Action Outdoors Falkirk Canal Collector

Action Outdoors is a centre on the Union Canal which offers waterside activities to members of the public, community groups and schools, catering to people of all ages and disabilities.

Owned by the Waterways Trust Scotland and managed by Falkirk Council, IHS was asked to develop a renewable solution to provide heating and hot water to the Centre.  IHS recommended taking advantage of the local Falkirk Wheel to use a river collector solution.  The Wheel ensures the water moves constantly moreover, “warm” water continuously flows over the collector pipes taking the cold water away.  

The heat pump must be able to provide both heating and hot water to run 4-6 showers running simultaneously to up to 8 people.  IHS specified a 22kW heat pump system with 1500/70 litre Hygienik Tank.  A back-up 6kW immerser was supplied but was not linked to the tank.  The immerser offers a manual boost if multiple groups require showers simultaneously.

Two collectors, each 9.6m in length, were fixed into the river piles.  Total pipe length per loop is 39m.  There are 4 loops per collector.  The total length over both collectors is 312m.

During the cold winter of 2009/2010, there was about 28cm (or 11”) of ice on the river and the system continued to perform perfectly.