In the case of heating the water of your pool there are two kinds of systems you can select from both the primary system and the secondary one.
The primary system permits the bather to set thermostatic controls at a particular temperature, typically between 22degC to 30degC. The heating system will continue to operate until the bath water is at the desired temperature, regardless of the external conditions (i.e. temperatures, weather and sunlight and so on.)
A secondary system can increase the temperature of water, however it is dependent on external elements. Secondary systems typically cannot ensure that the water temperature will be at the temperature that is desired, and being such, are typically utilized as a backup to the primary systems.
If used together when used in conjunction, a primary and a secondary system can provide substantial savings on the running expenses. This is due to the fact that the secondary system kicks into action when external forces favor it while secondary system can step in when the external factors aren’t.
Air-source heat pump is an excellent illustration of this. If the weather is pleasant and the temperature in the surrounding area is quite high, the heat pumps perform very well as a second system. However, if the weather is bad and the temperature of the surrounding area is much cooler then the heat pumps may not perform as efficiently. To overcome this the problem, a gas heater (primary system) is a good option to ensure that the temperature you want is achieved.
Primary Heating Systems
Here are a few primary heating systems that can be utilized to provide heat to your swimming pools.
High-performance fuel oil boiler for high performance
In a pool with a dedicated oil heater, fuel from the domestic oil is burned, causing the heating of fluid inside a closed loop to an extremely high temperature. The heated fluid circulates through a set of titanium or stainless tubes that come in contact with the pool’s water and heat the water up.
Advantages:
The source of heat is always at hand, regardless of the weather.
Rapidly heats up pools.
Could be an investment opportunity, particularly when the boiler is located near the system for pool heating.
It is a perfect fit with other systems (i.e. renewable energy systems that are secondary to the primary system).
Disadvantages:
A relatively high operating cost when employed as the sole source of heating.
The power source is fossil fuels, resulting in the carbon footprint is high.
The rising cost of fuel oil.
High-performance gas boiler
High performance gas boilers function exactly the same way as an oil-based fuel boiler, but utilize natural gas LPG and butane for the primary fuel source.
Advantages:
Similar advantages to the boiler for oil fuel (above).
Gas boilers are small and take up the smallest amount of space.
Lower emissions from oil boilers.
Click here for information on the best swimming pool boiler install.
Disadvantages:
The running costs are relatively high when being used as the sole source of heat.
If there isn’t a gas service nearby, cost of connecting can be high.
Note The Propane (LPG) and butane solutions offer the same benefits like natural gas even when gas supply isn’t available in the area you reside. However, their operating costs are around 280% more expensive, which means they are very expensive to operate when compared to natural gas.
Air/water heat pump.
With the use of fossil fuels increasing heating systems are receiving significant media attention for their environmental credentials and efficient performance. In addition, they are becoming increasingly popular option for heating swimming pools.
How do they function
A water-to-air heat pump takes energy from air, and transfers it to the pool’s water. The air surrounding it doesn’t need to be warm, even cold or cool air contains heat energy in it that a heat pump can draw. However, the more warm the air warmer, the more heat the pump is capable of capturing and the more efficiently it will function.
Natural energy generated by the surrounding environment is absorbed into the heat pump via the large fan. It is then absorbed by the heat pump’s initial heat exchanger, also known as the ‘evaporator’ that is made up of a highly conductive chilled refrigerant fluid. A smaller pump is utilized to move the energy around the pump which allows that the fluid to absorb out of the atmosphere. In this process the liquid changes from cold liquid to an icy vapour.
The cool vapour goes through a compressor, which compresses it, which significantly increases temperatures of vapour. This hot vapour then goes through a pool heat exchanger, where the heat transfer to the pool’s water, causing it to heat up. After it has released its heat the hot vapour cools into an icy liquid before going via an expansion valve, which converts it to an icy liquid and it restarts the process.
The reason they’re great
The most notable feature of heat pumps is that they are able to produce more energy from heat than they consume in their operation. This is called the ‘coefficient efficiency’ (COP) and explains the reason why heat pumps have high COPs of more than 100%..
For instance, the heat pump that has a COP of five means that it is able to draw 5 kWh of air heat for every kWh that it uses for electricity to operate. It effectively translates to an COP of 500 percent.
The most recent generation of air-to-water heat pumps, like those we have in our swimming pools, have COPs ranging from 5.22 to 5.73 (i.e. 52 percent and 473% efficiency output). If you compare it to the highest COO value that is 1.09 in modern boilers using gas, it’s difficult to understand why heat pumps are gaining in popularity.
Advantages:
An affordable system with a great return on investment when compared to heating systems that use fossil fuels.
Full-scale primary heating is when the capacity of output is +0.35 kWh per m3 of pool water.
Fantastic ecological credentials and perfect for creating an energy-separate pool that is powered by photovoltaic panels.
The system works by using the heat from ambient air. This means that it can heat your pool even when the sun isn’t shining.
It is possible to heat water at night, and use electricity at lower at night.
Disadvantages:
It’s not usually possible to utilize a heat pump to warm the water so that you can swim in winter months, since its effectiveness is reduced when temperatures drop to below 10 degrees Celsius.
The benefits are immense, but are difficult to explain to an average person.
What is the best heat pump?
Select a model that features a the titanium exchanger. This type of material provides the highest heat transfer and is essential to the efficiency of the heat pump. It also resists most of the chemicals that are used to maintain the water quality of the pool.
Request COP values of 15degC temperature. The top air-to water heat pumps provide COPs of at minimum 5.2 in this range.
Get a written warranty for five years. The minimum legal requirement is 2 years. However, since parts such as heat exchangers are costly to replace, it is recommended that companies back their products by extending their warranty.
Beware of products that are cheap. Although the initial price may be appealing, you’ll ultimately having to pay in the event that the product fails or gets less effective over time.
Secondary Heating Systems
Solar panels
Solar panels absorb the sun’s rays and, by using liquid, store the energy in an initial circuit. They convert this energy into heat using an exchanger before sending the energy into the pool’s water. Since they are an element of nature that is renewable, they are among the most widely-known types that use renewable power.
Advantages:
Frost-free system because of the addition of glycol in the main circuit.
Aesthetic designs.
Very little space is required as compared to similar solar system (i.e. 12-14m2 needed to heat 50m3).
Use diffused light and the sun.
Disadvantages:
It is a very expensive system that takes an extended time to reach break-even (at minimum 12 to 18 years).
A costly heat exchanger plate is required to produce yields during the months of spring and autumn.
Despite the investment being high it is able to achieve its intended output in optimal conditions (30deg slope that faces to the south).
EPDM Mats made of PE or rubber. Mats
Mats for sun can be put on roofs that are flat or sloped in the event that there is enough room. The majority of manufacturers recommend that 67 percent of the pool is a suitable mat area. We believe this isn’t the case based on our experience, we believe that 100 percent is more realistic, and 150% is the more suitable area.
These mats take in the pool’s water and then heat it up with their heated-up plastic covering. Simple measurement and control technique is used later to heat the water in the pool.
Advantages:
Affordable heating systems.
Simple technology.
Aesthetic due to the invisible installation on flat roofs.
Break-even period is limited (3 or 4 years).
Disadvantages:
It’s not very attractive on sloping roofs.
Highly sensitive to storm-related damage.
Only work whenever the sun is out.
Stop any repair work to the roof.
Do not permit the temperature of your pool’s water to be controlled.