But. CO₂ 320: Industrial CO₂ Commissioning Essentials is a complete, field‑ready training program for technicians and commissioning professionals who work with transcritical CO₂ systems. Unlike basic theory courses, CO₂ 320 focuses on real commissioning tasks—pressure testing, evacuation, startup, tuning, oil management, alarm handling, and final verification—presented in the same sequence you’ll follow on an actual jobsite.
This course is ideal for refrigeration technicians, startup teams, service contractors, and anyone transitioning from HFC or ammonia systems into high‑pressure CO₂. Students learn how to prevent the most common and costly commissioning failures, including liquid return, unstable superheat, oil‑system issues, and overcharge conditions.
Course Modules (18):
- RACI – defines roles for Factory, Contractor, Service Tech, and PM
- Site Readiness – ventilation, safety, mechanical/electrical checks
- Sensors & Valves – Traxoil, stepper valves, transmitters
- Pressure Testing – nitrogen testing, codes, leak detection
- Evacuation – moisture removal, microns, gas ballast
- System Charging (Vapor) – safe pressurization and bone‑dry CO₂ use
- System Verification – wiring, I/O, controls, valves
- Gas Cooler Verification – fan control and airflow integrity
- Compressor Verification – phasing, heaters, oil levels
- Evaporator Inspection – probes, airflow, coils, drains
- Startup Part 1 – alarms, oil readiness, early load
- SLA: Mechanical – oil behavior, superheat, intercooler tuning
- SLA: Electrical – safety‑device diagnostics
- Startup Part 2 – flash gas control, receiver stability
- Overcharging – pressure behavior and mass‑balance issues
- Pull‑Down – building protection and staged cooling
- Maintenance – early filter/strainer replacements and checks
- Final Verification & Handover – full‑load test and documentation
Students walk away with a repeatable commissioning method, troubleshooting confidence, and a deep understanding of how to protect equipment, avoid delays, and ensure a safe and successful CO₂ startup.
- Profesor: Don Faust
CO₂ 110: CO₂ Safety, Hazards & Emergency Response is a foundational safety course designed for anyone working in or around CO₂ refrigeration systems. This training builds essential awareness of the hazards associated with R744 and equips learners with the knowledge needed to recognize unsafe conditions, respond effectively to emergencies, and apply safe‑work practices in real environments.
The course begins with an introduction to CO₂ safety, covering high‑pressure risks, cold burns, oxygen displacement hazards, rapid phase changes, and trapped‑refrigerant dangers. Students learn the importance of proper ventilation, PPE, pressure management, and the use of reliable detection equipment.
Next, the course explores CO₂’s impact on human health, explaining atmospheric levels, exposure symptoms, regulatory thresholds, and the physical properties—such as the critical point and triple point—that influence system behavior.
The training concludes with an in‑depth look at emergency response procedures. Students learn how to recognize the signs of CO₂ exposure, evacuate safely, activate ventilation, assist affected individuals, and document incidents.
Course Modules Include:
- Introduction & Safety — CO₂ hazards, trapped refrigerant, PPE, ventilation, detection equipment, and pressure‑safety fundamentals.
- Health Effects of CO₂ — Atmospheric CO₂, exposure symptoms, regulatory limits, and key physical properties affecting safety.
- Emergency Response — Recognizing leak conditions, safe evacuation steps, assisting exposed personnel, and incident reporting.
By the end of CO₂ 110, learners will be prepared to work safely around CO₂ systems and respond appropriately during emergency situations.
- Profesor: Don Faust
CO2 240 — R744 Evaporators and Defrost
Audience
Industrial refrigeration technicians and engineers responsible for selecting, operating, or supporting evaporators in R744 systems.
Value
CO2 240 explains how evaporators actually behave in R744 systems and why certain designs are chosen for specific applications. Rather than focusing on catalog data alone, the course connects heat transfer fundamentals to real‑world operation, load variation, and control behavior. This understanding helps technicians avoid misapplication, recognize normal operating conditions, and diagnose evaporator‑related performance issues.
What’s Included
The course covers evaporator sizing fundamentals, overfeed and DX operation, air unit selection, cold storage applications, evaporator controls, and R744 defrost logic. Emphasis is placed on system interaction and operational intent rather than installation or service procedures.
Course Sections
- Introduction – Role of evaporators in R744 system performance
- Sizing Evaporators – Heat transfer fundamentals and TD selection
- Overfeed Units – Recirculated evaporator operation
- DX Units – Direct expansion evaporators and superheat control
- Ceiling Hung Units – Common air unit applications
- Penthouse Evaporators – Large warehouse solutions
- Cold Storage Applications – Placement and airflow strategies
- Controlling Evaporators – Temperature and fan control concepts
- R744 Defrost in Detail – Hot gas defrost sequencing and logic
Outcome
After completing CO2 240, participants will understand how R744 evaporators are selected, applied, controlled, and defrosted, and will be prepared to support reliable evaporator operation in industrial CO₂ systems.
