🔥 Bowman FG160-5115-5S Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger | 350kW Commercial Pool Heating

🌡️ High-Capacity Industrial Heat Exchange Technology for Major Commercial Pools Up to 320m³

📋 Product Overview

The Bowman FG160-5115-5S is a premium shell and tube swimming pool heat exchanger engineered by EJ Bowman, a British manufacturer with over 100 years of heat transfer expertise. This high-capacity unit delivers exceptional heating performance for large commercial and institutional swimming pools.

Designed for use with boiler-heated hot water or renewable energy systems such as heat pumps and solar collectors, the FG160-5115-5S combines robust stainless steel tube construction with advanced ‘C’ coat corrosion-resistant end covers. The unit delivers up to 354kW of heat transfer when paired with an 82°C boiler system, making it ideal for competition pools, aquatic centres, and multi-pool facilities requiring rapid, reliable heating.

With a maximum pool capacity of 320m³ (70,000 gallons) and straightforward maintenance access via removable tube stacks, this heat exchanger represents the pinnacle of commercial pool heating technology.

⭐ Key Features

✅ 354kW Maximum Heat Transfer – Exceptional heating capacity when used with 82°C boiler water at 160 l/min flow rate

✅ Stainless Steel Tube Core – Durable construction suitable for freshwater chlorinated pools

✅ 320m³ Pool Capacity – Engineered for large commercial pools up to 70,000 gallons

✅ Advanced ‘C’ Coat End Covers – Highly corrosion-resistant cast end covers for extended service life

✅ Flexible Mounting Options – Install horizontally or vertically to suit your plant room configuration

✅ Thermostat Pocket Included – 2½” BSP threaded end covers with integrated thermostat pocket for temperature monitoring

✅ Easy Maintenance Access – Removable tube stack design allows simple disassembly for routine inspection and cleaning

✅ Renewable Energy Compatible – Works efficiently with heat pumps and solar thermal systems (150kW typical output)

✅ British Engineering Excellence – Manufactured by EJ Bowman in Birmingham, UK with over a century of heat transfer expertise

🔧 Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Model Number	FG160-5115-5S
Tube Material	Stainless Steel
Shell/End Cover Finish	‘C’ Coat (Corrosion Resistant)
Maximum Pool Volume	320m³ (70,000 gallons)
Typical Heat Transfer (Boiler)	350kW
Heat Transfer at 82°C / 160 l/min	354kW (1,208,000 BTU/hr)
Heat Transfer at 70°C / 160 l/min	273kW (932,000 BTU/hr)
Heat Transfer at 60°C / 160 l/min	205kW (700,000 BTU/hr)
Heat Transfer at 45°C / 160 l/min	107kW (365,000 BTU/hr)
Typical Heat Transfer (Renewable)	150kW
Maximum Pool Water Flow	39.0 m³/h (650 l/min)
Maximum Hot Water Temperature	110°C (230°F)
Max Operating Pressure (Pool Water)	6 bar (87 psi)
Max Operating Pressure (Hot Water)	6 bar (87 psi)
Pool Water Connections	2½” BSP
Boiler Water Connections	1¼” BSP
Overall Length	922mm
Diameter	128mm
Weight (Dry)	29 kg
Thermostat Pocket	Ø7 x 52mm

📊 Heat Transfer Performance

The Bowman FG160-5115-5S delivers variable heat output depending on the hot water supply temperature and flow rate. Understanding these performance characteristics ensures optimal system sizing and efficiency.

🏊 Heat Output at Different Boiler Temperatures

Based on manufacturer testing with pool water flow at 650 l/min and 28°C:

Hot Water Temp	Flow 50 l/min	Flow 90 l/min	Flow 130 l/min	Flow 160 l/min
82°C	161 kW	249 kW	315 kW	354 kW
70°C	125 kW	192 kW	242 kW	273 kW
60°C	94 kW	145 kW	183 kW	205 kW
45°C	50 kW	76 kW	95 kW	107 kW

⚡ Efficiency Factors

The manufacturer documentation emphasises that providing the correct water flow volume is vital to heat exchanger performance. If the flow rate of either the hot water supply or pool water circuit is too low, the unit will not perform at designed efficiency and will be unable to transfer all available heat energy into the pool water.

For optimal performance:

• Maintain pool water flow as close to 650 l/min as possible
• Ensure hot water flow matches your boiler output capacity
• Higher boiler temperatures deliver proportionally greater heat transfer

⏱️ Heat-Up Times & Temperature Maintenance

⚠️ Heat-up times vary based on multiple factors including:

• Heat source output (boiler or heat pump kW rating)
• Hot water supply temperature
• Starting pool water temperature
• Desired temperature rise
• Pool cover usage and insulation
• Ambient/outdoor temperature
• Heat exchanger sizing match to heat source

The Bowman FG160-5115-5S is a passive heat transfer device – actual heating performance depends entirely on your heat source capacity and installation conditions.

