What is refrigerant R744 (CO₂) – a natural and sustainable solution

In today's world, where environmental protection and energy efficiency are top priorities, more and more refrigeration and air conditioning systems are turning to the use of natural refrigerants . One of them is R744 , also known as carbon dioxide (CO₂) . This is a solution that combines sustainability, efficiency and safety when properly designed and operated.

What is R744 (CO₂)?

R744 is the chemical designation for carbon dioxide, used as a refrigerant. Unlike synthetic agents such as R134a or R404a, CO₂ is a natural gas with zero ozone depletion potential ( ODP = 0 ) and an extremely low global warming potential ( GWP ≈ 1 ).

Main advantages of R744:

• Low environmental impact
• Excellent thermal properties – high density, good heat dissipation
• Suitable for a wide temperature range
• Low price and wide distribution
• Possibility of use in different configurations – subcritical and transcritical

Disadvantages and technical challenges:

• High pressure – requires specific installation design (up to 130 bar)
• Sensitivity to overheating and oil shortage
• Higher demands on service and components