New Meridian heating system to be installed at Orange Aquatic Centre

July 24, 2024

Orange City Council has a long-term sustainability plan to make the Orange Aquatic Centre more energy efficient. The first step, which is currently underway, is the replacement of an old-style boiler that heated water for the outdoor 50-metre pool.

In Orange’s cool climate, the heater is used in cooler months to keep the water temperature in the outdoor pool above 27 degrees.

The large gas-powered boiler has been removed with six smaller Meridian Link Water Heaters - a product supplied by Automatic Heating - delivered this week and to be installed in the coming weeks.

The new heating system is designed to be more energy-efficient.

Engineers believe it was inefficient to run the large boiler at full capacity during some months when it wasn’t needed. lnstead, the new system is designed so that only the required number of the new units will be turned on when needed.

The new heaters are part of a Council-wide sustainability strategy to move away from gas with the new heaters designed for their gas-powered components to be eventually replaced with electric-powered heat pumps - when budgets allow.

The former system also heated the chlorinated pool water directly causing corrosion problems with equipment. The new system is designed to work by heat exchange, heating an enclosed amount of water which in turn heats the chlorinated pool water.

The heater upgrade is being funded by Orange City Council at a cost of $395,000.

The new heating system will have its first major test when the 50 metre pool at the Orange Aquatic Centre hosts the Australian Winter Swimming Nationals for the first time in September.

For more information on Automatic Heating and Meridian Link Condensing Water Heaters click here.

Image. Credit: Orange City Council

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