GB2234168A

GB2234168A - Swimming pool water circulation and filtration system

Info

Publication number: GB2234168A
Application number: GB8915155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Barrie Timmons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-01
Filing date: 1989-07-01
Publication date: 1991-01-30
Also published as: GB8915155D0

Abstract

A swimming pool water circulation and filtration system comprises an open top filter comprising vessel 1 and filter media 2 and multiple water inlets 12 in grid form. Scum channel 4 may be sized to hold the water displaced by the maximum number of swimmers for the pool. Water may be pumped from sump 5 to vessel 1 by a propeller at the end of a shaft 7. The filter may be backwashed using a motor-driven propeller in return pipe 11. The filter vessel may be provided with a float switch 8 which, on rise of water level in the event of a clogged filter, is actuated to stop motor 9 and cause an alarm to be sounded. <IMAGE>

Description

POOL FILTRATION SYSTEM This invention relates to a high efficiency pool filtration system.

With conventional pool filtration systems a strong emphasis is placed on low installation cost, the expense of running the equipment taking secondary importance. Small pipework and high velocity/pressure pumps been examples of this type of installation. Even modern public pools purporting to have energy concious designs can be shown to have filtration systems of approximately 10 percent efficiency.

This invention improves the efficiency of the filtration system by encorporating several distinct features. Firstly the system is of a low pressure design. The pressure of the water is only raised to a value needed to pass through the filter bed. Secondly, because of the low pressures used, when the water passes back to the pool tank a multiple inlet grid system must be used to eliminate "dead spots" in the water. Thirdly, to minimise the energy needed to raise the water from the bottom of a balance tank, the scum channel is sized to the maximum bathing load and effectively becomes the balance tank.

Fourth]y, the system uses a propeller screw or turbine drive, as a change in fluid direction caused by impellor type pumps represents an energy loss.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the pool tank, scum channel, filter, flow and return pipework.

Figure 2 shows a plan of the grid inlet system in the bottom of the pool tank.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the lower half of the filter showing a method of backwashing this system.

Referring to the drawings the filtration system comprises an open top filter vessel 1., shown square but can be adapted to suit the accommodating building. The top of the filter media 2 is level with the water in the pool tank 3. The scum channel 4 is sized to the displacement of the maximum number of swimmers for the pool concerned, effectively becoming the "balance tank". The scum channel is fitted with a sump 5 at the point where the flow pipework 6 connects to it. The flow pipework, remains horizontal until it reaches the vicinity of the plant/ pool hall wall 10 where the propeller/turbine drive lifts the water up into the filter vessel. The filter vessel is sized so that with filter media in clean condition the water 13 only need rise a portion of the way to the top to achieve full circulation.The filter vessel is fitted with a float switch 8 which can stop the circulation motor 9 and souiid an alarm in the event of a clogged filter. An overflow pipe (not shown) can also be fitted to the top of the filter as further protection against flooding.

The water returns to the pool through a pipe 11 and the multiple grid inlets 12. Because of the low pressures involved the inlets are individually sized to compensate for pipe losses giving even distribution of water over the entire pool bottom.

Figure 3 shows a method of bzckwashing the systems" an addiiunal motor 16 drives a propeller/turbine shaft 18 in tie normal return pipe 11, reversing the water flow, up through the filter, and down the drain 14. The motor drives the shaft via a disengagable clutch or gear 15 (idealy a centrifugal clutch) so that in the normal filtrations mode the shaft can rotate freely, causing minimal drag as the water passes throught the propeller/turbine. The backwash motor can be reversed to assist the flow of water through the filter under normal filtration conditions.

Claims

1. A swimming pool filtration system comprising of an open topped or low pressure filter used in conjunction with a multiple inlet grid system.

2. A grid inlet system which covers the entire bottom of a swimming pool, allowing low pressure circulation without static points in the water.

3. As in claim 2 where the inlets are individually sized to compensate for pipe losses, giving an even distribution of water across the entire pool bottom.

4. A scum channel which is sized to match the maximum bathing load of the particular pool, effectively becomming the balance tank.

Hereafter known as the "balance channel".

5. A propeller screw or turbine drive when used in conjunction with any claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.

6. A propeller screw turbine drive when used in a method of backwashing the system described in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4.

7. As in claim 6 where the drive is fitted with a clutch or gear to disengage the motor for normal filtration.

8. As in claim 6 where the drive is reversable to assist the main filtration motor.

9. A filtration system substantially as described herein with referance to figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.