In a remote or split system, the noisy, heat-producing part of the refrigeration system is moved away from the cooled space, typically to a rooftop, terrace, backyard or plant room. Insulated copper piping carries refrigerant between the two. The cabinet or cold room only has the evaporator, fans and controls.
The benefits are a cooler, quieter kitchen or sales floor, and a condensing unit that can breathe outdoor air instead of hot kitchen air. Supermarkets often connect many display cases to a central plant this way. The trade-offs are higher installation cost, the need for skilled site work on piping and charging, more possible leak points, and a less portable installation.
A supermarket in Hyderabad might connect its multidecks and island freezers to condensing units on the roof. On the shop floor, customers hear and feel nothing; the heat goes outside, which also reduces the load on the store's air conditioning.