Pool Facilities Research Articles

Sustainable Management of Green Waste in Urban Settings: A Case Study on Energy Recovery and Heating Solutions in the Municipality of Athens (Greece)

The increasing volume of municipal solid waste (MSW), including biodegradable plant residues such as pruning, leaf, and kitchen wastes, presents a substantial environmental challenge due to the limited availability of landfill space and the resulting environmental contamination. Sustainable waste management practices, encompassing recycling and waste-to-energy conversion through biological or thermochemical processes, are imperative. In the Municipality of Athens, Greece, significant quantities of green waste generated from public and private gardening activities provide a valuable opportunity for energy recovery and landfill waste reduction. In accordance with Directive 2008/98/EC, Athens emphasizes waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery. This study examined alternative bio-waste and green waste management systems, using examples from Europe, focusing on the Athens Directorate of Urban Green Spaces and Urban Wildlife. This paper discusses methods for assessing the energy value of pruning residues, providing a definitive disposal framework. Additionally, it presents a technoeconomic study of one of the municipal swimming pools in the Municipality of Athens, investigating the production and distribution of thermal energy to meet the heating needs of the pool facilities. This research identified key constraints and their impact on decision-making, highlighting the potential for alternative green waste management strategies. It advocates modern recycling techniques in line with national and community legislation, which have significant environmental and economic benefits.

Research and numerical assessment of design and construction errors in the swimming pool facility structures

Swimming pools are characterized by high humidity, high temperature, an aggressive environment caused by disinfection processes, high energy consumption, and extensive technical infrastructure. As a result, these facilities are at high risk of damage, including structural damage, which can have catastrophic consequences in extreme cases. Adequate ventilation plays a critical role in natatoria. The technical condition of swimming pool facilities should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe for the public. Various techniques can be used for this purpose. In the present study, a numerical analysis of ventilation performance and an assessment of the risks associated with design and construction errors in the ventilation system were conducted in a swimming pool building with a volume of 116,280.7 m3 and a surface area of 20,188.6 m2 in north-eastern Poland. Two scenarios were analyzed: the performance of the originally designed ventilation system and the performance of the ventilation system installed in the examined facility. The analyses were conducted with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools in the FloVent program. Air distribution was determined by measuring ventilation parameters and conducting smoke tests in analyzed natatorium, and the obtained data were consistent with the results of the numerical analysis. The analyzed scenarios were compared to identify the risks associated with inadequate ventilation in swimming pools. A significant decrease in air supply led to local increases in air velocity and worsened thermal comfort parameters in the real-world facility. In addition, the decrease in air supply induced changes in air distribution and prevented air streams from reaching all parts of the natatorium. Some areas were inadequately ventilated, and condensed water vapor settled on the building’s glass facade and the roof, posing a direct threat to structural elements. The results of the numerical analysis were congruent with on-site measurements, which indicates that CFD tools are highly useful for assessing ventilation systems in swimming pools. These tools can be used to analyze ventilation performance and optimize the proposed solutions already at the design stage. The applied tools enable designers to eliminate construction errors and optimize a building’s structural safety, performance, and energy efficiency.

Sharia Swimming Pool: A Practice and the Factors that Affect Consumers

The swimming pool is a part of tourism, entertainment, and sports activities. The development of halal tourism demands swimming pool facilities that can better meet Sharia principles that benefit Muslim consumers. This study aims to reveal Sharia swimming pool management practices and explore why its customers choose Sharia swimming pools over conventional swimming pools. This research was conducted to reveal the halal lifestyle that has penetrated halal tourism, including swimming pools based on Sharia principles. This study uses a phenomenological approach to reveal the phenomenon of swimming pool practices and factors that affect its customers. This study interviewed 15 people with characteristics of high-intensity Sharia swimming pool use. It revealed that Islamic pool management practices include rules for members to enter, swimwear, facilities, and services provided. This study explores the factors influencing Islamic pool consumers by grouping them internally and externally. Internal factors impacting Sharia swimming pool users include comfort, halal lifestyle, and health. At the same time, the support of facilities, encouragement from others, and unpleasant experiences in public or traditional swimming pools are part of external factors. This study is expected to become a reference for Sharia swimming pool management practices and evidence of the findings of factors that encourage consumers to choose Sharia swimming pools.

