Heat Pump for Heating Swimming Pool
A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat
from one location to another. The heat pump used to heat the pool transfers
heat from the outdoors to the water. Because they use already available heat
and transfer it from one place to another, they use less electricity.
The working principle of the heat pump pool heater
When the pool water circulates through the pool pump, it passes through
the filter and the heat pump heater. The heat pump heater has a fan that sucks
in outside air and directs it to the evaporator coil. The liquid refrigerant in
the evaporator coil absorbs heat from the outside air and becomes a gas. The
hot gas in the coil then passes through the compressor. The compressor adds
heat to produce very hot gas, which then passes through the condenser. The
condenser transfers heat from the hot gas to the cooler pool water circulating
through the heater. The heated water is then returned to the swimming pool. The
hot gas returns to a liquid state as it flows through the condenser coil and
returns to the evaporator, where the whole process begins again.
Compared with the reciprocating
compressor of a standard unit, the more efficient heat pump pool heater usually
uses a scroll compressor.
As long as the outdoor temperature stays above 45ºF-50ºF, the heat pump
pool heater can work efficiently. The colder the outside air they suck in, the
lower their efficiency, which leads to higher energy bills. However, since most
people use outdoor swimming pools in warm and mild weather, this is usually not
a problem.
Advantages of heat pump pool heat pump
1. With one of the world's highest coefficient of performance (COP)
ratings, heat pumps are 15 times more energy efficient than other technologies
on the market.
2. Compatible with solar photovoltaic
Heat pumps can be used in combination with other third-party products
such as solar photovoltaic panels, making our heat pumps more energy-efficient,
smarter, and more reliable to replace solar thermal pools for heating.
3. Heating and cooling
Our heat pump is equipped to automatically heat or cool the pool water
according to the temperature you set-so you can ensure that your pool is always
at the temperature you want!
4. Automatic defrost
Automatic defrosting technology provides intelligent automatic
defrosting, so that the heat pump can work at ambient air temperatures as low
as -7°C.
5. Titanium heat exchanger
The titanium threaded heat exchanger ensures maximum heat transfer and
has extreme corrosion resistance. Compared with standard heat exchangers, the
heat transfer efficiency is increased by up to 30%!
6. Environmentally friendly refrigerant
The heat pump uses environmentally friendly, safe, and ozone-free R410A
refrigerant.
7. The latest anti-corrosion technology
The hydrophilic coating on the condenser fins is the latest
anti-corrosion technology, allowing your heat pump to maintain high efficiency
for many years to come.
8. Electronic expansion valve technology
Electronic expansion valve technology is the absolute latest and best
refrigeration control system on the market today. Compared with other commercial
heater brands, this results in a higher COP and an efficiency improvement of up
to 20%.
9. Smart phone application
The app is free to download for your iOS or Android device. Now you can
control your pool heater from anywhere in the world. Ready, warm and waiting
for your arrival.
Heat pump pool heater size
You should ask a well-trained pool professional to perform an
appropriate sizing analysis for your particular pool to determine the size of
the pool heater.
The size of the heat pump pool heater involves many factors. Basically,
the size of the heater depends on the surface area of the pool and the
difference between the pool and the average temperature. Other factors also
affect the heat load of outdoor swimming pools, such as wind exposure, humidity
levels, and cool night temperatures. Therefore, pools located in areas with
high average wind speeds, low humidity and cool nights on the pool surface will
require larger heaters.
The rated power of the heat pump pool heater is Btu output and horsepower
(hp). Standard sizes include 3.5 hp/75,000 Btu, 5 hp/100,000 Btu and 6
hp/125,000 Btu.
To calculate the approximate heater size of an outdoor swimming pool,
follow these steps:
1. Determine the swimming pool temperature you want.
2. Determine the average temperature of the coldest month of the
swimming pool.
3. Subtract the average temperature of the coldest month from the
required pool temperature. This will provide you with the required temperature
rise.
4. Calculate the pool surface area in square feet.
Use the following formula to determine the heater’s Btu/hour output
requirement:
Pool area x temperature rise x 12
The formula is based on a temperature rise of 1º to 1-1/4ºF per hour and
an average wind speed of 3-1/2 miles per hour on the surface of the pool. For
1-1/2ºF rise, multiply by 1.5. For a rise of 2ºF, multiply it by 2.0.
Determine the efficiency of the heat pump pool heater
The energy efficiency of the heat pump pool heater is measured by the
coefficient of performance (COP). The higher the COP number, the higher the
efficiency. The federal testing program for heat pump pool heaters sets the
test conditions to 80ºF ambient dry bulb, 63% relative humidity and 80ºF pool
water. The COP is usually between 3.0 and 7.0, which translates to an
efficiency of 300%–700%. This means that for every unit of electricity required
to run the compressor, you can get 3-7 units of heat from the heat pump.
Installation and maintenance
The correct installation and maintenance of your heat pump pool heater
can optimize its efficiency. It is best to ask qualified swimming pool
professionals to install heaters, especially electrical connectors, and perform
complex maintenance or repair tasks.
Read your user manual for maintenance plans and/or recommendations. You
may need to adjust your pool heater every year. Since heat pump pool heaters
have many moving and electrical parts, they may require regular maintenance by
air conditioning technicians.
With proper installation and maintenance, heat pump pool heaters can be used for 20 years or more.
