WR Refrigeration, a top refrigeration contracting company in the UK, has unveiled its new state-of-the-art training centre for carbon dioxide refrigeration engineering. The facility, located at its recently opened Birmingham branch, will be used to train WR's UK network of 300-plus installation and service engineers in carbon dioxide-based refrigeration technology.

Hugh Cole, Managing Director of WR said: "Our aim in building the new facility is to ensure our engineers have hands-on experience with handling carbon dioxide systems, and ensure they are trained to the highest standards of professionalism.  The new training centre gives us the capability to lead the field in this exciting new area." The facility will also be used to support end user customers who are developing carbon dioxide systems of their own, and provide a working demonstration of the technology in action. The project is headed up by Paul Arrowsmith, WR's engineering and safety director, who has 25 years experience in the design of refrigeration systems.

The installation comprises a pumped circulation carbon dioxide secondary system operating at chilled food conditions with a cascade R404A multi-compressor pack system used to provide a condensing medium for the carbon dioxide via plate heat exchangers. The system provides refrigeration to 15M of multi-deck display case and a 22 cu M cold room.  The installation is monitored with a control and alarm system accessible remotely - providing further opportunities to train engineers on system analysis and interrogation techniques. According to the company’s press release, WR has worked with suppliers and customers in creating the centre such as Marks and Spencer, whose display cases are used, and Searle, which supplied cooling equipment and expertise in the design of evaporator coils for the pumped circulation carbon dioxide systems. WR partnered with Applied Product Solutions and Stanref in the design and manufacture of the carbon dioxide vessel and pump package.