💡 Performance Context

With a maximum heat transfer of 354kW (at 82°C boiler water, 160 l/min flow), this unit is designed for rapid heating of large commercial pools. When paired with an appropriately sized boiler system, the high heat transfer capacity enables efficient temperature recovery and maintenance.

🛡️ Material & Compatibility Guide

Stainless Steel Construction

The FG160-5115-5S features a stainless steel tube core, offering excellent durability for freshwater pool applications.

✅ Chlorinated freshwater pools

✅ Standard pool chemical treatment

✅ Commercial and institutional installations

✅ Cost-effective durability for high-volume applications

✅ Excellent heat transfer properties

⚠️ Important Limitation:

❌ NOT suitable for use with salt water chlorinators

❌ NOT suitable for salt water pools

For salt water or mineral-rich pool installations, consider the Bowman FG160-5115-5T (Titanium) or FG160-5115-5C (Cupro-Nickel) models.

Alternative Material Options

Model	Tube Material	Salt Water Compatible	Warranty
FG160-5115-5S	Stainless Steel	❌ No	Standard
FG160-5115-5C	Cupro-Nickel	✅ Yes	Standard
FG160-5115-5T	Titanium	✅ Yes	10 Years (Materials)

🎯 Applications & Use Cases

The Bowman FG160-5115-5S is engineered for large-scale commercial and institutional pool heating applications.

🏢 Commercial Leisure Centres – High-capacity heating for public swimming facilities with heavy usage demands

🏊‍♂️ Competition Pools – Maintain precise water temperatures for training and competitive swimming events

🏫 School & University Pools – Reliable heating for educational institution aquatic facilities

🏨 Hotel & Resort Pools – Consistent temperature maintenance for guest satisfaction

🔥 Boiler Integration – Designed for optimal performance with commercial boiler systems up to 82°C supply temperature

☀️ Heat Pump & Solar Systems – Compatible with renewable energy heating sources (150kW typical output at lower temperatures)

🏋️ Training Facilities – Professional aquatic training centres requiring dependable heating performance

🔨 Installation Considerations

Mounting Options

The FG160-5115-5S can be installed in either horizontal or vertical orientation, providing flexibility for different plant room configurations.

Horizontal Mounting:

• Standard installation with mounting bracket kit
• Pool water inlet/outlet on opposite ends
• Boiler connections on shell side

Vertical Mounting:

• Space-saving configuration for compact plant rooms
• Maintains full operational performance

Connection Requirements

• Pool Water Circuit: 2½” BSP connections
• Boiler/Heat Source Circuit: 1¼” BSP connections
• Thermostat pocket (Ø7 x 52mm) included for temperature monitoring

Flow Direction

Ensure correct water flow direction as indicated in the manufacturer installation diagram. If an automatic dosing system is installed, it must be positioned after the heat exchanger on the return to pool.

Space Requirements

• Overall length: 922mm
• Diameter: 128mm
• Allow adequate clearance for end cover removal during maintenance

⚠️ Professional Installation Recommended: For warranty compliance and optimal performance, installation should be carried out by a qualified heating engineer or pool technician familiar with commercial pool plant equipment.

📥 Downloads & Resources

📄 Product Brochure – Complete specifications, dimensions, and heat transfer performance data (PDF)

🏆 Why Choose Bowman Heat Exchangers

✅ 100 Years of British Manufacturing – EJ Bowman has been at the forefront of heat transfer technology since 1924, manufacturing in Birmingham, UK

✅ Premium Material Quality – Choice of stainless steel, cupro-nickel, or titanium tube cores to match your application requirements

✅ Advanced Corrosion Protection – ‘C’ coat technology on cast end covers provides exceptional resistance to chemical attack

✅ Proven Commercial Performance – Trusted by aquatic centres, leisure facilities, and institutions worldwide

✅ 10-Year Titanium Warranty – Industry-leading material warranty available on titanium models

✅ Complete Product Range – Full range of sizes from domestic to major commercial applications

🛒 Why Buy From Parts4Tubs

✅ UK-Based Specialist – Dedicated pool and spa equipment supplier with expert product knowledge

✅ Technical Advice – Our team can help you select the correct heat exchanger for your specific application

✅ Competitive Pricing – Trade and retail pricing on genuine Bowman heat exchangers

✅ Fast UK Delivery – Quick dispatch on stock items to minimise your project delays

✅ After-Sales Support – Ongoing technical assistance and spare parts availability

✅ Genuine Products – Authorised supplier of authentic Bowman swimming pool heat exchangers

✨ Summary

The Bowman FG160-5115-5S Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger represents the gold standard in commercial pool heating technology. With up to 354kW heat transfer capacity, robust stainless steel construction, and flexible mounting options, this British-manufactured unit delivers reliable, efficient heating for pools up to 320m³. Backed by EJ Bowman’s century of expertise and designed for easy maintenance, the FG160-5115-5S is the professional choice for aquatic centres, competition pools, and commercial leisure facilities requiring dependable high-capacity pool heating.