Heat Recovery Project News

Autumn 2025 proved to be a busy time for CFE, with several projects under way. The running theme with the projects was low carbon technologies, energy and cost savings.

CFE is working on a heat recovery project involving two newly commissioned poultry houses in the Notts area. This project will see large-capacity Dry Heat Recovery Units from Multiheat in action, controlled by the Fortica climate control computers.

Each poultry house has a 50,000 bird capacity. The Multiheat Units will convey recovered heat to each house up to a maximum rate of ~36,000 m³ per hour.

Current data from the site is showing a consistent 10ºc increase from ambient temperature using the MultiHeat Xchanger, even during the recent cold snap.

How do they work?

The Multiheat units employ large surface area air filtration, ensuring the aluminium X flow heat exchanger remains clean. This maximises efficiency and produces clean condensate run off. 

The air filters are cleaned automatically via a compressed air cleaning cycle, meaning that no water is used – which is convenient for the UK climate.

Heat is delivered into the houses through insulated ductwork, forming centrally into the building apex. Distribution fans are utilised to ensure even air movement throughout the shed.

Smoke testing during commissioning revealed good air speed up to gable ends, down and back along at bird level.

Why is this important?

CFE believe high-capacity clean heat recovery systems should be a high-priority for fuel cost savings and carbon reduction. Whatever the fuel used to heat the sheds: high-capacity heat recovery systems can reduce the heat required.

Another benefit of using heat recovery systems is that the heat source equipment doesn't need to work as hard, which prolongs life and lowers running costs.

Although new to the UK, Multiheat have supplied systems to many countries around the world with differing climates, and would be pleased to share their experiences.

CFE is the first partner company to have installed the MultiHeat Xchanger in the UK, and we are about to install a further six MultiHeat Xchangers on a new broiler site in Yorkshire. 

Heat recovery forms an important part of an overall heating strategy, and CFE is will placed to provide the knowledge and experience to deliver turnkey packages which include heat recovery.

For any enquiries or further information, feel free to contact Jules on 07811199585 or at jules@cfeng.co.uk.