- Profesor: Don Faust
CO2 200 — Transcritical R744 Applications
Audience
Industrial refrigeration technicians, engineers, and project personnel working with transcritical R744 systems who need application‑level system understanding.
Value
CO2 200 explains how transcritical R744 systems are assembled, controlled, and applied in real facilities. Rather than focusing on component theory, the course shows how compressors, gas coolers, receivers, intercoolers, and control loops work together to support low‑temperature refrigeration, heat recovery, and operational flexibility.
What’s Included
Participants learn how two‑stage transcritical systems are configured, why specific control strategies are used, and how R744 applications differ from ammonia systems at the facility level. The course also introduces optional features such as parallel compression, mechanical subcooling, and ejector defrost, with guidance on where each makes sense.
Course Sections
- Two‑Stage TC System Overview – Architecture and design intent
- High Stage Compressors – Transcritical compression and defrost support
- Gas Cooler – Heat rejection and pressure control
- System Receiver – Refrigerant storage and expansion control
- Intercooler – Mass flow balancing between stages
- Low Temp Suction Accumulator – Compressor protection
- Low Stage Compressors – Subcritical low‑temperature operation
- Transcritical Applications – Where R744 performs best
- A Natural Decision: R717 vs R744 – Application‑level comparison
- Features and Options – Enhancements for efficiency and flexibility
Outcome
After completing CO2 200, participants will understand how transcritical R744 systems are applied in real installations and will be prepared to support operation, troubleshooting, and advanced system training.
CO₂ 120: CO₂ Thermodynamics, Properties & Transcritical Operation is a technical foundations course for refrigeration technicians, operators, and engineers seeking a deeper understanding of how CO₂ functions within modern systems. This course explains why CO₂ is both an environmentally advantageous refrigerant and a unique thermodynamic fluid that behaves differently from ammonia and synthetic refrigerants.
Learners begin with the fundamental reasons for using CO₂, including its environmental benefits, safety classification, and efficiency potential. The course then explains the critical point and triple point—two thermodynamic landmarks that drive system behavior and dictate when CO₂ enters transcritical operation.
Students gain a clear understanding of subcritical versus transcritical operation through detailed exploration of the R744 pressure‑enthalpy cycle. Concepts such as COP, EER, flash gas, compressor work, and gas‑cooler control are demystified and linked directly to system efficiency. Additional modules cover CO₂’s pressure and density properties, explaining why CO₂ systems use smaller compressors, different piping sizes, and specialized component ratings.
The course also reviews CO₂ safety fundamentals, material interactions, and the consequences of moisture contamination. Students learn why water creates acid and ice within CO₂ systems and how to prevent long‑term damage using filtration and proper evacuation.
Course Modules Include:
- Why Use CO₂ (R744)
- Critical Point & Triple Point
- R744 and the Carnot / Transcritical Cycle
- CO₂ Properties – Pressure
- CO₂ Properties – Density
- CO₂ Safety
- Water in CO₂ Systems
- Going Transcritical
By the end of CO₂ 120, students will have mastered the physical science behind CO₂ refrigeration and will be fully prepared for commissioning‑level training in CO₂ 220 and 320.
Prerequisites:
ENG 110 Foundations
ENG 230 IR Controls and PIDs
CO₂ 310 – Installation of CO₂ Systems
Who this course is for
This course is intended for industrial refrigeration technicians, installers, pipefitters, and project leads involved in installing CO₂ refrigeration systems. It is especially valuable for personnel working on new construction, system expansions, or first-time CO₂ installations.
Why this course matters
CO₂ systems operate at higher pressures and are governed by a complex mix of codes and standards. Installation mistakes lead to inspection failures, startup delays, safety risks, and long-term operational problems. This course provides clear, practical guidance on installing CO₂ systems correctly and compliantly.
Course Sections
- Codes and Standards – Explains how rules are written, adopted, and enforced
- US Codes Adoption – Covers state and local code variability
- Canadian Codes – Explains CSA B52 and provincial requirements
- IIAR CO₂ Standard – Defines system-wide safety requirements
- Piping Materials – Compares approved materials and applications
- Pipe Sizing – Explains CO₂-specific sizing principles
- Pipe Sizing Deep Dive – Applies detailed sizing methods
- Pipe Installation – Covers supports, slope, traps, and relief piping
- Skid Installation – Explains receiving, rigging, leveling, and securing
- Gas Cooler Installation – Covers placement and mounting guidelines
- Gas Cooler Piping – Explains discharge and return piping requirements
Outcome
After completing CO₂ 310, technicians will be able to install CO₂ refrigeration systems in compliance with applicable codes and standards, reducing startup issues, improving safety, and ensuring long-term system reliability.
- Profesor: Don Faust
This course holds downloads for students of the Garland Center blended learning program for CO2.
- Profesor: Don Faust