I ran across the name of a "pool efficiency" company named Pool Power (www.poolpower.net) while perusing Pool Forum. Here are a couple of "before" and "after" pictures of what they consider an efficient hydraulic system.
The gray "pipe" they are using appear to be standard radius PVC conduit elbows. In 2" conduit, this is a minimum of 9.5 inches. PVC conduit elboys can also be ordered in "special radius" sizes also. For Carlon PVC conduit in their 2 inch size, elbows can be ordered with 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72 inch radii. One additional advantage of using PVC conduit over standard PVC pipe is that PVC conduit is rated sunlight resistant and rated for outdoor use, whereas PVC pipe must normally be painted to protect it from UV degradation.
I am a little confused by the first set of "before and after" photos because they appeared to change a single 3-way valve into a pair of ball valves for what appear to be the pool and spa suction lines. And Pool Power's idea of replacing small, undersized filters with large oversized filters is obvious and has been discussed here many times.
This is an animation of how the PVC conduit elbows are hydraulically superior to standard PVC pipe 90's.
Also, Pool Power appears to be a fan of The Pool Cleaner (a pressure side cleaner which does not require a booster pump). Certainly, I can see if (big if) The Pool Cleaner can really replace a Polaris (or equivalent) cleaner and the attendant booster pump, the energy savings would be tremendous. http://www.thepoolcleaner.com/poolprofessional.html
None of the above is meant in any way to promote Pool Power. In fact, I know nothing about them whatsoever other than what is posted here. I am sure there are other "pool efficiency" companies out there. Rather, my intent here is to jump-start a discussion on what makes an efficient hydraulic layout at the equipment pad and in the plumbing to the pool. Do you agree or disagree with Pool Power's ideas? Why?
The above, of course, is stimulated by my need to redo some PVC piping at my equipment pad in order for my new Ikeric variable speed pump (Hayward Tri-Star wet end) to be installed. If some of these ideas make my retrofit plumbing easier - great. If some of these ideas make my equipment pad plumbing more efficient hydraulically - woo hoo!!
Hopefully, the above will also help those of you who are about to embark upon new pool construction. I'm sure that PVC conduit wll be more expensive than PVC pipe (for example, the 2" PVC conduit elbow is around $4 or so), but I would be willing to bet that the installation labor cost for the pool plumibing dwarfs the actual cost of the pipe and associated fittings. And I would be willing to bet the installation labor would be no higher using PVC conduit as compared to PVC pipe. So one could potentially end up with a hydraulically superior pool for a very modest upfront cost.
Another interesting product idea appears at www.flexpvc.com
I am especially keen to hear Waste and JasonLion's thoughts on the above musings.
Titanium
The gray "pipe" they are using appear to be standard radius PVC conduit elbows. In 2" conduit, this is a minimum of 9.5 inches. PVC conduit elboys can also be ordered in "special radius" sizes also. For Carlon PVC conduit in their 2 inch size, elbows can be ordered with 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72 inch radii. One additional advantage of using PVC conduit over standard PVC pipe is that PVC conduit is rated sunlight resistant and rated for outdoor use, whereas PVC pipe must normally be painted to protect it from UV degradation.
I am a little confused by the first set of "before and after" photos because they appeared to change a single 3-way valve into a pair of ball valves for what appear to be the pool and spa suction lines. And Pool Power's idea of replacing small, undersized filters with large oversized filters is obvious and has been discussed here many times.
This is an animation of how the PVC conduit elbows are hydraulically superior to standard PVC pipe 90's.
Also, Pool Power appears to be a fan of The Pool Cleaner (a pressure side cleaner which does not require a booster pump). Certainly, I can see if (big if) The Pool Cleaner can really replace a Polaris (or equivalent) cleaner and the attendant booster pump, the energy savings would be tremendous. http://www.thepoolcleaner.com/poolprofessional.html
" -It's a wunderkind cleaner !!!
Your contribution to the pool industry has been enormous, yet is highly under-rated. Each of your cleaners is the best available on the market in its category"
---Eric Walters www.poolpower.net
None of the above is meant in any way to promote Pool Power. In fact, I know nothing about them whatsoever other than what is posted here. I am sure there are other "pool efficiency" companies out there. Rather, my intent here is to jump-start a discussion on what makes an efficient hydraulic layout at the equipment pad and in the plumbing to the pool. Do you agree or disagree with Pool Power's ideas? Why?
The above, of course, is stimulated by my need to redo some PVC piping at my equipment pad in order for my new Ikeric variable speed pump (Hayward Tri-Star wet end) to be installed. If some of these ideas make my retrofit plumbing easier - great. If some of these ideas make my equipment pad plumbing more efficient hydraulically - woo hoo!!
Hopefully, the above will also help those of you who are about to embark upon new pool construction. I'm sure that PVC conduit wll be more expensive than PVC pipe (for example, the 2" PVC conduit elbow is around $4 or so), but I would be willing to bet that the installation labor cost for the pool plumibing dwarfs the actual cost of the pipe and associated fittings. And I would be willing to bet the installation labor would be no higher using PVC conduit as compared to PVC pipe. So one could potentially end up with a hydraulically superior pool for a very modest upfront cost.
Another interesting product idea appears at www.flexpvc.com
I am especially keen to hear Waste and JasonLion's thoughts on the above musings.
Titanium