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 is flammable and separators must not be used
Because CO₂ needs no lubrication, so oil separators are unnecessary

2

Ťažká

What is the critical pressure of CO₂ (R744)?


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

3

Ťažká

What characterises the transcritical process in CO₂ systems?


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

4

Ťažká

What characterises the subcritical CO₂ process?


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

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

7

Ľahká

What are CO₂ saturation tables used for?


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

8

Ľahká

What does the CO₂ saturation state mean?


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

9

Ťažká

When can dry ice (solid CO₂) form?


At high pressure
During normal operation of the system
At high temperature
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?


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

11

Ťažká

How does CO₂ saturation pressure change as temperature increases?


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

12

Ľahká

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


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

13

Ťažká

What happens to CO₂ above the critical point?


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

14

Ľahká

Why do CO₂ systems require precise pressure control?


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

15

Ťažká

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


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

16

Ťažká

What are the requirements for piping materials in CO₂ systems?


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

17

Ťažká

How does a booster system work in CO₂ installations?


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
It reduces evaporator pressure
It is used to store refrigerant

18

Ľahká

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


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

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 increases energy consumption
It compresses flash gas from the intermediate receiver directly to high pressure, improving efficiency
It has no significance
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
It uses the energy of the higher-pressure refrigerant to raise the pressure of the refrigerant from the lower stage, which improves efficiency
Stores the refrigerant

22

Ťažká

What is the function of liquid ejectors in CO₂ systems?


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

23

Ťažká

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


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

24

Ťažká

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


A drop in temperature
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

25

Ťažká

How is standstill pressure limited in CO₂ systems?


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
By completely shutting down the system and power supply

26

Ťažká

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


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

27

Ľahká

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


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

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…


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

30

Ťažká

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


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

31

Ťažká

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


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

32

Ťažká

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


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

33

Ťažká

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


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

34

Ťažká

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


25 bar g
14 bar g
56 bar g
90 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…


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

36

Ťažká

What is the correct definition of critical temperature?


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

37

Ťažká

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


…rejects heat during a phase change
…rejects heat as its temperature falls
…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?


Explosion of the mixture with air
Accumulation near the floor and asphyxiating/toxic effects at high concentrations
Formation of hydrogen fluoride
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
Efficiency does not depend on climate
Gas cooler pressure drops – extra charge is added