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CO2 transcritical refrigeration cycles require optimization to reach the performance of conventional solutions at high ambient temperatures. Theoretical studies demonstrated that the combination of a transcritical cycle with a mechanical subcooling cycle improves its performance; however, any experimentation with CO2 has been found. This work presents the energy improvements of the use of a mechanical subcooling cycle in combination with a CO2 transcritical refrigeration plant, experimentally. It is tested the combination of a R1234yf single-stage refrigeration cycle with a semihermetic compressor for the mechanical subcooling cycle, with a single-stage CO2 transcritical refrigeration plant with a semihermetic compressor. The combination is evaluated at two evaporating levels of the CO2 cycle (0 and -10 ºC) and three heat rejection temperatures (24, 30 and 40 ºC). The optimum operating conditions and capacity and COP improvements are analysed with maximum increments on capacity of 55.7 % and 30.3 % on COP. KEYWORDS

In this work the possibilities of enhancing the energy performance of CO2 transcritical refrigeration systems using a dedicated mechanical subcooling cycle are analysed theoretically. Using simplified models of the cycles, the modification of the optimum operating conditions of the CO2 transcritical cycle by the use of the mechanical subcooling are analysed and discussed. Next, for the optimum conditions, the possibilities of improving the energy performance of the transcritical cycle with the mechanical subcooling are evaluated for three evaporating levels (5, -5 and -30 ºC) for environment temperatures from 20 to 35 ºC using propane as refrigerant for the subcooling cycle. It has been observed that the cycle combination will allow increasing the COP up to a maximum of 20% and the cooling capacity up to a maximum of 28.8%, being both increments higher at high evaporating levels. Furthermore, the results indicate that this cycle is more convenient for environment temperatures above 25 ºC. Finally, the results using different refrigerants for the mechanical subcooling cycle are presented, where no important differences are observed. KEYWORDS

CO 2 subcooling has resulted a method to upgrade the performance of CO 2 refrigeration plants in the recent years, with overall improvements up to 12% with internal heat exchangers, 22% with economizers, 25.6% with thermoelectric systems and 30.3% with dedicated subcooling methods. This paper comprehensively reviews the recent studies that consider subcooling as a way to upgrade the performance of CO 2 refrigeration cycles. The review is limited to CO 2 refrigeration cycles with accumulation receiver for commercial purposes and does not consider air conditioning or MAC systems. It is organized as follows: first, the thermodynamic aspects of subcooling in CO 2 refrigeration cycles are described and discussed; second, the main results and conclusions of the recent investigations are analysed inside two big groups: subcooling internal methods and subcooling external methods. Finally, the review synthesizes the current state of the art and points out the lines of research that deserve future developments. Highlights Research using subcooling as way to improve CO 2 refrigeration is analysed. COP improvements up to 37.8% of CO 2 base systems have been reported. State-of-the art subcooling systems are presented and discussed  New opportunities for research are highlighted in the review.