Johnson Controls Unveils Heat Recovery System for Food Processing

Food and beverage manufacturers often use energy to remove heat from one part of an operation while generating heat elsewhere. HeatPAC connects these needs, helping customers recover more value from existing infrastructure and reduce reliance on additional energy inputs without disrupting critical production processes.

“HeatPAC applies Johnson Controls’ deep thermal management expertise to help customers put energy they have already generated back to work,” said Micah Lehman, product manager at Johnson Controls. “By combining advanced equipment, controls, and performance modeling, we can help customers improve efficiency, lower costs, and strengthen the competitiveness of their operations.”

Pre-engineered and fully packaged, HeatPAC units have a standardized, streamlined design that reduces complexity.

HeatPAC is the first FRICK product engineered around a Mark 5 Sabroe reciprocating compressor platform and has a heating capacity range of between 200 and 2,000 kW while providing hot water temperatures ranging from 130°F to 190°F.

The factory-assembled, pre-tested packaged units include:

• A fully welded plate-and-shell condenser with an integrated desuperheater;

• High-efficiency, two-stage oil separation technology designed to maximize heat exchanger performance and help extend equipment life;

• A crankcase ventilation system that helps protect equipment from damage caused by liquid slugging;

• A standard 4:1 turndown variable-frequency drive that provides part-load efficiency, allowing for varied uses, depending on facility needs, without compromising performance;

• An ammonia charge as low as 87 pounds.

HeatPAC brings together thermal equipment and connected controls to help customers manage system performance as operating requirements change. Each unit is equipped with a FRICK Quantum HD controller with Unity architecture, which integrates with a wide variety of plant control systems. Each 15-inch high-contrast touchscreen control panel is configured for each application and can be integrated with other refrigeration equipment throughout the facility, providing coordinated operation and convenient remote access.

Johnson Controls’ FRICK Coolware selection software helps customers select industrial refrigeration equipment and estimate potential performance. Users can enter application parameters to receive an estimate of approximately how much waste heat will be required, what the efficiency level will be, and how much heat will be received. Coolware can also provide the performance ratings needed to estimate the operating cost of a new heat pump. That detail can enable customers to compare their current costs with existing equipment to better understand potential energy savings and payoff timelines.

Combined with Johnson Controls’ industrial refrigeration expertise and lifecycle capabilities, HeatPAC provides customers with a more integrated approach to identifying, implementing, and optimizing waste heat recovery opportunities.