SorTech

SorTech AG, founded in 2002 by Walter Mittelbach, emerged as a spinoff from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. The company has since evolved into Fahrenheit AG and established itself as a developer and manufacturer of adsorption technology. SorTech designs, develops, and produces adsorption chillers that generate cold from low-temperature waste heat, targeting a reduction in operating costs and CO2 emissions.

The core of SorTech's business is its adsorption chiller technology, which utilizes heat instead of electricity as the primary energy source for producing cold. This process is based on innovative coating technologies using materials like silica gel or zeolite and pure water as a refrigerant, presenting an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chillers. The technology is versatile, using driving temperatures as low as 55°C from sources such as solar-thermal systems, district heating, and industrial waste heat. The company offers compact adsorption chillers in various nominal cooling capacities, such as the ACS 08 and ACS 15, which can be combined in a modular fashion for larger projects. By 2013, over 400 SorTech systems were operational worldwide.

The company serves a diverse client base that includes private homes and small to medium-sized commercial buildings, as well as industrial applications. SorTech's business model involves manufacturing and selling its chillers and energy-optimized subsystems through a distribution network. In early 2013, the company restructured to better serve its target groups in the trade and industry sectors, creating divisions for adsorption chillers and sorption technologies to facilitate growth and customized solutions. This restructuring aimed to provide tailored fulfillment of demands from customers in industry, trades, and consulting. The company also develops solutions for the heat pump market, offering components to system fitters for joint, customer-specific product development.

Keywords: adsorption chillers, waste heat recovery, sustainable cooling, energy efficiency, clean technology, thermal energy, silica gel technology, zeolite technology, Fahrenheit AG, Fraunhofer Institute spinoff, Walter Mittelbach, low-temperature heat, commercial buildings, industrial cooling, heat pump units, solar cooling, trigeneration, district cooling, process heat