One for the geos (sorry, no beer this time)

[Captain Starfish]

I've been idly wondering about the public heated pools of late (looking at the iceblock in my back yard) and how they keep that solid 24º or whatever it is year round.

My understanding is that they've drilled into the artesian basin nice and deep, have run two pipes into the hole and are pretty much using a convection loop with a heat exchanger up top to heat the pool.

So, I'm curious. Technically, what's involved - firstly, why don't we see it in backyard pools? And why aren't we rocking big, fat versions with entrained turbines for power generation?

[shan]

I didnt think Perth had any artisian boars , interesting

[Sentient]

I didnt think Perth had any artisian boars , interesting

apparently Perths' artesian bore is the size of Tasmania.

[Shady7/8]

Challenge stadium tapped into the methane from the old tip it's built on top of. Gas heaters running on that baby

Haven't heard anything about your theory elsewhere Spafishie, and I used to work at Beattie Park a long time ago.

*not geo.

[jmoore]

The 8 lane pool and theatre at St Hildas School is heated by Artiesian Bore ... I am yet to check it out but apparently it took them several years to build and goes down a very long way. From what I have been told its a bit of a technological show piece and many engineering and environmental firms have teams check out the school in order to view the setup in action.

Might see if I can get some more info on this one.

edit :

[Lefty]

Claremont Pool is heated naturally...

... and on a slightly different note, St Hilda's pool used to be fucking cold on a Saturday night in early May.

As to the OP, it's too expensive to do on a private use basis. Also - I'm less confident of this though - I think that the geothermal gradient around Perth varies a bit, which may limit its applicability in some areas.

(Just another reason why those preppie golden triangle suburbs are worth more?)

[Brougham]

Craigie Leisure is also geo-thermal heated now (I did the design). Bores go down 1.1kms.

Most pools are heated via pool water heat pumps. Basically a large air-to-water heat changer like a condensing unit off an a/c system. I do quite a number each year.

[Professor Redfern]

Have you tried solar mate?

My Mate has one and that pool is warm all year round, its just a bunch of black tubes that sit up on his roof, and its constantly warm.

[andy_b]

I think my old school (Scotch College) did this... drilled really far down two pipes... water goes down on heats up and then rises through the other... i dont think its done in backyards cause u have to go down pretty far and its a bit to much for households i would assume...

[Dr. Venkman]

I think my old school (Scotch College) did this... drilled really far down two pipes... water goes down on heats up and then rises through the other... i dont think its done in backyards cause u have to go down pretty far and its a bit to much for households i would assume...

Another OSC, they hadn't done it my day, fucker used to get ice on it every winter

[moshriff]

Have you tried solar mate?

My Mate has one and that pool is warm all year round, its just a bunch of black tubes that sit up on his roof, and its constantly warm.

This. Inlaws have it....they had the coldest swimming pool i ever experienced before now if they leave the solar on its too warm! Works very well.

[Captain Starfish]

It's a renter, nothing will ever happen. I was just curious as to why the 'green' option wasn't popular on a smaller scale

It'd be a nice thing to run through the slab of a new place too, warmer in winter and cooler in summer...

[Professor Redfern]

It's a renter, nothing will ever happen. I was just curious as to why the 'green' option wasn't popular on a smaller scale

It'd be a nice thing to run through the slab of a new place too, warmer in winter and cooler in summer...

You Evil Bastard! FRacking for your own profits! Give mother Earth a chance!


Kooooooommmmmbaaaaayyyaaaa My looooooord Kooombayaaaaaa...

[=Stevo=]

Yeah super expensive - drill rig plus crew and materials for a few days - would cost significantly more than the backyard pool itself. Especially when every man and his dog with drilling experience is chasing the $$ up North.

Solar blanket (+ maybe solar heating) should be a good start


As for not rocking geothermal power in Perth - from memory I think it is because the really good stuff (right next to super-dooper hot magma) is too far down out here to make it worthwhile for high power steam applications but we have plenty of medium temperature water that can be used in heat exchange activities such as air-cons and pools.

[Kryzaach]

St Hilda's pool used to be fucking cold on a Saturday night in early May.

I'm sure it made for a convenient excuse as well, given the context..

[Lefty]

I'm sure it made for a convenient excuse as well, given the context..

Only person who ever saw me there was a security guard...


... who probably still has my jeans and jumper.

[Professor Redfern]

Only person who ever saw me there was a security guard...


... who probably still has my jeans and jumper.

And no doubt your virginity.

[Bluebandit]

Perth sits on a large thickness of sediments, which are cool relative to most igneous (hard) rocks like granite. Even the hard rocks we do have are very old and thick, so aren't as hot as others where the crust is thinner and more active. There were active volcanoes not that long ago in south australia, so places like that are much better suited to using geothermal power.

[Falcore]

wonder if there sampling the bore holes while at it. might find some good ore lol

[Semi]

It's a pain in the arse to use and maintain too, you end up drawing a whole lot of sand from that depth and need a whole bunch of filtration systems to go along with it. Plus it's only just warm enough to make a difference for pool water, and you have to pump a whole lot of water.