The type of facility being designed dictates the
space temperature. Table 1 helps target some
typical conditions. It is critical to understand who
will be using the facility in order to deliver the
conditions most likely to satisfy them.
Air
Pool Type
Temperature, °F
Competition
78 to 85
Diving
80 to 85
Elderly Swimmers
84 to 85
Hotel
82 to 85
Physical Therapy
80 to 85
Recreational
82 to 85
Whirlpool/spa
80 to 85
Table 1 – Typical Natatorium Operating
Conditions
Indoor pools are normally maintained between 50
and 60% RH for two reasons:
Swimmers leaving the water feel chilly at lower
relative humidity levels due to evaporation off the
body and:
It is considerably more expensive (and
unnecessary) to maintain 40% RH instead of
50% RH.
General Notes:
Facilities with warmer water temperatures tend to
have warmer space temperatures.
Physical Therapy facilities will cater to therapist
comfort rather than the patient because they are
generally not in the space for more than an hour,
whereas the therapist is there all day. The
designer should consult local codes. Some
States require a full purge of the room air with
100% outdoor air for every hour of occupancy.
Elderly swimmers tend to prefer much warmer air
and water temperatures.
Humidity Control:
levels inside a building are well known for their
destructive effects on building structure and can
pose serious health concerns. Buildings with high
humidity levels are prone to condensation problems
that can destroy the building structure. They also
facilitate the growth of mold and mildew, which in
addition to being unsightly, can adversely impact
the air quality. Controlling humidity requires that a
total moisture load be accurately calculated. This
amount of moisture must be removed from the
space at the same rate it is generated to maintain
stable space conditions.
Water
Temperature, °F
76 to 82
84 to 88
85 to 90
82 to 86
90 to 95
80 to 85
102 to 104
High relative humidity
1.1 Packaged mechanical refrigeration
By far the most common and popular
system.
method of removing moisture from the space, these
are packaged refrigeration units like those built by
Seresco. The units are designed and developed
specifically for dehumidifying indoor pools.
A major benefit of this approach is that both the
sensible and latent heat is combined with the heat
generated by the compressor's power consumption
and can be directed to wherever heat may be
required in the natatorium. This process is unique in
the HVAC industry as is uses both the cooling and
heat rejection sides of the refrigeration cycle. The
system can be simultaneously dehumidifying
(cooling) the air and then reheating it (and/or the
pool water) to deliver dehumidified and reheated air
to the space, and warm water to the pool.
Figure 2 illustrates schematically
How it works.
how warm humid air passes through the
dehumidifying coil and is cooled to below its dew
point. As a result moisture condenses out of the air.
Depending on the space temperature requirements
the hot gas from the compressor can be used to
reheat the air or reject its heat to an outdoor
condenser. Compressor hot gas can also be used
.
to heat the pool water
Figure 2 Mechanical Refrigeration System.
Typical Operating Conditions:
Air On Evaporator: 84°F, 50% RH
Air Off Evaporator: 50°F
Suction Pressure: 65 PSIG
High Pressure: 220 PSIG
Superheat: 12-15 °F
Pool Water Heat: in 84°F- out 92°F
5
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