1

Ťažká

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


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

2

Ťažká

What is the critical pressure of CO₂ (R744)?


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

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?


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

5

Ľahká

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


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

6

Ľahká

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


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

7

Ľahká

What are CO₂ saturation tables used for?


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

8

Ľahká

What does the CO₂ saturation state mean?


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

9

Ťažká

When can dry ice (solid CO₂) form?


During normal operation of the system
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
At high temperature

10

Ťažká

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


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

11

Ťažká

How does CO₂ saturation pressure change as temperature increases?


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

12

Ľahká

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


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

13

Ťažká

What happens to CO₂ above the critical point?


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

14

Ľahká

Why do CO₂ systems require precise pressure control?


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

15

Ťažká

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


No need for control
Very high operating pressures
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 evaporator pressure
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 is used to store refrigerant

18

Ľahká

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


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

19

Ťažká

Why is pressure optimisation in CO₂ systems crucial?


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

20

Ťažká

What role does parallel compression play in CO₂ systems?


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

21

Ťažká

How does an ejector work in a CO₂ system?


It lowers the evaporator temperature
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
It increases the amount of refrigerant

22

Ťažká

What is the function of liquid ejectors in CO₂ systems?


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

23

Ťažká

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


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

24

Ťažká

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


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

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 completely shutting down the system and power supply
By increasing the refrigerant charge

26

Ťažká

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


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
Normal system operation

27

Ľahká

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


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

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

30

Ťažká

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


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

31

Ťažká

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


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

32

Ťažká

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


To avoid damaging the compressor with liquid CO₂
To prevent dry ice forming (until approx. 5.2 bar abs is exceeded)
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?


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

34

Ťažká

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


25 bar g
14 bar g
90 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…


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

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 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 the vapour pressure of a liquid is equal to the ambient pressure surrounding the liquid

37

Ťažká

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


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

38

Stredne ťažká

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


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

39

Ťažká

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


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