Refrigeration systems work by removing heat from a dedicated space. Traditionally, in the context of large-scale refrigeration systems that are used in supermarkets or food production facilities, the extracted heat is released into the atmosphere. Essentially, the heat is wasted.

Heat reclaim is the process of recovering heat from a large-scale refrigeration system. Instead of releasing it to the atmosphere, it is used for heating buildings or for the hot water system. The primary goal is to efficiently recover heat so that less gas or electricity needs to be used for any heating requirement.

The equipment of commercial refrigeration systems is managed by a range of control devices and sensors. RDM facilitates the process of heat reclaim by providing control devices that feature programmable logic controller (PLC) software. PLC software can be programmed to allow each component of the refrigeration and heat reclaim system to work together so that waste heat can be recovered and re-used. The extensive control capability of RDM’s PLC software ensures that the system runs as efficiently as possible to further reduce emissions.

RDM also provide central control and monitoring devices that can control and monitor the entire refrigeration system including the heat reclaim system to ensure that efficiency is maximised. RDM’s recently launched innovative analytical software, RPI, helps businesses assess the impact of heat reclaim on their overall energy consumption. Once this data is available, businesses can monitor the system and make further adjustments as needed.