1

Ťažká

Why do liquid and oil separators in CO₂ systems require particular attention?


Because of very high pressures – adequate PS and protection devices are required
Because sight glasses and level indicators must not be used in CO₂ systems
Because CO₂ needs no lubrication, so oil separators are unnecessary
Because CO₂ is flammable and separators must not be used

2

Ťažká

What is the critical pressure of CO₂ (R744)?


Approx. 31 bar
Approx. 74 bar (abs)
Approx. 120 bar
Approx. 10 bar

3

Ťažká

What characterises the transcritical process in CO₂ systems?


It occurs only at low temperatures
It is irrelevant to system operation
Conventional condensation occurs
Heat rejection takes place above the critical point – the refrigerant does not condense in the conventional way (gas cooler instead of condenser)

4

Ťažká

What characterises the subcritical CO₂ process?


Operation above the critical point
The conventional condensation process below the critical point
The absence of evaporation
The absence of condensation

5

Ľahká

What is the log(p)-h diagram for CO₂ used for?


To measure temperature
To detect leaks
For analysing thermodynamic processes in a refrigeration system
To regulate pressure

6

Ľahká

What can be read from the log(p)-h graph?


Only the humidity
Pressure, enthalpy, temperature and state of the refrigerant
Only the amount of refrigerant
Only the temperature

7

Ľahká

What are CO₂ saturation tables used for?


To determine the oil quantity
To regulate the compressor
To determine the relationship between temperature and pressure at saturation
To measure humidity

8

Ľahká

What does the CO₂ saturation state mean?


Equilibrium between the liquid and vapour phases
A state of high pressure
A state in which the refrigerant is only a gas
Dry ice state

9

Ťažká

When can dry ice (solid CO₂) form?


During normal operation of the system
At high temperature
At high pressure
When the pressure drops suddenly below the triple point (approx. 5.2 bar abs, −56.6 °C), e.g. when venting liquid CO₂ or charging liquid into an evacuated system

10

Ťažká

What risks are associated with dry ice forming in a CO₂ system?


Blocked pipes and valves and system damage (and a sharp pressure rise when it thaws)
No risk
Pressure reduction
Improved efficiency

11

Ťažká

How does CO₂ saturation pressure change as temperature increases?


It first decreases, then increases
It decreases
It increases rapidly
It remains the same

12

Ľahká

Why is understanding the log(p)-h graph particularly important for CO₂?


It is only used for design purposes
It only applies to NH₃
It doesn’t matter
As CO₂ systems operate in different modes (sub- and transcritical) and require detailed analysis

13

Ťažká

What happens to CO₂ above the critical point?


It turns into a liquid
It transitions to a supercritical state (no distinction between liquid and gas)
It ceases to conduct heat
It turns into a solid

14

Ľahká

Why do CO₂ systems require precise pressure control?


They do not require control
Due to low pressures
Because there are no valves
Due to significant pressure changes with temperature fluctuations

15

Ťažká

What is the main characteristic of R744 (CO₂) refrigeration systems?


Very high operating pressures
Low operating pressures
No need for control
Low energy efficiency under all conditions

16

Ťažká

What are the requirements for piping materials in CO₂ systems?


Only plastics
Any material may be used
It doesn't matter
They must withstand high pressures (e.g. stainless steel, high-strength copper-alloy tubes such as K65)

17

Ťažká

How does a booster system work in CO₂ installations?


It reduces evaporator pressure
It is used to store refrigerant
It reduces the refrigerant quantity
Low-temperature (LT) compressors discharge into the suction of medium-temperature (MT) compressors – two-stage compression in a single circuit

18

Ľahká

What is the function of high-pressure control valves in CO₂ systems?


They are used to store the refrigerant
They regulate oil flow
They control the pressure on the high-pressure side and optimise system operation
They lower the evaporator temperature

19

Ťažká

Why is pressure optimisation in CO₂ systems crucial?


It reduces the ambient temperature
It doesn’t matter
It enables the system to achieve maximum energy efficiency in transcritical mode
It reduces the amount of refrigerant

20

Ťažká

What role does parallel compression play in CO₂ systems?


It has no significance
It increases energy consumption
It compresses flash gas from the intermediate receiver directly to high pressure, improving efficiency
It lowers the ambient temperature

21

Ťažká

How does an ejector work in a CO₂ system?


It lowers the evaporator temperature
It increases the amount of refrigerant
Stores the refrigerant
It uses the energy of the higher-pressure refrigerant to raise the pressure of the refrigerant from the lower stage, which improves efficiency

22

Ťažká

What is the function of liquid ejectors in CO₂ systems?


