Study of Long-Term Thermal Performance of Solar Pool Heating Systems at Selected Locations in Europe

Heating water in outdoor pools is common, particularly in regions with cool or temperate climates. Several factors, including solar radiation, ambient temperature, wind speed, and humidity, influence the pool water temperature. A key design challenge is to determine the collector surface area required to achieve the desired pool water temperature. In this study, a mathematical model was developed that accounts for the aforementioned factors. Under various operating conditions, thermal performance calculations were carried out. Climatic conditions at three locations across Europe, representing different climate regimes, were analyzed. The model was compared with results from the POLYSUN simulation software. Most of the calculations were performed for a pool surface area of 24 m2. The calculations showed that wind speed above the pool water surface has a significant impact on heat losses. Locating the pool in a sheltered area results in a consistent reduction in heat losses. It was determined that, under the climatic conditions of Kraków, the installation of solar collectors with a surface area equal to 50% of the pool surface enables the maintenance of daytime water temperatures above 21 °C for approximately 100 days. In the absence of solar collectors, achieving such temperatures is not feasible.