GB2220261A - Swimming pool heating systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A swimming pool heating system for attachment to at least a main pool 26 and additionally a "training" pool 28 comprises a direct contact gas fired water heater including a column 12, packing media 14, storage tank 16 and immersion element 18 connected via a water outlet 24 to two sets of connection arrangements 30, 40, one such arrangement for each pool 26, 28. Each connection arrangement 34, 40 includes a three-way motorized valve 32, 42, a pump 34, 44 and a temperature sensor 36, 46 located in each respective pool. On detecting a temperature change the three way motorized valves 32, 42 as appropriate, are operated allowing hot water from the storage tank 16 to enter either pool. Water from the pools is able to be mixed, diluting the effect of excess dirt. <IMAGE>

Description

SWIMMING POOL HEATING SYSTEM This invention relates to a swimming pool heating system.

It is known to provide swimming pools with heating systems to raise the temperature of the pool water to a predetermined level. This is accomplished by providing a fuel fired water heater, usually a gas or a coal fired heater, for heating water in a water tank which is connected to the swimming pool via associated pipeworks.

Water is circulated from the pool into the tank, where it is heated to the desired temperature, and then back to the swimming pool along the pipework. Whilst the pool is in use this circulation is maintained continuously to offset the natural cooling of the water in the pool.

The temperature of the water in the pool is controlled by providing temperature sensors operative to measure the temperature of the pool water. The temperature sensors are connected to the fuel fired water heater so as to control its operating temperature.

In this way the temperature of the water to be added to the pool is controlled and the overall temperature of the water in the pool can be preset and maintained at a desired value.

There are several disadvantages with such a system.

Firstly it will be appreciated that gas fired water heaters operate at varying levels of efficiency which depends upon the rate of combustion. The constant varying of the heat supply by the heater produces an overall reduced efficiency as compared to a heater operating at a constant heat output. Furthermore where there are two or more swimming pools in a single complex one heating system must be provided for each pool as the cooling effect will depend upon the physical size of the pool and other external characteristics such as airflow over the pool water etc. It will be readily understood that where there is more than one pool in a given complex such additional pools are usually of a smaller size or different configuration compared to the main pool.

One further problem with such heating systems arises during cleaning operations when water filters present in the pipework are cleaned by reversing the flow of water through the filters. The water thus passing through the filter will entrain dirt particles which will therefore have to be drained off causing a corresponding fall in the water level in the swimming pool. This lost water is replaced with cold water from the mains water supply causing a relatively large reduction in the temperature of the pool water. In order to raise the temperature of the pool a large heat input is necessary to heat a relatively large volume of water from room temperature to the desired operating temperature.A heater with a large enough heat output to cope with such high usage would not be economical at lower levels of usage and it is therefore known to provide a standby or additional heater to provide the necessary extra heat input. Although such a system is more economical than providing one large heater it is still inefficient in that the standby heater lies idle for long periods of time when the pool is being used normally.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool heating system for maintaining the temperature of swimming pool water at a preset level which is more efficient than heretofore possible.

With this object in view the present invention provides a swimming pool heating system including a fuel fired water heater for heating water in a heating chamber, said chamber being provided with a water inlet and a water outlet which are connected to a swimming pool, characterised in that the water outlet from the heating chamber is connected to the swimming pool via valve means, said valve means being controlled by a sensor operative to sense the temperature of water in the swimming pool.

It will be understood that with such a heating system the water in the heating chamber is heated continuously through the action of the fuel fired water heater. The cooling of the water in the swimming pool is sensed by the sensor means which operates the valve means to permit water to flow from the heating chamber into the swimming pool. The increase in the temperature of the water in the swimming pool is also sensed by a sensor which, when the temperature reaches a predetermined level, will operate to close the valve means and restrict flow from the heating chamber.

In this way the fuel fired water heater always operates at its optimum efficiency and heat losses from the water in the heating chamber can be minimized by the provision of insulation around the exterior surfaces of the heating chamber. Furthermore such a system is particularly useful when a large amount of water is required to be replaced within the swimming pool itself.

