Energy Blades
Fabdec Energy Blades are stainless steel water source heat exchangers designed for lakes and rivers, delivering efficient renewable heat transfer when paired with modern ground source heat pumps.
✔ Renewable
✔ Efficient
✔ Stainless Steel
✔ Made In Britain
✔ Customisable
✔ Durable
What Are Energy Blades?
Energy Blades are submerged stainless steel water source heat exchangers developed to extract natural thermal energy from lakes, rivers, and other freshwater environments. When integrated with ground source heat pumps, they provide a consistent and renewable heat source by transferring ambient water temperature into usable heating energy for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.
Each unit is manufactured using a bank of precision-engineered pillow plates, pre-assembled into modular arrays of two or four plates with a fully integrated manifold system. This design enables efficient and consistent heat transfer while maintaining a compact and practical footprint for installation. Standard blade dimensions are 3000mm x 500mm x 800mm, and multiple banks can be configured together to increase system capacity depending on project requirements, system load, and site-specific performance targets.
Designed for installation in both still and flowing water, Energy Blades maximise energy extraction by utilising the stable thermal properties of natural water sources. Their fully submerged design supports reliable, year-round performance across seasonal temperature variations. Manufactured from high-grade stainless steel, the blades offer excellent corrosion resistance and long-term durability, ensuring dependable operation in demanding environments while maintaining consistent thermal efficiency.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Plate configuration | 4-plate array |
| Air vent fittings | 3/8″ Female BSP |
| Array volume (approx.) | 35 litres |
| Array height | 604mm |
| Array width | 785mm |
| Blade dimensions | 3,000mm x 492mm |
| Empty weight | 85kg |
| Manifold fittings | 1 1/2″ Male BSP |
| Material | Stainless steel 304-2B |
| Nominal flow rate | 1.2 litres/second |
| Pressure loss (design flow) | 25kPa (25% propylene glycol) |
Heat Transfer Performance
| Water Conditions | Heat Transfer |
|---|---|
| Still water | 8kW |
| Moderate flow | 15kW |
| Fast flow | 20kW |
All performance and specification data shown is based on a standard 4-plate array configuration. Alternative configurations are available depending on system requirements.
Nominal flow rate is based on standard system conditions and can be adjusted to suit system design and heat pump integration.
Flexible Installation Environments
Energy Blades are a water source heat exchanger solution designed for deployment in a wide range of freshwater environments, including lakes, rivers, ponds, and engineered water bodies. They can be installed in both still and flowing water conditions, allowing system designers to select the most appropriate location based on site constraints and available resources.
Installation methods can be adapted to suit the environment, with units positioned on prepared bases or integrated beneath existing structures such as jetties, platforms, or walkways. This flexibility enables straightforward integration into both new-build projects and retrofit systems, while minimising disruption to the surrounding area.
Renewable Heat Source
Energy Blades utilise the stable thermal properties of freshwater environments to provide a consistent source of low-grade heat for ground source heat pump systems. By transferring ambient water temperature into a closed-loop circuit, they enable continuous heat exchange throughout the year, regardless of seasonal air temperature fluctuations.
This makes them particularly effective in applications where a reliable and steady heat input is required. By drawing from naturally occurring thermal energy, Energy Blades support system designs that reduce dependence on conventional heating methods, while maintaining predictable and controllable operating conditions.
Modular Design and Scalability
Energy Blade systems are constructed using pre-assembled plate arrays with integrated manifolds, allowing multiple units to be combined to meet specific heat load requirements. This modular approach enables system capacity to be scaled in a controlled and predictable manner, based on project size and performance targets.
Configurations can be adjusted by increasing the number of blade banks or altering plate arrangements, providing flexibility during both design and installation phases. This ensures that systems can be tailored precisely to the demands of the application without unnecessary oversizing or complexity.
Durable Stainless Steel
Manufactured from high-grade 316 stainless steel, Energy Blades operate as a durable water source heat exchanger, delivering reliable long-term performance in submerged environments. The material resists corrosion and environmental wear, maintaining structural integrity and consistent heat transfer. Their robust construction reduces maintenance requirements, while the design allows straightforward removal for access or servicing, minimising disruption and supporting dependable operation over time.
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CONTACT US
If you’re looking to reduce operating costs, improve hygiene, and enhance sustainability, reaching out to Fabdec Group is a smart strategic move. Based in Ellesmere, Shropshire—and with an additional European office in Gelsenkirchen, Germany—Fabdec is recognised as a pioneer in stainless-steel thermal solutions, backed by over 60 years of engineering excellence. We design, manufacture and supply an extensive portfolio including energy-efficient milk cooling systems, stainless-steel unvented water heaters, heat recovery units, process vessels, and integrated skid-set systems tailored to dairy, food processing, renewables and HVAC applications. Whether your needs involve bespoke stainless-steel vessels for process engineering, dairy systems to optimise milk handling, or heat recovery solutions to reduce energy consumption, contacting Fabdec via their website or live chat ensures you’re speaking directly with a responsive, customer-focused team committed to high quality and innovation.