For people with disabilities, time in a swimming pool can…
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The Singleton Army Base is the home of the Hunter Valley Logistics Company. Accent heat pumps were installed to the School of Infantry Pool and Gymnasium and to troop and officer quarters.
The Singleton Army Base is the home of the Hunter Valley Logistics Company. Accent heat pumps were installed to the School of Infantry Pool and Gymnasium and to troop and officer quarters.
Hot Water Usage
The pool and gymnasium facility is combined within one building. The pool is 33m (long) * 13m (wide) with a volume of some 600,000 litres and is heated normally to 27°C. The pool water has been occasionally heated to 32°C for children’s swimming classes. The pool enclosure is unheated with windows on all sides and an uninsulated iron roof. The pool and gymnasium are served by ladies and men’s showers, toilet and change rooms.
Hot Water System
Prior to the upgrade to heat pumps, both the pool and gymnasium hot water needs were met by LPG fired water boilers.
The conversion to electric heat pumps was designed by TYP Consulting Engineers of Newcastle and released to tender. The work directed by TYP was driven by achievement of significant energy efficiencies and as a result, running cost savings of up to 75% were achieved. The annual pool heating cost of some $52,000 (LPG at 26c/litre) was reduced to some $13,000.
Specific energy efficiency measures introduced in addition to the Accent heat pumps is the insulation of the exposed shell of the pool with spray-on material, insulation of pool pipework, closure of air gaps around the pool shell and increased domestic water storage.
An additional feature is ducting of the dehumidified and cooled air expelled from one of the three 50KW heat pumps into the gymnasium workout room. The cooling value of this air is between 32KW to 35KW. The control system allows individual operation of the ducted unit, allowing its running times to match peak usage times in the gym. Motorised dampers also allow for redirection of this air to outside during winter months.
Another unique feature is that the condensate water which comes from the air drawn through the evaporative coils on the pool heat pumps is fed into a 800 litre in-ground tank. When sufficient water is collected, a pump is activated which operates a small pop-up irrigation system in the grassed area outside the gymnasium.
Computerised refrigeration analysis testing of the pool heating units showed an output per unit of between 51.5KW to 54KW at co-efficients of performance between 5.03 and 5.23 at an air temperature of 19°C. Testing of the Accent Hot Water Series unit installed for shower water, etc, to the changerooms showed maintenance of a tank temperature of 61°C.
Further Accent hot water heat pumps were subsequently installed to various officer and troop quarters at the base.
Accent equipment supply
The original project included three Accent Pool Heat Pump Models HWP50 (total 150KW nominal output), a single Accent Hot Water Model HW42 (42KW nominal output), a single Hot Water Model HW20 (20KW nominal output) and three Hot Water Models HW8 (8KW nominal output), a 600 litre hot water storage tank, two recirculating water pumps, 800 litre condensate water tank, electrical control panel and ductwork. Accent Water & Energy undertook installation, testing and commissioning.
