Home > Building technology > Don’t get pool water in your drinking water: Double-walled plate heat exchangers
In indoor and outdoor swimming pools, heat recovery from the drain water is the order of the day in terms of energy. But it also has its pitfalls. Double-walled plate heat exchangers prevent contamination of the drinking water.
Hygiene regulations include the maintenance of indoor and outdoor swimming pools and compliance is monitored by the authorities. It is well known that fresh water must be supplied to the pool water continuously. This is done by removing an equivalent amount of water from the circuit via a drain line between the pool and the heating system.
Depending on the type of pool, the temperature of the drained pool water may be up to 30°C. Assuming 30 to 90 litres per person per day, this presents a considerable potential for energy saving. In view of the impending energy shortage, it would be absolutely negligent to let this simply flow away.
The obvious solution is heat recovery. But the authorities require a careful approach: The SVGW* association classifies drainage water from swimming pools as hazardous to health and demands strict separation from the drinking water system. A classic, single-walled plate heat exchanger does not meet this requirement.
As one of the world’s leading companies for solutions in the areas of energy efficiency, circular economy and clean energy, Bachofen technology partner is meeting the needs of the swimming pool industry with a range of double-walled and thus SVGW-compliant heat exchangers in its product portfolio. In the event of a leak, the drain water can escape through the cavity between two duct plates, one above the other, and the damage is noticed immediately.
As the sales partner for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Bachofen supports the planners and designers of swimming pool technology in the selection of a suitable heat exchanger type and in the system design for new builds and renovations.
* SVGW, Swiss Association for Water, Gas and District Heating Suppliers