Contract Type Selection and Project Performance: An Optimal Strategy for Achieving Procurement Planning of Swimming Pool Construction Firms in Rivers State, Nigeria

The study examined the correlation that existed between contract type selection and project performance of swimming pool construction firms in Rivers State. The determination to maximize utility and to create comfort for both customers who seek recreation or adventure and private or personal relaxation with swimming pool facilities as a social stratum has increasingly gained acceptance and recognition in our society today. However, the early finished time of such a project has often been characterized by delays associated with contract variation from the performing firms. The study adopted a census population of 7 registered firms. Questionnaires were administered to 61 respondents. Spearman rank statistical tool and regression analyses were adopted for correlation and effect determination. Amidst the findings, a strong positive correlation existed between the dimensions of contract type selection and project performance. The study concluded that contract type selection is a veritable conduit for stabilizing project completion timelines among firms in the studied section. 

Study on reduction of pressure oscillation in low-velocity steam jet condensation

To mitigate the high-amplitude pressure oscillations generated during the steam low-speed jet condensation process and reduce the risk of dynamic load damage to the suppression pool and its adjacent facilities, this study designed a temperature-rising cylinder scheme based on the characteristics of low-speed steam jet condensation pressure oscillation and studied the mitigation effect of this scheme through experiments. The experimental results showed that this scheme could effectively reduce the time of low-velocity steam jet condensation in the high-amplitude pressure oscillation region. For instance, at a steam mass flow rate of 30 kg/m2s, the time was reduced from 6300 s to 700 s, which significantly improves the safety of the pool and nearby facilities. Moreover, the scheme does not affect the suppression ability of the pool and can ensure the long-term effective operation of the suppression system.

Enhancing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in indoor swimming pool facilities: investigating the impact of ventilation system configurations

This study focuses on enhancing indoor air quality and thermal comfort in indoor swimming pool facilities through the investigation of ventilation system configurations. Creating a comfortable and healthy environment in these facilities is crucial for the well-being of occupants and overall operational efficiency. The performance of the ventilation system significantly influences user comfort, energy consumption, and air quality. This research aims to analyze the impact of different ventilation system configurations on indoor air quality and thermal comfort parameters using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.To achieve the research objectives, CFD simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent ®, a widely used commercial CFD package. The simulations involved solving the governing equations for continuity, momentum, energy, and species transport, along with employing the k-epsilon turbulence closure model. A high-resolution mesh with over 5.6 million elements accurately captured the flow regimes and related phenomena.The study investigated various aspects of ventilation system configurations, including the placement and design of inlets and outlets, airflow rates, and distribution patterns. Evaluations were made based on key performance indicators such as indoor air quality parameters, thermal comfort indices, and energy efficiency metrics. Comparisons were made between different configurations to identify the most effective strategies for enhancing indoor air quality and thermal comfort.The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of ventilation system design in achieving optimal indoor air quality and thermal comfort in indoor swimming pool facilities. The results indicate that specific configuration choices, such as the use of circular inlets in the ceiling for improved spectator comfort and rectangular inlets in the side walls for better performance in the swimming pool area, can significantly impact thermal conditions and air distribution. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for appropriate inlet grille height to ensure adequate air mixing and thermal comfort.The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights for architects, engineers, and facility managers involved in the design, construction, and operation of indoor swimming pool facilities. By understanding the impact of different ventilation system configurations, stakeholders can make informed decisions to optimize indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. Ultimately, this research contributes to the development of sustainable and comfortable indoor swimming pool environments that cater to the needs of occupants and enhance their overall experience.

