Refrigeration heat recovery — cut cold storage OPEX by capturing waste heat
Every refrigeration plant rejects 1.1–1.4 kW of heat for every 1 kW of cooling. Recovering even a fraction offsets tap water, space heating, process and defrost energy — typically cutting 10–30% off total site energy cost. ColdMatch sources heat recovery packages for CO₂, ammonia and HFC plants.
What ColdMatch delivers
- De-superheaters for HFC and ammonia plants (60–70°C hot water)
- Full condensing heat recovery for CO₂ transcritical (up to 90°C)
- Buffer tanks, plate exchangers and secondary loop integration
- Hot gas defrost credit for freezer rooms
- Feasibility, energy modeling and payback analysis (typical 1.5–4 years)
Frequently asked questions
How much heat can I actually recover?+
Realistic recovery is 20–40% of rejected heat as usable hot water or process heat. Higher for CO₂ transcritical thanks to high discharge temperatures.
What's the payback?+
1.5–4 years for most industrial plants, faster for sites with high hot water demand (dairy, meat, brewery) or CO₂ transcritical racks.
Can heat recovery be retrofitted?+
Yes — de-superheaters and plate exchangers retrofit onto most existing plants. ColdMatch sources feasibility studies and turnkey install scope.
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