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Special Growhouse System Applications

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2.1K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  hvacker  
B
#1 ·
So first off, I'm new, so please pardon my horrendous description of what I saw, and what little information I'm about to provide, but the boss only have a brief description of this machine because we were busy and I would like to dig further to gain an understanding for this unique application for a unit I came across.
We were at a massive marijuana grow house, and walked by two condensing units, they looked like your regular refrigeration condensing units that almost look like a big table, with the condensing fans on top of a coil. It had a workhorse of a 30 ton semi hermetic compressor with a suction line the size of my wrist. Massive receiver and accumulator and all that. Guy from another company was charging it with 507, said it's for CO2 extraction.
Anybody here do any work at grow houses and encounter something like this? Any explanation for how this unit plays a roll in CO2 would be appreciated. I can't seem to wrap my head around it.

**Pics hopefully to follow, going back this morning but there's armed guards everywhere**

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
 
#2 ·
That's a first. You are obviously informed well enough to know AC systems don't have any affect on CO2 extracting. A little water vapor is about it.
I'd look at the unit tag and see what was originally charged with . R 507 is a replacement for R 502 and R 22.
I've never used it and don't know about any problems mixing it with existing refrigerants or if mixing is allowed.

Now if I was mixing refrigerants and wanted to divert your attention from unwanted questions, I might say something to end all questions and say "It's to extract CO2.
You might ask, "Where does it go? How is it stored?, How do we get rid of it?" If he knows how to get rid of CO2 he could be famous. Countries have been trying to answer that for years.
Another possibility is he is border line challenged and is passing on something else told him that was equally challenged or was pranking the guy.

For others here with R 502 knowledge, is it OK to mix R 507 with R 502 or R 22 assuming that is what the unit was charged with? My understanding R 507 is used with POE oil. My hunch is the unit used mineral oil. The original refer charge could determine that.
You might be able to check his invoice to determine if the original charge was replaced or just topped off.

The operators of the building are in all likelihood paying a lot to have CO2 added to the air to help the plants grow. I doubt they would want any extraction. :)
Your last question in how the unit plays a role in CO2 ? Answer is, the unit creates a lot of CO2 in it's manufacture.
~(.)(.)~
 
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J
#3 ·
Do a search fro transcritical CO2. There is a good video on Danfoss' site.

They use CO2 in the trans critical stage as a solvent for the oils in hooch extraction. Cool process. Used in some electronic mfg to clean parts too. Very "earth friendly" Your monster condensing unit is probably first stage in the process to reliquify the CO2
 
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#6 ·
Problem is CO2 sublimes. Goes directly from a gas to ice with no liquid stage at normal atmospheric pressures.
It takes special equipment to liquefy CO2. Most grow houses use CO2 as a gas because plants do better with a richer concentration.
Can you enplane more? I just smoke the stuff. Not CO2.
 
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