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Measurement and Analysis of Evaporation From An Inactive Outdoor Swimming Pool
Measurement and Analysis of Evaporation From An Inactive Outdoor Swimming Pool
1994
Copyright (9 1994 Elsevier Science Ltd
Pergamon
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved
0038-092X/94 $6.00 + .OO
003%092X(94)E0033-9
Y
CHARLES C. SMITH,* GEORGE LOF,* and RANDY JONES**
*Solar Energy A pp lications Lab, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523 U.S.A.;
**U.S. Department of Energy, Denver Support Office, 2801 Youngheld St, Suite 380,
Golden, CO, 8040 l-2266 U.S.A.
Abstract-Evaporation rates and total energy loads from an unoccupied, heated, outdoor pool in Fort
Collins, Colorado were investigated. Pool and air temperatures, humidity, thermal radiation, wind speed,
and water loss due to evaporation were measured over 2 1 test periods ranging from 1.1 to 16.2 hours during
August and September, 1992. Data were analyzed and compared to commonly used evaporation rate equa-
tions, most notably that used in the ASHRAE Applications Handbook. Measured evaporation was 72% of
the ASHRAE calculated value with near-zero wind velocity, and 82% of the ASHRAE value at 2.2 m/s
wind velocity. A modified version of the ASHRAE equation was developed. Two overnight tests showed
energy loss of 56% by evaporation , 26% by radiation, and 18% by convection. A correlation between radiation
loss and temperatures was also found for the range of test conditions.
3
4 C. C. SMITH. G. LOF, and R. JONES
60
20
10.1+13.3xv 18.6+1 l.lxV 17.6+ 15.5xV
0
0.00 0.50 1 .oo 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00
WIND SPEED (m/s)
water level was measured by a microtector gauge rigidly or more per hour could be measured to +/- 1 ml; an
mounted to the pool side. This gauge has a high pre- accuracy of about 2%.
cision adjustment and senses electrical contact with The thin aluminum material of the pans insured
the water surface. The level measurements were ob- temperature equilibrium between the contents and the
served inside a stilling well submerged below the sur- pool water. A least-squares straight line comparison of
face, designed to suppress wave motion. the pan measurements to the water level measurements
At typical conditions in outdoor pools, evaporation showed a slope of 1.04, indicating pan evaporation
rates of about 0.5 Kg of water per hour, per square rates approximately 4% higher than those in the pool.
meter of water surface may be expected. At this rate, The cause of the small difference was not known, but
the water level in a pool will decrease about 0.5 mm/ it was consistent enough that pan evaporation could
h. With suitable equipment, water levels can be mea- be used in short period tests by applying the 4% cor-
sured to an accuracy of .025 mm, so the measurement rection.
of water level over a 4-hour period can yield an ac-
curacy within about 2%. Water additions and dis- 3.5. Evaporation results
charges to the pool circuit were prevented during the The twenty-one evaporation tests ranged in length
test period. from 1.1 to 16.2 hours; the results are presented as
Wind speed was obtained from a rotating cup an- hourly values for consistency. Evaporation water loss
emometer located at the edge of the pool 0.3 meter during short time periods under high wind conditions
above the water surface. Two radiation sensors; an Ep- were obtained from two pan measurements. Wind ve-
pley solar pyranometer, and a net radiometer were lo- locities for the outdoor tests ranged between 0.1 and
cated on an extension arm over the pool: Radiation 3.2 m/s. Because there was no practical means to con-
losses were computed as the difference between net trol either the wind or water vapor pressure difference,
radiation and the incoming solar radiation. the test points are multivariant with respect to these
parameters. To present evaporation as a function of
3.3. Outdoor pool testing conditions wind velocity, the form of the evaporation equation
There is no practical way of controlling the con- can be rearranged as follows:
ditions over an outdoor pool such that a single param-
eter, such as the wind, could be investigated. Conse-
quently, numerous observations were recorded for en- (3)
try into a spreadsheet format so that the trends of
interest would appear. There was a limit to the number
of observations possible because evaporation water loss where C1 and Cz are constants.
is slow relative to the measurement techniques avail- Figure 2 presents a straight line fit to the test data
able, and also because there were no more than 15 for water evaporation rate per unit of water vapor
days available for testing. Most of the testing was con- pressure difference versus the wind speed. Figure 2 also
ducted at night when the pool was inactive and the presents a comparison of the test results with the two
atmospheric conditions were steadier than in daytime. most applicable evaporation references: ASHRAE
Night testing also improved the accuracy of total energy ( 199 1)/Carrier ( 19 I 8) and Rohwer ( 193 1). The test re-
budget measurements by avoiding the influence of solar sults yield SI coefficients of C, equal to 8.5 1 and C2
gain. equal to 8.92; or in the ASHRAE form of the equation:
Testing periods of at least 3 hour duration were
desired. However, winds were never steady for 3 hours +J = (30.6 + 32.lv,)(P, - pa>
and the resulting averages seldom exceeded 1 m/s. Be- (4)
A AK7
cause the wind term in previous evaporation equations
was linear, it appeared that averages were sufficient for
the purpose of obtaining a wind speed coefficient. Also indicated in Figure 2 is the evaporation rate
Higher wind speed points would add confidence to the found in previous indoor pool tests (Smith, 1993):
results, however. Thus a method of greater precision 0.0 136 Kg./Hr-m2-mm Hg at 0.03 m/s air speed. This
in water loss measurement was sought to reduce the rate is nearly identical to the .O134 Kg./Hr-m”-mm Hg
time period requirements for testing. at 0.03 m/s obtained in the outdoor tests.
