Indoor Pool Dehumidification: Create Healthier Natatoriums Energy Efficiently

Dec 2, 2021 | Blog Posts, Insights

Learn about indoor pool dehumidification technologies and design that create healthy natatoriums and optimize energy efficiency.

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OVERVIEW

Indoor Pool Dehumidification Design

When designing indoor pool dehumidifiers, excess humidity, pool water chemistry and condensation issues are just a few unique challenges. For natatorium dehumidification design, there are a few strategies to avoid unnecessary issues.

The space temperature should be at least 2°F above the pool temperature, and the relative humidity must be maintained in the 50-60% range to avoid increased evaporation rates. The system should be sized for the dehumidification load instead of the cooling load. This prevents the compressor from short cycling, which reduces its lifespan.

For indoor pool dehumidification design, several strategies exist to avoid unnecessary problems

The Challenge: Avoid Excess Condensation

Pool water chemistry is important for maintaining a safe environment for occupants, the health of the building and the HVAC systems. Improper pool water chemistry can cause illness, corrosion, shorten equipment lifespans and in cases of extreme neglect, it may lead to structural damage.

Limiting the amount of glazing in the natatorium reduces condensation issues, and proper thermal breaks and vapor barriers reduce avoidable issues in the future.

Excess condensation in an indoor pool room can cause serious damage

Air Distribution in the Indoor Pool Room

Air Changes per Hour

The natatorium should be at a slightly negative pressure. Below are the ASHRAE-recommended air changes per hour and the outdoor air requirements for the indoor pool dehumidification systems. HIGHMARK suggests 4-6 ACH for the pool area and 6-8 ACH for the spectators.

ASHRAE-recommended air changes per hour for indoor pool rooms

Air Distribution Strategy

The air distribution strategy is extremely important, and the air should be directed along windows and exterior surfaces to avoid condensation. In addition, a cold wall sensor can be placed on a glass surface to control the dew point temperature.

If the cold wall surface temperature drops as the outdoor air temperature decreases, the system will respond by lowering the dew point temperature to prevent condensation before it occurs.

Air should be directed along windows and exterior surfaces to avoid condensation

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THE SOLUTION: POOLPAK

PoolPak Indoor Pool Dehumidification

The most effective systems for natatorium applications are refrigeration systems, and these are often coupled with other equipment to meet ventilation and pressure requirements. PoolPak indoor pool dehumidifiers are all-encompassing refrigeration systems that also meet natatorium ventilation requirements. These systems are ideal for any spaces that have humidity concerns, especially indoor pools and grow facilities.

PoolPak indoor pool dehumidifiers are all-encompassing refrigeration systems that also meet natatorium ventilation requirements

Energy-Efficient Design Practices

PoolPak indoor pool dehumidification systems can be designed in several energy-efficient manners. These include:

Economizer: An economizer significantly reduces energy consumption and associated operating costs by using free cooling when outdoor conditions are ideal.
Pool-Water Heat Recovery: Another energy-efficient strategy for natatorium dehumidifiers is pool-water heat recovery. As the air returns to the DX coil, the heat extracted is repurposed for reheating the supply air temperature after dehumidification as well as heating the pool itself. Using pool water heat recovery can reduce the pool heating load by 30% per year.
Condensate recovery: To save an entire pool’s worth of water each year, also consider condensate recovery. The water removed from the air is piped through the pool filtration system and back into the pool, where it belongs.
Wall Condensation Prevention: A cold wall sensor should be placed on the coldest wall of the room (where there is less insulation). This guarantees that the unit is operating to maintain the maximum allowable humidity in the space, but at the same time will adjust down to prevent condensation from forming.