An ideal application for the use of solar energy is the heating of outdoor swimming pools during summer. Supply and demand coincide in this case. The maximum solar radiation during summer can be used with comparatively low technology. To reach the optimal heating for pool water, temperatures even below 30°C (86°F) are good enough. For this task, low-cost swimming pool absorbers are used. An additional water tank is not necessary as the water of the pool serves to store the heat, and a pump ensures circulation of the water through the surface of the absorbers. The solar control system, with temperature sensors at the water inflow point and at the absorbers, automatically and economically regulates the operation of the heating system.

 

Swimming pool absorbers are usually black plastic mats or tubes. Unlike a flat-plate collector or an evacuated-tube collector, heat insulation and transparent covers are not necessary. Because of the low temperatures involved, the temperature stability requirements are markedly lower than those of solar heating systems for water heating or backup heating.