Liquid ice production using R718; heat extraction from natural water sources operating as a heat pump

The use of water (R718) as a refrigerant requires a higher vapour flow rate compared with other refrigerants, due to its low vapour density. The development focuses on the design to achieve high peripheral speeds at the impeller, high final compression temperatures and the challenges involved in reaching the speed of sound.

The sizing and the structural and fluid dynamics design of the turbo compressors, carried out using specialised tools, are complemented by experimental investigations in our own test facility.