On the model complexity of the air handling unit to investigate the energy efficiency of indoor swimming pool facilities

Building performance simulation is a powerful tool applied both in research and for building design including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Several research studies have used this tool to investigate the potential of energy savings measures for swimming facilities. However, in these facilities the technical complexity is a considerable challenge in modelling since many complex phenomena occur in the various sub-systems. The building industry traditionally plans and design these complex buildings by heuristic rules of thumb, and these empirical design rules may lead to significant differences between real and predicted performance. Therefore, it's important to develop simplified models with acceptable accuracy for simulation-based design of swimming facilities. The scientific literature introduces different simplifications for the air handling unit modelling, but the impact of these simplifications is hardly analyzed. Therefore, the paper investigates the model complexity of the air handling unit in a Norwegian swimming facility by comparing a novel simplified model and a detailed model which serves as a digital replica of a real unit. The simplified decoupled model is found to have an acceptable accuracy for early-stage design, bearing in mind the overall uncertainty at this design stage. However, when carrying out a detailed investigation of a swimming facility, the detailed model should be applied, since this complex heuristic rule-based model, is taking into account phenomena like thermal-coupling effects between the swimming pool and the air handling unit and the control errors of the real internal controller. In conclusion, the paper derives useful guidelines for building performance simulation design of air handling unit, which is the main energy-intensive component in indoor swimming pool facilities.

The Olympic Village and the Olympic Urbanism: Perception and Expectations of Olympic Specialists

The editions of the Olympic Games (OG) created a major urban transformation, which allowed for a new critical perspective on the new urban dimension of the Mega-Event, especially in the construction of the three main physical elements built: the athletics stadium, the swimming pool facilities and, above all, the “Olympic Village”. The study analyses the Winter and Summer Olympic Villages (OV) in a general way with a particular focus on the relationship between the OV and the urban fabric. The interdependence between the city and the OG has evolved through new models of development of the Olympic event that has marked the importance of the OV in the processes of city transformation. The lack of previous studies allows us to affirm the importance of the study for the academic debate on the future of the OV. The study will use quantitative analysis to analyse the different variables and responses of the Olympic specialists who participated in the sample. The study will make it possible to observe the perceptions and expectations of the interviewees through statistical analysis. Moreover, considering that only one symposium was organised in the Olympic history in 1996, the following survey is a solid basis for designing future OV in the candidate cities. The organisation of a new symposium almost thirty years after the 1996 one is of fundamental importance to discuss the territorial impact, organisational models, heritage, infrastructure, participation, housing, social change and territorial transformations.

MANAJEMEN AKOMODASI SYARIAH DI PULAU LOMBOK

Halal tourism is a sector in the Islamic economy that is experiencing rapid development. Tourism development on Lombok Island still focuses on the development of natural and cultural tourism. The development of sharia tourism on the island of Lombok is not optimal. The tourism industry is of course very closely related to the accommodation business. Therefore, there is a need for a study on the potential management of sharia accommodation on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara. This research is a descriptive research. According to the NTB MUI, the reason for the lack of sharia accommodation was triggered because many hotels were afraid that their guests would disappear after their hotels obtained the legality of a halal certificate. In fact, sharia accommodation is a very prospective potential in accordance with Lombok's branding as a Halal Tourism Destination. Sharia accommodation management needs to implement facilities and services, both physical and non-physical. Non-physical Islamic service standards, for example: dress etiquette, greeting greetings, congregational prayers for employees, and good and polite behavior when interacting between hotel managers and guests. Physical Islamic services, such as: facilities in guest rooms that provide Qibla direction, ablution facilities, prayer equipment, the Koran, and seats for those who are not muhrim. Apart from preparing several prayer facilities in the room, the room was also set to a size that almost matched the size of the Prophet's room. Other facilities that are of Islamic standard are swimming pool facilities. Swimming pools need to be separated between men's and women's pools. Sharia hotel accommodation restaurant facilities provide halal-standard food that has been certified by the Indonesian Ulema Council.