In this case the water within the heating chamber is likely to have been there for a relatively long period of time thus its temperature will be higher than normally required. This effective high temperature is reached without requiring a large heat input from the heater or an additional water heater operating on a standby basis.

Preferably the fuel fired water heater is of the direct contact type such that water- in a storage tank is heated indirectly via a conventional heating tube arrangement and directly by contact through a packing media with hot combustion gases passing upward through a packed column.

Preferably the valve means is a three way motorized valve connected to the water outlet from the heating chamber, a water inlet to the swimming pool and a water outlet from the swimming pool, the water inlet to the swimming pool also being provided with pump means. It will thus be appreciated that in this way the valve may serve to supply heated water from the heating chamber to the swimming pool or alternatively circulate water from the swimming pool through a filter provided in the water inlet.

Advantageously a water heating system according to the invention may be connected to more than one pool for example a main swimming pool and a "training" swimming pool. Unlike previous systems where each pool would have to be provided with its own fuel fired water heater in order to maintain the temperature of each pool in opposition to different rates of cooling the system according to the invention requires only one such heater and each pool would be provided with its own valve means drawing water from the common heating chamber. Each pool provided with its own temperature sensor means and thus each valve will be operated independately so as to maintain a temperature in each of said pools.

A further advantageous modification of a heating system connected to two pools would be to provide a common return from both pools to the heating chamber.

Thus water from both pools is mixed in the heating chamber before being supplied as heated water for temperature control. This is an advantage in cases where, for example, the smaller "training" pool is more likely to have entrained dirt particles. In a closed system where the water from each pool is continuously circulated a smaller pool may have to be emptied and cleaned much more often than a large pool due to the amount of dirt particles present in the water. In the present system by mixing return flows from both pools the effect of the dirt in the smaller pool is diluted and thus cleaning time required is reduced.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a diagrammatic crosssectional side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of a swimming pool heating system according to the invention, referred to generally by the reference numeral 10, includes a direct contact water heater comprising a column 12, provided with packing media 14, the column being connected to a water storage tank 16. A gas fired immersion heater element 18 is located within the storage tank and a combustion gas exhaust 20 leads from the heater element 18 into the column 12 beneath the packing media 14.

Water is thus heated indirectly by contact in the storage tank 16 with the immersion tube 18 and directly by contact with the combustion exhaust gases passing through the packing media 14. The column 12 is provided with a water inlet 22 located at the top of the column 12 which inlet is preferably provided with distribution means (not shown) operative to distribute water from the inlet over the entire upper surface of the packing media 14.

The storage tank 16, which forms a heating chamber, is provided with a water outlet 24. The water outlet is connected to two swimming pools; a main pool 26 and a smaller, "training" pool 28.

Connection of the water outlet 24 to its respective pool 26, 28 is accomplished via a respective connection arrangement 30, 40. Each arrangement 30, 40 comprises a respective three way motorized valve 32, 42, pump means 34, 44 and a temperature sensor 36, 46 which is operative to control its respective valve 32, 42.

Connection to the main pool 26 is accomplished via a water inlet 37 and a water outlet 38. Connection to the "training" pool is accomplished via a similar water inlet 47 and a water outlet 48. Each respective outlet 38, 48 is also connected to the water inlet 22 arranged in column 12.

In operation a volume of water is contained in the storage tank 16 and heated by indirect contact with the immersion tube 18. Further volumes of water are located in each respective swimming pool 26, 28 and are subject to various rates of cooling according to various operating characteristics for example configuration airflow and the temperature etc. When the temperature of the pool water drops below a predetermined value in, for example the main swimming pool 26, temperature sensor 36 detects such a drop and operates valve 32 to permit hot water from the storage tank 16 to be admitted to the pool 26 along water inlet 37 by use of pump 34.

Such water will raise the temperature of the pool water and on once again exceeding the predetermined value the temperature sensor 36 will operate to close the valve and isolate the storage tank 16 from the pool 26.

