Cooperation for Heat Recovery : A Case Study on Heat Utilization From a Supermarket Refrigeration System

Abstract: The study looks at heat recovery of a refrigeration system in a supermarket where the heat was supplied to apartments in the same building. Such a system requires cooperation between the supermarket owner and the property owner, with both having different motives. By gaining understanding of each other's needs and obligations, cooperation can become easier to achieve, with a result that is more optimal for both actors. Heat recovery for use within the supermarkets has existed for a long time, though supplying the heat to other actors is not as common. Using CO2 as refrigerant is becoming more popular in supermarket refrigeration systems, which allows for achieving higher temperatures in recovered heat, enabling use in radiator systems or for preheating domestic hot water. In lack of other cooling solutions, the supermarket studied in the project had previously used municipal water for cooling of the condenser in the refrigeration system, which is a costly solution that does not utilize the heat. The amount of heat that can be recovered was estimated and compared to the varied amount of heat demand in the supermarket and the rest of the property over a year. Findings show that heat recovery from the refrigeration system create considerable cost savings for both the supermarket owner and the property owner, despite still requiring cooling with municipal water during summer. Financial compensation for delivered heat is difficult to argue for at moment, though it may become relevant if new solutions for cooling of the refrigeration system are proved to be feasible.