Apparatus and method for cooling selected portions of swimming pool water

摘要

An apparatus and method for cooling water in a swimming pool includes a heat exchanger coupled to a withdrawal conduit and a skimmer conduit of the pool filtering system. The heat exchanger is buried in the ground at a depth at which the ground temperature is substantially constant year-round thereby providing a passive heat sink for the heat exchanger. Water from the swimming pool is passed to a three-way valve for directing pool water either directly back to the swimming pool or through the heat exchanger for cooling pool water by heat transfer to the ground heat sink before being returned to the pool. Pool water from the skimmer conduit is selectively directed through the heat exchange while flow of pool water from the withdrawal conduit is prevented. A temperature sensor may control operation of the three-way valve and selective operation of the skimmer and withdrawal conduits.

主权项

1. In combination with a swimming pool of the type including a basin defining an interior volume for holding pool water, a filtering system including a pump for circulating water to and from said interior volume, a withdrawal conduit communicating with said interior volume through which water from said interior volume is drawn by said pump to said filtering system, a skimmer conduit communicating with said interior volume through which water is drawn by said pump to said filtering system, said skimmer conduit being located near the surface of said pool water, and a return conduit communicating with said interior volume through which filtered water is returned by said pump from said filtering system to said interior volume, an apparatus for cooling water from said interior volume comprising:
a passive heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being buried in the ground at a depth at which the ground temperature is substantially constant year-round thereby defining a heat sink surrounding said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger including an input line for receiving pool water at a first temperature from said filtering system and an output line in fluid communication with said interior volume for delivering pool water cooled by said heat exchanger through said basin and into said interior volume at a second temperature cooler than said first temperature, said output line being located below said skimmer conduit, said withdrawal conduit being located below said output line, said heat exchanger including a contact surface in direct contact with said heat sink and being formed of a material having good thermal conductivity to transfer and dissipate heat from said water circulating through said heat exchanger to said ground heat sink to thereby cool said water from said first temperature to said second temperature; and a first valve communicating with said return conduit and said input line and operative to selectively direct pool water from said filtering system directly to said interior volume of said basin or to said heat exchanger; a second valve communicating with said withdrawal conduit and operative to selectively open or close to thereby allow or prevent flow of pool water through said withdrawal conduit to said filtering system; and a third valve communicating with said skimmer conduit and operative to selectively open or close to thereby allow or prevent flow of pool water through said skimmer conduit to said filtering system.