Robison Pool, Troy New York

The Robison Pool, which is located at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is an NCAA regulated competitive swimming pool. The pool has long suffered from issues with temperature fluctuations both water and air temperatures, high chloramine levels, which is an irritant to both swimmers and spectators, and high energy usage.

Robinson Pool located on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) campus, has a competitive swimming and diving indoor pool, that has been served by two (2) Dectron dehumidifiers for several decades. The units are at the end of their useful life and struggle to provide proper temperature and relative humidity conditions.

THE SOLUTION

RPI retained Guth Deconzo to perform a study, design, and construction administration for a new solution. Through evidence based analysis, Guth Deconzo came up with a Heat Pipe solution. The intent of the heat pipe was to replace the existing vapor compression system to provide dehumidification. The pool was heated by a steam to water heat exchanger and supplementary pool water heating from the Dectron dehumidifiers.

This is a NCAA competition pool where the water is maintained at 80F and the pool room area air at 82F.

The project was to replace the Dectron units with a variable push-pull air supply and return with heat pipe energy recovery technology. The supply air quantity is maintained at a constant airflow while the exhaust/ outside airflow

PROJECT RESULTS

The original projected savings was approximately $64,000. Post installation, Guth Deconzo performed monitoring and verification. The as measured trending was approximately double the original amount ($120,000).

Performance conditions have improved dramatically, with more stable temperatures and relative humidity, lower chloramine levels, and reduced issues with condensation.