Heat load
Short definitionThe total heat (kW) the refrigeration system has to remove to hold the room at the required temperature.
Heat load is the sum of four main items: heat coming in through walls, ceiling and floor; cooling the product brought into the room; air coming in through the door; and the lighting, people, forklifts and fans inside.
Which item dominates depends on the room. In a storage room with little product intake it is the walls. In a room taking tonnes of product a day it is the product. In a room with a frequently opened door it is air infiltration. The refrigeration unit is selected to cover this total.