Join The Solar Power Movement

The hotel project I was writing about is also making progress. We are at a point of revising how he heats the indoor swimming pool. Currently there is a large capacity on-demand electric water heater doing all the work. I am proposing that we take this out of the equation and replace it with a gas fired on-demand water heater coupled with some major overhaul improvements.

I want to avoid going solar thermal by adding pool heater modules on the roof. This would only take away from the hotel looking at the overall solar PV possibilities. So I am sacrificing that potential sale for an even greater ROI on my involvement.

The proposal is to do the above switcharoo on the water heaters but re-plumb the pool through and existing unused 120 gallon gas fired water heater just sitting in the mechanical room.  Providing it is in good shape this would heat the pool water up to the state specified temperature and then as it passed though the on-demand gas heater it would get and extra boost before mixing with the body of water in the pool.

The other side of this fix-it equation is to keep the heated water at the pool surface during after hours. The pool closes at 10PM and opens again at 10AM. So I have a 12 hour window to combat the dehumidifier from sucking all that hot steamy air out of the room and replacing it with fresh air.  What to do, what to do.

Well a pool cover comes to mind the first thing. But I don’t want to add the burden of having the maintenance guy going in the pool room twice per day and manhandling 4-6 insulated panels.  I am searching for the idea of having post mounted from the floor to the ceiling at several locations around the pool. In between these post would be a blind or thermal barrier that pulled up and down depending on the time of day.  If I can reduce his pool heating bill from $15,000.00 to $5,000.00 per year then they may be inclined to go solar on the reat of the electric bill.

Now if I could figure out a way to offset those rooms heater/ac units.

What are your thoughts? Any engineers out there that would like to know the the details and offer suggestions?

Thanks

Stanley