CO2 Refrigeration Cycles and Systems for Ice Rinks and Snowmaking

Skating and skiing have become more and more popular with people all over the world. However, the natural ice and snow are not always available, and the period of cold seasons for skating and skiing is being shortened by the serious problems of global warming. Researchers are then prompted to develop science and technologies about producing ice and snow because of the gap between the limited natural resources and the growing demand for winter sports. CO2 refrigeration cycles and systems for ice rinks and snowmaking are extensively presented and analyzed in this chapter. The background and state-of-the-art of the ice rink systems and snowmaking systems are firstly given. The applications of CO2 cycles and systems are then respectively discussed with respect to ice rink systems and snowmaking systems based on the literature review and previous research by the authors. The system configuration and performance evaluation are shown by comparative studies according to the technology development.