Andrews solar water heating for Police HQ

Award-winning MAXXflo gas-fired storage water heater and a solar water heating package were installed as part of the refurbishment of Tayside Police's Divisional Headquarters in Perth.

Perth and Kinross - known as Western Division - is the largest geographically, covering an area of some 2000 square miles, with a population in excess of 135,000.

The Divisional Headquarters in Perth is the base for Western Division command team as well as the Road Policing Unit and CID, accommodating around 150 people.

Tayside Police are proactive in their requirement for energy efficiency and demanded a sustainable system to replace existing domestic water heating equipment, which comprised two large calorifiers served by the three space heating boilers - a system which was inefficient and costly to run, particularly in the summer months.

The new system was designed by Elders Consulting Engineers LLP and a spokesman commented: 'We specified the Andrews MAXXflo water heater as this model had been used at other sites for Tayside Police and we went on to specify the SOLARflo system as it made sense to obtain the whole package of matched equipment from a single source.

We expect the solar water heating system and newly installed BMS controls facility to generate energy savings of up to GBP5000 per annum'.

The DHW system serves all the hot water requirements for the building, including the staff toilets and showers, the canteen and kitchen and also the showers in the cell block.

The project was spread over two budget years, with the MAXXflo gas-fired storage water heater, sized to replace the two large calorifiers, installed in the first phase.

Initially, one calorifier was removed from the plantroom, allowing the water heater to be installed in its place, then the second calorifier was disconnected and removed.

In the second phase, a 900 litre solar pre-heat cylinder and other equipment in the solar package were installed adjacent to the MAXXflo water heater and this was connected to seven solar collector panels mounted on the roof of the cell block.

These solar collectors, provide 90.8% transmission efficiency, 95% absorption efficiency and a low emission loss of only 5%.

In addition to the glazed flat plate solar collectors and non-corrosive, stainless steel solar cylinders the complete SOLARflo package also includes solar controls, pump station, expansion vessels, first fill of heat transfer fluid and collector mounting accessories.

Matched equipment from a single source, together with the availability of technical advice throughout the installation, is a particular benefit of the Andrews Water Heaters' product range and after sales service.

The MAXXflo range of gas-fired storage water heaters has won the Queen's Award for Innovation for it's energy saving capabilities and, with their fast recovery rate, these units are ideal for buildings with a high demand for hot water, particularly where this demand peaks at particular times of the day.

Thanks to their innovative design, carbon footprint, NOx levels and running costs are kept to a minimum.

The Andrews MAXXflo CWH 120/300 model selected for this project is the largest in the range and features robust stainless steel construction which ensures a long service life.

The unit has a storage capacity of 300 litres, an output of 26 to 122 kW and a recovery rate of 1920 litres per hour through a temperature rise of 50oC.

MAXXflo water heaters are controlled by a digital, electronic master controller which is provided with BMS and other external interfaces.

MAXXflo high efficiency condensing storage water heaters incorporate a fully modulating burner to provide maximum performance and flexibility and, using condensing technology, achieve an operational efficiency of 109%.

Heat input and flow are carefully regulated to produce a closely controlled water temperature and a high temperature anti-Legionella program is incorporated.

The MAXXflo range of condensing storage water heaters consists of nine models with two tank capacities of 200 or 300 litres and a choice of four nominal outputs from 30kW to 120kW.

The water heaters' small footprint ensures ease of siting in plantrooms with restricted space and multiple flue options, including standard and room-sealed, allow greater flexibility in locating the unit.

MAXXflo condensing storage water heaters are designed to operate on natural gas or LPG.

The Andrews Water Heaters SOLARflo was installed by Scan Building Services.

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