To enjoy a comfortable swimming pool earlier and for longer, it is necessary for the pool to be at the right temperature. To heat the water uniformly, sustainably, and economically, there is nothing better than a pool heat pump.
A heat pump or PAC for the pool is generally of the air-water type and will capture the heat from the outside air to multiply it and transfer it to the pool water. This system allows for a high efficiency reaching up to 6 times the energy used. It is therefore installed outside in a by-pass setup and is positioned on the water circuit just after the filter but before the treatment system. There are also reversible PACs that can both heat and cool the water.
A pool heat pump is chosen according to the pool, primarily the power needed to heat it. Other parameters to consider include the volume of water to be heated, the performance coefficient of the PAC, and the water flow rate. A minimum power of 3 kW is required for a small pool to stabilize the temperature. To determine the power and thus the dimensions of a pool PAC, it is necessary to use the formula P = V x C x E where:
- P is the power needed, expressed in kW;
- V is the volume of water to be heated in m3;
- C is the temperature rise coefficient desired, set between 0.8 and 1.2, corresponding to a temperature increase of 2 to 3 °C per day, which is the norm for a pool heat pump;
- E is the sunlight index, varying between 0.8 for the sunniest areas and 1.2 for cloudy and rainy areas.
The COP, or Coefficient Of Performance, measures the efficiency of the pool PAC. It is calculated by the ratio between the power consumed and the power delivered by the heat pump. The higher the COP, the more efficient and economical the PAC is.
The pool heat pump can be of horizontal or vertical installation, depending on the position of the extraction fan. A vertical PAC is less noisy, bulkier, more expensive, and also more vulnerable to weather conditions than a horizontal PAC.
Ultimately, an appropriate pool PAC should ensure the heating of the pool to the desired temperature in an acceptable time and stabilize it around 27 °C, while being economical and energy-efficient.