US-based heating and cooling specialist Johnson Controls has launched the Frick HeatPAC Reciprocating Ammonia Heat Pump, an industrial heating system designed to recover waste heat from ammonia refrigeration installations.

The heat pump is intended for food and beverage processing facilities, where recovered heat can be used to produce hot water for pasteurization, sanitation, and space heating. According to the manufacturer, the system can be up to seven times more energy efficient than a natural gas boiler in typical applications, based on internal modeling.

The new product offers heating capacities ranging from 200 kW to 2MW and can deliver hot water at temperatures between 54.4 C and 87.8 C. It uses ammonia (R717) as a refrigerant, with a minimum refrigerant charge of approximately 39.5 kg.

The system is based on a Mark 5 Sabroe reciprocating compressor platform and features a fully welded plate-and-shell condenser with an integrated desuperheater, designed to achieve higher water temperatures while reducing the equipment footprint.

It also incorporates two-stage oil separation technology to maintain heat exchanger performance, a crankcase ventilation system to protect against liquid slugging, and a variable-frequency drive with a 4:1 turndown ratio to improve part-load operation.

The factory-assembled and pre-tested units feature a Frick Quantum HD controller with Unity architecture. The control system includes a 15-inch touchscreen and can be integrated with existing plant control systems and refrigeration equipment, enabling coordinated operation and remote access.

The manufacturer has not disclosed a rated coefficient of performance (COP), electrical input, unit dimensions, weight, or operating pressure limits for the new model in its launch announcement.

Source link