired with four RRCX remote gas coolers for heat rejection.
Part of Rivacold’s comprehensive CO₂ product portfolio, Rivacold TX racks are highly customizable and perfectly suited for large-scale installations in food retail, cold logistics, and the agri-food industry. Designed to operate in ambient temperatures of up to +43°C, they can be easily selected through Rivacold’s Select configuration software and paired with low-noise remote gas coolers and dedicated CO₂ evaporators.
The system installed in Northern Italy consists of:
- Two transcritical CO₂ booster racks, with direct expansion circuits serving both low and high-temperature applications. The compressors used for this installation are provided by Dorin, and Rivacold used four MBP compressors and three LBP compressors.
- Each unit provides:
- 140 kW at -37°C (low temperature)
- 75 kW at 0°C (high temperature)
Resulting in a total capacity of:
- 280 kW at -37°C (LT)
- 150 kW at 0°C (HT)
Each of the two booster units is equipped with an intercooler, specifically designed to reduce the discharge temperature of the low-temperature CO₂ gas before it enters the high-temperature compressors. This solution significantly enhances the reliability of the system and helps ensure consistent performance over time, even under demanding operating conditions.
TX transcritical racks are connected to a Rivacold RRCX068005SB remote gas cooler, ensuring optimal heat rejection for transcritical operation.
- Two transcritical CO₂chillers dedicated to medium-temperature applications, each with a capacity of:
- 250 kW at -10°C, with a 30% MEG glycol solution (inlet/outlet 0/-5°C)
Providing a total of:
- 500 kW at -10°C (MT)
For the chillers as well, Dorin compressors were selected, with each unit equipped with five medium back pressure (MBP) compressors.
The chillers are paired with a Rivacold RRCX088005SB remote gas cooler for maximum efficiency.
Both the transcritical compressor racks, as well as the remote gas coolers, are entirely designed and manufactured by Rivacold in Italy, at the company’s headquarters and primary production facility located in Vallefoglia (PU). This fully in-house approach ensures complete control over every stage of development—from engineering and prototyping to final assembly and quality testing—guaranteeing consistency, reliability, and performance across the entire CO₂ product line.
Supporting a Greener Refrigerated Supply Chain
This CO₂-based solution offers several advantages over traditional synthetic refrigerants:
- Minimal environmental impact, thanks to the use of R744
- Enhanced energy efficiency, even under high ambient conditions
- Full compliance with the evolving F-GAS regulation
- Future-proof system design, ready for long-term operational demands
By replacing legacy HFC systems with a fully natural refrigerant solution, the logistics center not only enhances performance and reliability but also significantly reduces its carbon footprint. The use of transcritical CO₂ technology demonstrates a proactive approach to sustainable cold chain management, aligning with broader industry trends toward decarbonization and climate responsibility.
The customer has been served by RAV – the VAG Group’s specialized distribution network active in the Italian refrigeration and air conditioning sector – and, specifically, by RAV Districold.
This project highlights Rivacold’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-performance, environmentally responsible refrigeration systems for commercial and industrial applications across Europe and beyond.
