Thermal Comfort Assessment of an Indoor Swimming Pool in a Hot Climate: A CFD and HAP Simulation Study

Abstract

This study thoroughly investigates thermal comfort conditions within an indoor swimming pool in a desert climate resembling the climatic conditions of regions like Qatar, known for its scorching summers and mild winters. The research focuses on a 17.6 × 11.7 m indoor swimming pool, assessing its response to extreme outdoor conditions: 43.3°C dry-bulb temperature and 33.3°C wet-bulb temperature for summer, and 17°C dry-bulb temperature and 10.6°C wet-bulb temperature for winter. Design considerations maintain indoor temperatures in the range of 24°C–29°C year-round, aligning with ASHRAE Handbook recommendations for indoor swimming pools. The study encompasses a comprehensive analysis, including the calculation of pool evaporation rates and the resulting latent heat load gain. Hourly Analysis Program (HAP 4.9), a specialized cooling load calculation program, was employed to determine the essential thermal load required to maintain optimum indoor conditions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, employing ANSYS Fluent 19.2 and incorporating standard turbulence and moisture content models following a meticulous grid independence study, were conducted. The results highlight distinct average indoor conditions for both summer and winter, encompassing parameters such as air temperature, air velocity, and relative humidity. The research outcomes, assessed using predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), indicate comfort in summer and slight warmth in winter, serving as a valuable reference for future research on desert pool and greenhouse designs, ultimately enhancing indoor environmental quality.