Lindau, Germany, 5 September 2018: ENGIE Refrigeration announced that its air-cooled Quantum chillers can now be equipped with heat recovery as well, in a Press communiqué. This makes it possible to reuse up to 100% of the generated waste heat, the communiqué said. In July 2018, the first air-cooled Quantum chiller with heat recovery was put into operation in France, at an international industrial plant, the communiqué further said.

According to ENGIE, for many years, the company has been equipping its water-cooled Quantum chillers with heat recovery as an option. Many Quantum chillers with heat recovery are successfully operating around the world, the communiqué said. Now ENGIE is making this option available for air-cooled Quantum chillers as well, the communiqué further said.

Quantum chillers with heat recovery feature

According to ENGIE, a heat exchanger integrated in the air-cooled Quantum chiller, as an addition, makes it possible to conduct the heat, which is generated during the cold generation process, to a defined heat process, such as heating or the warm water supply. That means an air-cooled Quantum with a refrigeration capacity of 1,300 kilowatts can create a heat capacity of 1,480 kilowatts, the communiqué said.

The heat generated during the refrigeration process can be used either completely, or partially, in what is referred to as mixed mode, the communiqué said. To this end, the waste heat is transferred to a heat circuit via a parallel flooded shell and tube condenser, the communiqué further said. As the chiller fans are now running at partial load or not at all, this makes it possible to save power and money, the communiqué added. At the same time, users take advantage of the thermal energy that is generated and, as a result, heat recovery is not just sustainable but also conserves resources, the communiqué further added.

According to ENGIE, integrated heat recovery in an air-cooled Quantum chiller is highly suitable for all industries that can utilise waste heat, such as production plants, hospitals and hotels.