The Internet of Things for the Intelligent Management of the Heating of a Swimming Pool by Means of Smart Sensors

By using various smart sensors integrated in a global domotic system, a proper solar thermal management is executed. The goal is to properly manage solar energy for heating swimming pool using various devices installed at home. Swimming pools are a necessity in many communities. In summer, they are a source of refreshment. However, maintaining a swimming pool at an optimal temperature can be a challenge even in the summer months. The use of the Internet of Things in homes has enabled proper management of solar thermal energy, thus significantly improving the quality of life by making homes more comfortable and safer without using additional resources. The houses built today have several smart devices that manage to optimize the energy consumption of the house. The solutions proposed in this study to improve energy efficiency in swimming pool facilities include the installation of solar collectors to heat swimming pool water more efficiently. The installation of smart actuation devices (to efficiently control energy consumption of a pool facility via different processes) together with sensors that provide valuable information on energy consumption in the different processes of a pool facility, can optimize energy consumption thus reducing overall consumption (by 90%) and economic cost (by more than 40%). Together, these solutions can help to significantly reduce energy consumption and economic costs and extrapolate it to different processes of similar characteristics in the rest of the society.

Dynamic behavior of gas-phase NCl3 and CO2 in indoor pool facilities

The presence of gas-phase trichloramine (NCl3) in indoor swimming pool facilities is associated with adverse health outcomes among swimmers and other pool users, as well as degradation of pool infrastructure. Given their similarities in terms of volatility (i.e., Henry's law constant), the dynamic behaviors of NCl3 and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air above indoor pools were postulated to be similar. Experiments were conducted to characterize and quantify the dynamic behavior of gas-phase NCl3 and CO2 in a mechanically ventilated swimming pool facility. The results of these time-course measurements allowed for examination of the effects of background water circulation and swimmer-induced mixing on the dynamics of both compounds in the air space above an indoor swimming pool. Measured gas-phase NCl3 concentrations exceeded the suggested guideline values of 300 μg/m3 or 500 μg/m3 during periods of heavy use. Measured gas-phase CO2 concentration followed a similar dynamic pattern as gas-phase NCl3; gas-phase CO2 concentrations often exceeded 1000 ppmv during swimming meets. Mass balance models for gas-phase NCl3 and CO2 were developed to relate the characteristics of the indoor pool environment to their dynamics. The results of these modeling efforts indicated that the similarity of CO2 transfer behavior to NCl3 may allow the use of CO2, which can be measured with low-cost infrared gas sensors, as a control parameter for NCl3. Moreover, the models that were developed to describe the dynamic behaviors of these volatile compounds may serve as tools for pool design, optimization of pool operations, and control of their mechanical ventilation systems.

Quality Assessment of Sludge from Filter Backwash Water in Swimming Pool Facilities

Swimming pools are examples of water-intensive facilities, where solutions for reducing economic and environmental costs are searched with increased frequency. One of the solutions supporting savings is the recovery of water from wastewater, including backwash water obtained while rinsing the filter bed. The study objective was the qualitative and quantitative assessment of post-coagulation sludges, the main pollutant found in the washings. During the analyses, assessment of the sedimentation capabilities of the sludges was performed (gravitationally), particle size distribution was assessed (particle size distribution analyser) and assessment of phytotoxicity with the use of plant indicators in short-term tests was performed (Lemna minor, Lepidium sativum, Sinapis alba, Raphanus sativus). The samples were collected from two independent circulations, which differed in terms of capacity and type of coagulant used. The tested post-coagulation sludges were characterized by high content of total suspended solids: in samples from Circuit 1 from 251 to 128 mg/L, in Circuit 2 from 489 to 228 mg/L. However, the sedimentation processes enabled significant separation of sludges. The hydrolyzed coagulant contributed to the improvement of sedimentation capabilities of the sludges. Despite the fact that in many samples low sludge concentrations favored stimulation of plant growth, the post-coagulation sludges can constitute a hazard to plant growth, particularly in the long-term perspective.

