Hi all
Looking for some help and advice on my possible pool set up please. I'm looking at a 2.4m X 3.9m above ground pool (8150 Litres, 1795 US Gallons) - or similar - and the best way to heat & insulate in the UK (East Midlands) weather, to preferably get 9 months usage (25C/77F min for "energetic exercising" - there will be a counter current system - but be nice to be closer to 27C/81F for the missus and kids).
I've been considering a Rexener bioheater or similar diesel/propane based heater, especially after my positive experiences with a Chinese Diesel Heater (CDH) I use in my campervan. These seem to be a very efficient, cheap & quick way to heat a pool or spa, yet I can't seem to find any info about them on here... lots about heat pumps (wary of after a bad experience 10 years ago; they may have improved!?), gas heaters (expensive/tricky to fit in my scenario), standard electric heaters and solar heating - anyone have any experience please with a bioheater / CDH type heater?
The website selling one of the pools I'm considering suggests a 17kw electric heater for that pool for 9 months of the year. This gives out 58,000 BTU.
By my calculations (I can share but didn't want to get too technical on my 1st post - plus they may be horribly wrong!) the Rexener Bioheater I saw is 20kw (68,240 BTU) and would raise that volume of water by 4.6C per hour (minus heat loss - pool would be covered/enclosed somehow to avoid evaporation which I believe is the largest heat loss). Let's say just under 4C per hour.
In terms of keeping the pool up to temp, estimating heat loss overnight (down to 10C) and comparing to my 2kw electric heated hot tub (1190l / 314 US Gal), I'd run it approx. 5 hours a day (ignoring the initial heating); that's 5 times less a day than the hot tub (24hr) but 8.5 times more power so 1.7 times more "expensive", roughly - if it were electricity. But it's not, it's diesel/propane based, so will be much cheaper - no idea how to work that out yet!! I think I'll drop Rexener an email and see if I can get some litre per hour figures from them.
Does this all sound about right?? Am I missing anything obvious?? I'd love to bury the pool to help insulation but that will be very difficult/expensive in my situation and from what I understand, heat loss from the sides/bottom is minimal - need to ensure the pool is covered as much as possible to avoid heat loss from evaporation. Considering some form of polytunnel / acrylic cover to add a little from solar energy (south facing garden... but... UK midlands, so not much sun!!).
Many thanks all in advance!
Ross
Looking for some help and advice on my possible pool set up please. I'm looking at a 2.4m X 3.9m above ground pool (8150 Litres, 1795 US Gallons) - or similar - and the best way to heat & insulate in the UK (East Midlands) weather, to preferably get 9 months usage (25C/77F min for "energetic exercising" - there will be a counter current system - but be nice to be closer to 27C/81F for the missus and kids).
I've been considering a Rexener bioheater or similar diesel/propane based heater, especially after my positive experiences with a Chinese Diesel Heater (CDH) I use in my campervan. These seem to be a very efficient, cheap & quick way to heat a pool or spa, yet I can't seem to find any info about them on here... lots about heat pumps (wary of after a bad experience 10 years ago; they may have improved!?), gas heaters (expensive/tricky to fit in my scenario), standard electric heaters and solar heating - anyone have any experience please with a bioheater / CDH type heater?
The website selling one of the pools I'm considering suggests a 17kw electric heater for that pool for 9 months of the year. This gives out 58,000 BTU.
By my calculations (I can share but didn't want to get too technical on my 1st post - plus they may be horribly wrong!) the Rexener Bioheater I saw is 20kw (68,240 BTU) and would raise that volume of water by 4.6C per hour (minus heat loss - pool would be covered/enclosed somehow to avoid evaporation which I believe is the largest heat loss). Let's say just under 4C per hour.
In terms of keeping the pool up to temp, estimating heat loss overnight (down to 10C) and comparing to my 2kw electric heated hot tub (1190l / 314 US Gal), I'd run it approx. 5 hours a day (ignoring the initial heating); that's 5 times less a day than the hot tub (24hr) but 8.5 times more power so 1.7 times more "expensive", roughly - if it were electricity. But it's not, it's diesel/propane based, so will be much cheaper - no idea how to work that out yet!! I think I'll drop Rexener an email and see if I can get some litre per hour figures from them.
Does this all sound about right?? Am I missing anything obvious?? I'd love to bury the pool to help insulation but that will be very difficult/expensive in my situation and from what I understand, heat loss from the sides/bottom is minimal - need to ensure the pool is covered as much as possible to avoid heat loss from evaporation. Considering some form of polytunnel / acrylic cover to add a little from solar energy (south facing garden... but... UK midlands, so not much sun!!).
Many thanks all in advance!
Ross