Figure 3 presents the effect of wind velocity upon
3.4. Evaporation pan measurements evaporation rate as determined by the above equation
Floating evaporation pans were introduced midway for a set of lines of equal vapor pressure difference.
into the testing program to permit short term evapo- This form of presentation is intended to show the
ration measurement. Two shallow aluminum pans, 20 importance of wind and water temperature in pool
cm in diameter, were secured approximately 3 meters evaporation.
from the pool side by line and anchor. The evaporative
water loss from the pans could be accurately deter- 3.6 Radiation measurement
mined at the pool site by periodic transfer of the water Long wave radiation emitted from the pool surface
to a graduated cylinder. Typical water losses of 50 ml to the surroundings was monitored each 6 min by sub-
6 C. C. SMITH, G. LOF, and R. JONES
0.80 -
tracting the short wave solar radiation from the net For the range of temperature difference experienced
radiation. Most of the testing was conducted with near in these tests (approximately 5-17”C), the radiation
zero solar radiation. The field of view from the pool heat loss fit the linear relationship:
water surface was almost entirely sky. Thus the equa-
tion for radiation heat loss from the pool surface is: Qr = 25.1 + 34x(Twl - Tai,) (8)
100
CARRIER ROHWER + TEST POINTS
g t 17.6+ 15.5xV 18.6+1 l.lxV 12.6+ 13.3xV
,o 80
X
n
zg
$ E 6o
2 cv 40
SE
WL
f 20
INDOOR POOL
0,
e5 0
Fig. 3. Evaporation rate versus wind speed at selected vapor pressure differences.
Swimming pool heating
with no incoming solar radiation. Evaporation and ra- Acknowledgments- The success of this project required the
diation were determined by the methods discussed technical and administrative assistance of several individuals.
Among them are Dr. Howard Coleman and Mr. Bob Volk
above. Total energy loss was found from the change of the Office of Technical and Financial Assistance of the U.S.
in pool temperature. Convection loss was obtained as Department of Energy, Mr. Craig Christensen of the National
the residual difference. Energy losses were 56% by Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mr. Randy Martin and Ms.
evaporation, 26% by radiation, and 18% by convection. Sigrid Higdon of the Denver Support Office of the U.S. De-
partment of Energy, and Mr. R. Norman Orava of Associated
Western Universities.
4. CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
The rate of evaporation from an inactive outdoor
swimming pool is 16-28s lower than that predicted ASHRAE Handbook, HVAC Applications, Atlanta, GA, pp.
4-7 (1991).
by the ASHRAE equation. In twenty-one closely K. Von Biasin and W. Krumme, Evaporation in an indoor
monitored tests, at a pool temperature of 29°C air swimming pool, Electrowarme International [Germany],
temperature of 14.4 to 27.8”C, and relative humidity p. al 15-a129 (May 1974).
of 27-65%, the evaporation rate was 72% of the ASH- R. W. Bliss, Atmospheric radiation near the surface of the
RAE value at no wind velocity, and 84% of the ASH- ground, Solar Energy 5( 103) ( 196 1).
W. H. Carrier, The temperature of evaporation, ASHVE
RAE value at 2.2 m/s wind speed. A linear fit to the Transactions 24, 25 ( 19 18).
test data yields an equation in the ASHRAE form but G. Labohm, Heating and air conditioning of swimming pools,
with adjusted coefficients: Gesundheits-Ingenieur [Germany], pp. 72-80 (March
197 1).
Meyer, Evaporation from lakes and reservoirs, Minnesota Re-
- = (30.6 + 32. hv)t~w - pa) sources Commission (June 1942).
(9) National Spa and Pool Institute, Swimming pool and spa in-
A ILH,
dustrv market reports, Alexandria, VA, ( 1987).
National Spa and Pool Institute, Swimming pool and spa in-
This relationship also conforms closely to results found dustry market reports, Alexandria, VA, ( 1988).
J. Reeker, Water evaporation in indoor swimming pools,
earlier for the inactive indoor pool (Smith, 1992).
Klima & Kalte Ingeniettr [Germany], No. 1, pp. 29-32
Radiation loss was approximately one half the en- (January 1978).
ergy lost by evaporation. A correlation between radia- D. Rohwer, Evaporation from free water surfaces, Technical
tion energy loss from the pool surface and temperature Bulletin no. 27 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture ( 193 1).
difference between the pool and air temperature was D. Root, How to determine the heat load of swimming pools,
Solar Age (November 1983).
found for the range of conditions during testing. Heat C. C. Smith, G. Lof, and R. Jones, Energy requirement and
loss by convection was approximately 18% of total potential savings for heated indoor swimming pools.
losses. ASHRA E Transactions, 99( 2), DE-9 3- 12-3.