Cost-Aware DU Placement and Flow Routing in 5G Packet xHaul Networks

Packet-switched xHaul networks based on Ethernet technology are considered a promising solution for assuring convergent, cost-effective transport of diverse radio data traffic flows in dense 5G radio access networks (RANs). A challenging optimization problem in such networks is the placement of distributed processing units (DUs), which realize a subset of virtualized baseband processing functions on general-purpose processors at selected processing pool (PP) facilities. The DU placement involves the problem of routing of related fronthaul and midhaul data flows between network nodes. In this work, we focus on developing optimization methods for joint placement of DUs and routing of flows with the goal to minimize the overall cost of PPs activation and processing in the network, which we refer to as the PPC-DUP-FR problem. We account for limited processing and transmission resources as well as for stringent latency requirements of data flows in 5G RAN. The latency constraint makes the problem particularly difficult in a packet-switched xHaul network since it involves the non-linear and dynamic estimation of the latencies caused by buffering of packets in the switches. The latency model that we apply in this work is based on worst-case calculations with improved latency estimations that skip from processing the co-routed, but non-affecting flows. We use a mixed-integer programming (MIP) approach to formulate and solve the PPC-DUP-FR optimization problem. Moreover, we develop a heuristic method that provides optimized solutions to larger PPC-DUP-FR problem instances, which are too complex for the MIP method. Numerical experiments performed in different network scenarios indicate on the effectiveness of the heuristic in solving the PPC-DUP-FR problem. In particular, the heuristic achieves up to 63% better results than MIP (at the MIP optimality gap equal to 76%) in a medium-size mesh network, in which the MIP problem is unsolvable for higher traffic demands within reasonable runtime limits. In larger networks, MIP is able to provide some results only for the PPC-DUP-FR problem instances with very low traffic demands, whereas the solutions generated by the heuristic are at least 83% better than the ones achieved with MIP. Also, the analysis performed shows a significant impact of the PP cost factors considered and of the level of cost differentiation of PP nodes on the overall PP cost in the network. Finally, simulation results of a case-study packet xHaul network confirm the correctness of the latency model used.

Monitoring of On-Site generated Hypochlorite for Water Disinfection

The aim of this study was to better evaluate the impact of on-site electro-generated hypochlorite for water disinfection. For this venture, the daily variability of hypochlorite-generating systems and their performance to produce low disinfection by-products during the formation of hypochlorite were observed. Seven on-site electro-generated hypochlorite installations, were selected at different swimming pool facilities in Switzerland. Active chlorine (AC), the two disinfection by-products chlorate (ClO3-) and perchlorate (ClO4-), and the pH were monitored over several hours. All monitored installations produced significant concentrations of chlorate, related to the measured active chlorine concentration. The median chlorate concentrations ranged between 1.4 to 76.9 µg ClO3-/mg AC during daily monitoring. Perchlorates have been detected only in the installations of one brand that generated concentrations up to 34.9 µg ClO4-/mg AC. For all installations, pH was lower than expected with a median pH of 9.6. Some samples presented even surprisingly acidic pH leading to possible sample degradation. This study clearly shows the weakness of a one-shot sampling to evaluate the quality of on-site electro-generated hypochlorite systems, due to high daily process variations. Additionally, the evaluation of the influence of three process parameters has pointed out that including chlorate aspects during the optimisation stage of on-site generated hypochlorite may significantly reduce chlorate contamination during water disinfection.

장애학생의 생존수영 교육에 관한 탐색적 연구

This study is an exploratory study on survival swimming education for 73 students with disabilities, and aims to derive the problems and needs of how survival swimming education for students with disabilities is progressing through the focus group interview method. A focus group interview was conducted based on pre-surveyed questionnaire, and data were collected through video and voice recording using a laptop and camera with the consent of the participants. By analyzing the collected data, 3 themes, 5 categories, and 14 subcategories were derived, and the results of the research are as follows. First, in the case of a lack of survival swimming education facilities for the disabled and the difficulties of their participation, efforts should be made to secure swimming pool facilities for the disabled and expand the education time for their learning in public facilities swimming pools.<BR> Second, there is a lack of facilities for the operation of survival swimming education program for students with disabilities; and thus, the need for mandatory survival education, and continuous education on survival swimming for students with disabilities are required. In addition, variouvs continuous and long-term programs suitable for students with disabilitie should be adopted and practiced. Third, the findings of the research revealed that there was a lack of awareness and leadership for students with disabilities in the operation of training personnel for survival swimming for students with disabilities; and thus, the need for education accompanied by guardians, and the need to nurture experts in survival swimming for students with disabilities to meet national qualifications. Fourth, the results also implied that for an efficient operation plan, it is required to increase the number of new facilities, survival swimming education programs for students with disabilities, and a professional manpower nurturing system. required. Fifth, as a way to improve survival swimming for students with disabilities, it was found that promotion and improvement of the program, national cooperation for the use of facilities, and a change in awareness of general students about survival swimming education for students with disabilities would be required.