They reduce atmospheric pressure
They raise the refrigerant temperature
They return liquid from the separator and allow partially flooded evaporator operation (better evaporator feed)
They increase the amount of oil

23

Ťažká

What are the characteristics of partially flooded systems in CO₂ systems?


Low operating pressure
The absence of liquid in the evaporator
The presence of liquid in the evaporator, which improves heat transfer and efficiency
Lack of regulation

24

Ťažká

What is the main risk associated with standstill pressure in CO₂ systems?


Increased efficiency
A pressure rise as the refrigerant warms up during standstill (possibly exceeding PS and lifting the relief valves)
A decrease in refrigerant quantity
A drop in temperature

25

Ťažká

How is standstill pressure limited in CO₂ systems?


By completely shutting down the system and power supply
By raising the plant-room temperature
By using an auxiliary standstill (stagnation) cooling unit, e.g. cooling the receiver, with back-up power, and by selecting an adequate PS and relief valves
By increasing the refrigerant charge

26

Ťažká

What does standstill (stagnation) of a CO₂ system mean, and why is it important?


Normal system operation
Improved efficiency
A state with no compressor operation or refrigerant flow – pressure rises with ambient temperature and may exceed PS
A drop in system temperature

27

Ľahká

Why do CO₂ systems require more advanced automation than traditional systems?


Because there are no valves
Due to the need for precise control of pressure and temperature
They do not require automation
Due to low pressures

28

Ťažká

Which safety class applies to R744?


B2L
A2.
A1
A3

29

Ťažká

In a simple single-stage R744 system without an intermediate receiver (refrigerant flows from the gas cooler directly to the expansion valve), operating transcritically at 90 bar with a gas-cooler outlet temperature of 35 °C, the refrigerant upstream of the expansion valve is…


…saturated vapour at intermediate pressure
…a supercritical fluid
…a subcooled liquid
…a two-phase mixture at intermediate pressure

30

Ťažká

In R744 transcritical systems, the gas cooler outlet valve controls:


The inlet temperature to the gas cooler
The pressure in the gas cooler
The outlet temperature of the gas cooler
The gas cooler fans

31

Ťažká

What is the main reason for using K65 copper tubing in some R744 systems?


They bend easily
They have good low-temperature performance
They can withstand higher pressures
They come in a wider range of diameters

32

Ťažká

Why should an evacuated R744 system initially be charged with refrigerant in the vapour phase?


To prevent dry ice forming (until approx. 5.2 bar abs is exceeded)
To avoid damaging the compressor with liquid CO₂
To prevent the drain valve on the receiver from opening
To charge R744 more slowly and measure it more accurately

33

Ťažká

If moisture remains in an R744 system because it was not properly evacuated (dehydrated), what is the likely consequence?


Reduced cooling capacity
Formation of hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid
Formation of carbonic acid, which damages the system
Excessive discharge pressure

34

Ťažká

The pressure of R744 at a saturation temperature of 20 °C is approx.


14 bar g
90 bar g
25 bar g
56 bar g

35

Ťažká

At an ambient temperature of 25 °C, the standstill pressure in the low-pressure stage of an R744 cascade (without standstill cooling) will typically be…


…higher than the maximum allowable pressure (PS) of the low-pressure stage
…the same as the relief valve set pressure
…approx. 27.5 bar g
…the same as the high-pressure switch setting

36

Ťažká

What is the correct definition of critical temperature?


The temperature at which a substance changes from a gaseous to a solid state
The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid is equal to the ambient pressure surrounding the liquid
The temperature at which, for certain substances, electrical resistance is zero
The temperature above which there are no distinct liquid and gaseous phases

37

Ťažká

In the gas cooler of a transcritical system, the supercritical working fluid…


…rejects heat as its temperature falls
…rejects heat during a phase change
…rejects heat as its pressure falls
…rejects heat at constant temperature and pressure

38

Stredne ťažká

What hazard does a large CO₂ leak in an enclosed room pose to people?


Formation of hydrogen fluoride
Explosion of the mixture with air
Accumulation near the floor and asphyxiating/toxic effects at high concentrations
CO₂ is completely safe

39

Ťažká

Why does the efficiency of transcritical CO₂ systems fall in warm climates, and how is this mitigated?


At high ambient temperatures the system operates transcritically with large throttling losses – parallel compression and ejectors are used, among others
CO₂ freezes in the gas cooler – heaters are used
Gas cooler pressure drops – extra charge is added
Efficiency does not depend on climate