An analysis of heat losses from an all-year outdoor swimming pool

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the amount of the energy needed to maintain a constant temperature in an outdoor swimming pool. The analysis was carried out using real meteorological data in the area which is rich in geothermal water that could compensate losses of heat. Calculations for 5 different temperature of water were made. Losses due to evaporation, convection, radiation processes and solar radiation gains were considered. It was determined that the evaporation process has the highest contribution to general heat loss (about 70%). The radiation process has the lowest impact on heat loss (about 8%). The convection and radiation losses were found to have a linear growth rate with the temperature of water. The evaporation loss is considered to have an exponential growth rate with water temperature, which equals exponential growth rate of the amount of the energy needed to maintain a constant temperature of water.