Occupational Exposure to Trichloramine and Endotoxins: Adverse Health Effects Among Personnel in Adventure and Rehabilitation Swimming Pool Facilities.

To study occupational exposure totrichloramine and endotoxins in air at adventure and rehabilitation swimming pool facilities from an adverse health effects perspective. Air concentrations of trichloramine and endotoxins were measured in five adventure and 10 rehabilitation facilities. Respiratory and ocular symptoms were self-reported, and spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FEno) were measured. Compared to rehabilitation facilities, the mean trichloramine concentrations in the adventure facilities were higher, both personal (80 μg/m3 (n = 41) vs 19 μg/m3 (n = 21)) and stationary (183 μg/m3 (n = 51) vs 23 μg/m3 (n = 32)), with higher frequency of ocular and respiratory symptoms. Low stationary endotoxin levels (<0.64 to 25 EU/m3) were found, compared to the reference value (90 EU/m3). Higher trichloramine concentrations in air and more ocular and respiratory symptoms in adventure facilities call for adequate occupational exposure limits.

“Planning” and “construction” of the renovation of the open-air swimming pool

The paper combined with the actual situation of setting up outdoor swimming pool facilities in the school analyzes and studies the design content of the preliminary positioning, engineering design, construction design and operation use from the positioning, design, cost, energy saving, management, operation and other aspects of the transformation concept of “planning” and “construction”, and provides a reference for the design of the outdoor swimming pool in the school.

Reuse – Reduce – Recycle: water and wastewater management in swimming pool facilities

Reuse – Reduce – Recycle: water and wastewater management in swimming pool facilities

Measurement and Analysis of Evaporation in Indoor Swimming Pools: Comparison with the ASHRAE’s Activity Factor

The evaporation rate from the swimming pool is a main parameter influencing the energy use in swimming facilities. Quantifying this phenomenon is crucial when modelling the facility in Building Performance Simulation. This study investigates the accuracy of ASHRAE equation using field measurements. This equation is widely used and implemented in BPS tools, such as the pool model in IDA ICE. The investigated dataset was based on two different indoor swimming pool facilities in Norway. It includes in total 75 swimming lessons (i.e., occupied pool) and 477 hours of unoccupied operation. While ASHRAE recommend 1.0/0.5 for occupied and unoccupied pools, respectively, the average activity factor was found to be 0.7 and 0.8 for the investigated occupied pools, with a maximum at 1.1. Moreover, the activity factor was between 0.50 and 0.57 for unoccupied pools.

Lusiana Profil Sarana Dan Prasarana Cabang Olah Raga Renang di PPLOP Jawa Tengah

The purpose of this study was to determine the condition of adequate infrastructure and the effect of infrastructure conditions on the results of the exercise. The research location in this study was carried out directly with PPLOP Central Java. This study used qualitative research methods. Collecting data using descriptive analysis which is the process of describing research. The variables in this research are the facilities and infrastructure in PPLOP Central Java for swimming sports which include swimming pools, waiting rooms, changing rooms, control rooms, staff rooms and warehouses. The results of the research on swimming pool facilities include a swimming pool track, swimming pool lighting, and swimming pool stairs. Swimming pool infrastructure gets the results of the length of the pool, the depth of the pool, the walls of the pool, and the starting place. Swimming pool supporting facilities and infrastructure include changing rooms and engine rooms. The pool facilities and infrastructure in the swimming pool in Jatidiri are standard because they are in accordance with FINA standards, namely having a track line, the track marking line is straight in front of the Start board, giving numbers from all sides, the number of tracks is 9 and the Start board is the Start board.