The necessary heat to increase and maintain the temperature of an outdoor pool can be expressed as

htotal = hsurface + hheat-up         (1)

Where

htotal = total heat load (btu/hr)

hsurface = heat loss through surface - mainly evaporation of water from the surface (btu/hr)

hheat-up = heat load necessary to move the pool from the initial temperature (btu/hr)

Heat-Up Load
The heat-up load depends on the volume of the pool which can be expressed as

V = l w d 7.5 (gal/ft3)         (2)

where

V = volume (Gal)

l = length (ft)

w = width (ft)

d = depth (ft)

The heat-up load can then be expressed as

hheat-up = V 8.34 (lbs/gal) dTw 1.0 (Btu/lb oF) / dt         (3)

where

dTw = difference between initial temperature and the final temperature of the water ( oF)

dt = heat pick-up time (hr)

Surface Heat Loss due to Temperature Difference

The heat load necessary to cover up the surface loss due to temperature difference between pool surface

and ambient air can be expressed as

hsurface = ks dTaw A         (4)

where

ks = surface heat loss factor - for sheltered positions with average wind velocity 2 to 5 (mph), the surface

heat loss factor is in the range 4 to 7 (Btu/hr ft2 oF)

dTaw = temperature difference between the air and surface water in the pool ( oF)

A = surface area of the pool (ft2)

Heat-Up Load

Pool with dimensions length 70.5 ft, width 14.0 ft and dept 4 ft is heated from 42.8oF (6oC) to 80.6oF

(27oC). The volume in the pool (in gallons) can be calculated as

V = (70.5 ft) (14.0 ft) (4.0 ft) (7.5 gal/ft3)

    = 29,610 (gal)

The heat-up heat required to heat the pool up in 24 hours can be calculated as

 hheat-up= (29,610 gal) (8.34 lbs/gal) ((80.6 oF) - (42.8 oF)) (1.0 Btu/lboF) / (24 hr)

    = 388,942 Btu / hr     

1 Btu/hr = 2.931x10-4 kW = 0.252 kcal/hr

=114.0 kW
If the ambient temperature is 47oF (8 oC) and the wind conditions is moderate, the heat loss through the

surface due to temperature difference (when the pool is heated up) can be calculated as

hsurface = (5 Btu/hr ft2oF) ((80.6 oF) - (47.0oF)) (70.5 ft) (14.0 ft)

     = 165,816 (Btu/hr)

= 48.0 kW

htotal = hheat-up + hsurface

=114.0 kW + 48.0 kW

=162.0 kW