Excess water from the pool will leave along water outlet 38 and will enter the column 12 through water inlet 22.

This water will then flow down through the packing media 14 contacting the combustion exhaust gases and thence into the storage tank 16 to be heated indirectly.

Operation of the second connection arrangement 40 in respect of the "training" pool will similarily affect its temperature and result in water being drawn from the storage tank 16. Thus the temperature of each pool may be maintained independently of the other-by drawing water from a common storage tank 16.

From the diagrammatic figure other modes of operation will also be apparent. For example the motorized valves 32, 42 are also operative to circulate water from the respective water outlets 38, 48 through to the water inlets 37, 47 when so required passing that water through water filters (not shown) normally located in the respective water inlet 37, 47. Such operation would be used when it is desired to clean the water contained in any one pool 26, 28 or when there is no appreciable loss of heat due to cooling effect.

The swimming pool heating system illustrated is also of use during cleaning of the pool 26 or 28 when a large volume of hot water may be required in order to bring the pool back up to its operating temperature. In this case water stored in the storage tank 16 will be heated continuously by the heating element 18 attaining a higher temperature than would normally be required.

For this reason it is advantageous to provide insulation around the storage tank 16 so as to permit the maintenance of this temperature over a long period of time without excessive heat loss. It will also be appreciated that during this period the burner is running at a continuous heat transfer rate and at its optimum designed efficiency.

In this instance the storage tank 16 acts as a heat store and provides a large volume of high temperature water which will help in raising the immediate temperature of the pool water, after such a cleaning operation, back to the desired operating temperature.

Further input of heat will probably be required in order to reach the predetermined operating temperature of the pool which heat input can now be required by further use of the storage tank 16.

Although the swimming pool heating system according to the invention is shown as connected to two swimming pools it is only necessary for it to be connected to one such pool to operate correctly. One advantage with a system connected to two pools however is that water from both pools is mixed in the water inlet 22 prior to heating in the storage tank 16. Thus dirty water from one pool is diluted with cleaner water from a second pool thus water in one pool which has a tendancy to become dirty more quickly will not require changing as often. It will be appreciated that changing of water results in lost heat as well as time and the cost of heating a new volume of water from cold to operating temperature.

It will also be understood that the foregoing is illustrated and not restrictive of the scope of the invention and variations are possible. For example the heater may not be gas fired or of immersion type or any convenient type of heater, either direct or indirect, and making use of any desirable fuel sorce may be substituted therefor. Although the valves in the connection arrangements are preferably of the three way type and are operated via a motor this is not necessarily so and equivalent devices may be substituted therefor without effecting the operation of the invention. The heating system as described may be connected to any number of swimming pools and is not restricted to connection to two pools as illustrtated in the preferred embodiment. Connection to, for example, one or three or more pools is also possible. Other variations may also be possible.

Claims (7)

1. A swimming pool heating system including a fuel fired water heater for heating water in a heating chamber, said chamber being provided with a water inlet and a water outlet which are connected to a swimming pool, characterised in that the water outlet from the heating chamber is connected to the swimming via valve means, said valve means being controlled by a sensor operative to sense the temperature of water in the swimming pool.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor operates the valve means to permit water from the heating chamber to be supplied to the swimming pool when the temperature of water in the swimming pool falls below a predetermined value.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the fuel fired water heater is a gas fired direct contact water heater having a column provided with a packing media in which water is heated by direct contact with hot combustion gases.

4. A system as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the valve means is a three way valve connected to the water outlet from the heating chamber, a water inlet to the swimming pool and a water outlet from the swimming pool.

5. A swimming pool heating system including a fuel fired water heater for heating water in a heating chamber, said chamber being provided with a water inlet and a water outlet, characterised in that the water outlet from the heating chamber is connected to two or more swimming pools via respective valve means, said valve means being controlled by a respective sensor operative to sense the temperature of water in each respective swimming pool.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 in which the water inlet to the heating chamber is connected to each respective swimming pool so as to provide a common return inlet effective to mix water from each respective swimming pool in the heating chamber.

7. A swimming pool heating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.