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Heat recovery and utilisation systems
06.08.2022 Share
Free heating and hot water are a bonus of refrigeration equipment
In light of global trends in energy conservation, the release of thermal energy from external refrigerator modules into the atmosphere is considered a reckless waste of money and resources. Heat from commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment can be used for heating and hot water supply using recuperators.
The heating season in Ukraine lasts for six months. During this period, large supermarkets, restaurants, canteens, food industry enterprises and other production facilities using powerful refrigeration equipment spend colossal amounts of money on heating and hot water heating. Heat recovery systems allow these costs to be reduced by at least 40-50%, and in some cases eliminated altogether.
Equipment for heat recovery from refrigeration units allows not to reduce the energy consumption of units, but to use the by-product heat energy for other purposes. This is the economic effect of the implementation of recuperators.
Operating principle and types of heat recovery systems
From a thermodynamic point of view, there are two ways of removing heat from a refrigeration machine condenser:
- use of superheated gas compressed by a compressor;
- heat recovery during refrigerant condensation.
In the first case, another heat exchanger must be installed in the refrigeration circuit. This makes it possible to utilize up to 20% of the heat released by the refrigerator. At the same time, the use of superheated compressed refrigerant allows heating air or water to 80-90°C.
The second option allows to remove much more thermal energy. However, this heat will be low-potential, i.e. the air or water can be heated only to 30°C.
The simplest version uses two condensers with manual switching – one outside for the warm season and the second inside for the winter. More complex versions use automation and one condenser with multidirectional heat removal channels – to the recuperator or outside.
One of the innovative solutions implemented by Ralco Technic is a heat recovery and utilization system with a transcritical cycle on carbon dioxide. Such recuperators on CO 2 allow heating water to high temperatures (over 80°C) with its subsequent use for heating, hot water supply or for technological purposes.
Heat utilization and recovery in industry – from design to remote control
Ralco Technic has implemented over 400 of its own projects for refrigeration equipment and heat recovery systems. We offer a comprehensive turnkey service that will allow you to provide for heat recovery units at the design stage. Thanks to competent engineering, you will be able to save not only on energy resources, but also on investments in your refrigeration equipment.
Each of our 12 engineers has experience working with the latest innovations in industrial refrigeration in Europe and the USA. This allows us to offer non-standard solutions and guarantee flawless operation of the units under close remote monitoring.
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