A The primary purpose of a CO2 heat pump is to regulate the temperature at the inlet. Since the critical temperature of CO2 is 30°C, in order to achieve a higher COP, it is necessary to release both the sensitive and latent heat during the gas cooler. To achieve this, it is important to ensure that the inlet temperature remains below 30°C. By doing so, CO2 will undergo a phase change within the gas cooler, resulting in the release of heat and ultimately leading to a higher COP.

A The usual refrigerants, such as R410 and R134a, are known for their high global warming potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP). Due to these concerns, many markets have implemented strict regulations on these HFCs and are looking to switch to natural refrigerants like NH3, CO2, and R290. Among these options, CO2 stands out as the only non-toxic and non-flammable refrigerant with an A1 safety classification. As a result, R744 is an interesting alternative to HFCs in residential and commercial heat pumps.

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A The CO2 heat pump functions similarly to the traditional heat pump water heater. It operates by having the CO2 refrigerant extract heat from either the surrounding environment or brine water. This refrigerant is then compressed by the compressor, resulting in a vapor with high temperature and pressure. Subsequently, the vapor is released to the gas cooler, where it transfers the heat to the medium.