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Dynamic simulation model and empirical validation for estimating thermal energy demand in indoor swimming pools

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Abstract

Indoor swimming pools are high energy demand facilities. Current knowledge about their energy demand does not offer reliable information for a correct design of their thermal installations. A deeper knowledge about actual energy needs of these installations is then necessary to improve their energy efficiency. The objective of this work is to define and validate a new and specific model for the characterisation of an indoor swimming pool and its dynamic energy behaviour with sufficient accuracy. To do that, a module including the calculation of the evaporation and other heat losses is proposed and integrated as a new component defined in TRNSYS for a dynamic simulation of the problem. In order to validate the model, a two-phase procedure has been implemented. Firstly, a full-monitoring system has been put in place at a public indoor swimming pool in the municipality of Archena, Spain, where records have been contrasted with the model results. Secondly, energy data from four other swimming pools have been also used to confirm the good behaviour of the model. The work carried out validates the model and demonstrates the usefulness of dynamic modelling tools to solve complex thermal situations like the case of energy demand in indoor swimming pools. The proposed model results in an accurate method to estimate heating demand, giving a mean error of − 1.77%. The new dynamic simulation model has also served to do a sensitivity analysis of the energy demand in relation with the main control parameters of the facility, recommending set points for a more efficient work of these facilities.

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Abbreviations

A :

Surface area (m2)

c :

Specific heat (kJ/kg K)

E :

Evaporation rate (kg/h)

Φ :

Relative humidity of the air (%)

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)

L :

Water latent heat of evaporation (kJ/kg)

m :

Mass (kg)

\( \dot{m} \) :

Mass flow (kg/s)

N :

Number of pool occupants (−)

N* :

Number of pool occupants per unit pool area (m−2)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

P :

Saturation pressure (Pa)

\( \dot{Q} \) :

Thermal power (kW)

U :

Conductive heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)

R :

Daily renovation rate (%)

σ :

Stefan Boltzmann constant: 5.67 × 10−8 W/(m2K4)

T :

Temperature (°C)

v :

Velocity (m/s)

w :

Specific humidity (kg of moisture/kg of dry air)

a :

Air

b :

Bottom of the pool

cond:

Due to conduction heat transfer

conv:

Due to convection heat transfer

evap:

Due to evaporation

g :

Ground

occ:

Occupied conditions

p :

Pool

r :

Room of the pool

rad:

Due to radiation heat transfer

renov:

Due to water renovation process

s :

Side walls of the pool

supp:

Supplied by the thermal systems

tot:

Total

w :

Water

wp :

Pool water

wn :

Water from network supply

wall:

Walls of the room

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Dr. Fleming s/n - E30202, Cartagena, Spain

    José Pablo Delgado Marín & José Ramón Garcia-Cascales

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  1. José Pablo Delgado Marín
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  2. José Ramón Garcia-Cascales
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Correspondence to José Pablo Delgado Marín.

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Delgado Marín, J.P., Garcia-Cascales, J.R. Dynamic simulation model and empirical validation for estimating thermal energy demand in indoor swimming pools. Energy Efficiency 13, 955–970 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-020-09863-7

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