Indirect Pool Water Heating With Surge Pit Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool heaters are inefficient, large in size, and prone to issues like incomplete combustion, soot formation, and corrosion due to chlorinated water, leading to reduced efficiency and short operating life.
Innovation Solution
An indirect swimming pool water heating system using a heat exchanger in a surge pit with a separate circulation loop for heating water, where pool water is not directly heated by the heater, and multiple small heating units can be staged for efficient operation, eliminating the need for direct chlorinated water exposure and minimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional direct heating furnaces are used, then heating function is provided, but heating efficiency is poor (approximately 60%) and large floor space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device between the furnace and the pool water circulation system. The heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the furnace to the pool water indirectly, improving heating efficiency while reducing the furnace size requirements. This mediator allows the system to achieve better energy transfer without direct contact between combustion gases and pool water.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is divided into separate functional components: a compact furnace unit, a heat exchanger unit, and a pool water circulation unit. This segmentation allows the furnace to be smaller and more efficient while the heat exchanger handles the actual water heating, resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and space requirements.
2Reliability
If chlorinated pool water flows directly through the heater, then heating is achieved, but corrosion of copper pipes and incomplete combustion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves as a protective intermediary that separates the chlorinated pool water from the furnace combustion chamber. Pool water circulates through the heat exchanger tubes to be heated indirectly, preventing direct exposure to corrosive combustion byproducts and acidic soot. This intermediary arrangement protects both the copper piping from corrosion and the combustion process from disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful elements (chlorinated pool water, acidic soot, combustion byproducts) are extracted from direct contact with each other by using the heat exchanger as a barrier. The pool water is taken out of the combustion environment and heated indirectly, eliminating the chemical reactions that cause corrosion and incomplete combustion.
3Power
If multiple large heaters are used for large pools, then heating capacity is sufficient, but space utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple small modular furnace units instead of one or two large heaters. Each furnace unit connects to the common pool water circulation system through the heat exchanger. This segmentation allows the heating capacity to be distributed across multiple compact units, providing sufficient total power while minimizing floor space utilization through better space distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from vertical stacking of large heaters (consuming floor space) to a distributed arrangement where multiple small furnaces can be positioned in different locations (wall mounting, ceiling suspension, or distributed floor placement), effectively utilizing three-dimensional space rather than concentrating all heating equipment in one footprint area.
4Ease of operation
If burners are operated on or off, then control is simple, but substantial inefficiencies occur when small temperature adjustments are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple furnaces that can be dynamically staged and cycled independently based on the heating load requirements. Instead of a single burner switching between on/off states, multiple smaller furnaces can operate in combination, allowing for more granular control of total heating output. This dynamic configuration enables efficient operation during partial load conditions while maintaining simple on/off control logic for each individual unit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves improved efficiency, reduced space requirements, extended operating life, and prevents corrosion by avoiding direct contact of chlorinated water with the heating elements, ensuring consistent pool water temperature and minimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A heat exchanger is provided in the pit. A second loop circulates water between the heat exchanger and a remote heater. The pool water does not flow through the heater, but rather is indirectly heated by the water flowing through the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 2
contacting the water in the pit with a heat exchanger in the pit such that the pool water absorbs heat from the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
In an improved swimming pool water heating system, water in the pool circulates through a first loop from the pool to a surge pit and through a filter before returning to the pool. The heating system includes a second loop with a heat exchanger in the surge pit and a remote water heater. The pool water in the pit is heated by the heat exchanger. The first and second circulation loops are separate from one another. The heater may include multiple heating units which can be staged for sequential actuation, depending upon need. The second circulation loop is closed, such that the pool water does not flow through the heater, but rather is indirectly heated via the heat exchanger. The heater is isolated from the pool water.