Overview of a Pool Plant System
Basic overview
For the purposes of this course, we can consider the circulation system as everything the pool water flows through as it travels from the pool to the plant room and back to the pool again. Substances for disinfection, pH correction and coagulation are injected into the pipework along the way.
In later sections of the course, we’ll be going into some detail about the main components of a pool plant system. For now, though, we need a basic overview. So first, look at the diagram of a typical swimming pool. Then, click on the ⓘ symbols for more information on the various components.
Main Components (in sequence)
- Strainer basket(s)
- Pump(s)
- Filter(s)
- Heat exchanger
Chemical Injection Points
- Coagulant – after the pumps, prior to filter(s) but after auto chemical monitoring sample point.
- Disinfectant – can be prior to or after filter(s) if no UV system fitted but always after UV if fitted.
- Acid (pH correction) – usually after the heat exchanger.
Plant room components
Some of the diagrams in courses and textbooks depict the system you would have in an ideal world. But in the real world of pool plant operations you might need to operate an old, possibly neglected and not well-designed treatment system.
The slides show photos of a treatment system for a hotel pool. Click on the blue icons for more detail. They might help you recognise and identify some of the same components in your own plant room.
How to survey your own plant room
No two plant rooms are the same, but they all work to the same principles. Therefore, surveying a plant room is one of the most critical skills an operator should learn.
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:51 Multiple systems
- 2:23 Identify filter(s)
- 2:59 Filter inlets
- 3:30 Multiport valves
- 4:00 Identify pump(s)
- 4:39 Identify incoming feeds
- 8:20 Pre-pump strainers
- 8:45 Sample lines
- 9:38 Monitoring equipment
- 11:10 Chemical injection (pre-filter)
- 13:15 Filter outlets
- 14:17 UV system
- 14:43 Heating system
- 16:00 Acid injection
- 17:20 Pool return pipework
Here’s a filtration system that’s just been installed. As you can see, there are two filters in this system. The heat exchanger and backwash sight glass can also be seen.
All about valves
There are several types of valve you might come across in a typical plant room, some images and descriptions of the more common ones are provided below.
Click on the images to enlarge.
I cant seem to play this video. it seems to not exist. please help
I think Youtube might be blocked at your site. Here’s a link to the course manual: https://stockwellsafetylms.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Stockwell-Safety-PPO-Manual-Full-v.-2.0.pdf
the picture diagram with the ‘i’ information to click on causes conflict with the written order.
for example, the picture says that coagulant is added to the system prior to entering the strainer to bind particles so they can be caught in the strainer. However, the written says different! it says after the pump but before the filter! very confusing for the test
Hi Trevor,
The ‘i’ symbol and the pot appear to be before the pumps but if you follow the pipework, you’ll see that i’ts injected after the pumps. A coagulant help the filters to trap more pollution by clumping together very small particles of pollution that would otherwise pass through the gaps between the sand grains in the filter media bed, not strainer.
I am also stuck on the order of the plant room test.
Went back to the lesson made notes as described in the lesson. Took the test again only for it still to be wrong. Either the lesson is being taught wrong, or the question and answers are.
The order is clearly described:
Main Components (in sequence):
Strainer basket(s)
Pump(s)
Filter(s)
Heat exchanger
Chemical Injection Points:
Coagulant – after the pumps, prior to filter(s) but after auto chemical monitoring sample point.
Disinfectant – can be prior to or after filter(s) if no UV system fitted but always after UV if fitted.
Acid (pH correction) – usually after the heat exchanger.
It is not letting me drop and drag the labels to the diagram so I can not complete the above task.
Could you try and open the course in a different browser? Chrome or Microsoft Edge?
I am really struggling with the order of the plant room parts in the test. Where can i find this information please?
It’s the coagulant you seem to be struggling with. We’ve changed the wording slightly so have another go and let us know if you’re still having trouble.