Original > Hot Tub Forum
Circulation Pump - are they truly a cost saver?
Roborph:
As far as we all know now, this is probably a non issue. Buy a top 6 brand and you'll be ok...
ebirrane:
Well the 24 hour circulation pump moves water through the chamber more slowly. If a 24/7 pump moves the contents of the tub 10 times a day and intermitent jet pumps move the contents of the tub 60 times a day, then:
1) If the contact chambers are equal
2) If the ozone output is equal
then the water in the contact chamber of a tub with 24/7 pump gets 6 times the contact time than another tub.
To even this out, either:
1) The contact chamber of intermitent, larger pump systems must be 6 times longer or
2) The ozonator in such systems must put out 6 times the ozone.
Am I missing somthing, because this seems obvious to me? :-[ Anyway, that's why I've always felt that a 24/7 slower pump is better for ozonation.
If the water is shooting through the chamber 6 times faster it will be in the contact chamber 1/6 of the time of a slower pump. When talking about a fixed sanitation method you want water to go as slow as possible by the sanitation method for maximum benefit, to stay in contact with that sanitation method for as long as possible. Great for sanitation, less great for filtration (which is optimized by maximizing the number of passes through the filter)
-Ed
ZzTop:
--- Quote ---Well the 24 hour circulation pump moves water through the chamber more slowly. If a 24/7 pump moves the contents of the tub 10 times a day and intermitent jet pumps move the contents of the tub 60 times a day, then:
1) If the contact chambers are equal
2) If the ozone output is equal
then the water in the contact chamber of a tub with 24/7 pump gets 6 times the contact time than another tub.
To even this out, either:
1) The contact chamber of intermitent, larger pump systems must be 6 times longer or
2) The ozonator in such systems must put out 6 times the ozone.
Am I missing somthing, because this seems obvious to me? :-[ Anyway, that's why I've always felt that a 24/7 slower pump is better for ozonation.
If the water is shooting through the chamber 6 times faster it will be in the contact chamber 1/6 of the time of a slower pump. When talking about a fixed sanitation method you want water to go as slow as possible by the sanitation method for maximum benefit, to stay in contact with that sanitation method for as long as possible. Great for sanitation, less great for filtration (which is optimized by maximizing the number of passes through the filter)
-Ed
--- End quote ---
Ed great analysis.
Some manufactures using a circ pump have contact chambers of 6 feet.
I have seen Mfg without circ pumps using up to 25 foot contact chambers.
I have never seen specs on the output of ozone on various makes nor the differences between UV, cd chip, and plasma cell, relative to their output.
I am interested in the new plasma cell type to see if it will last, maintanence free for 6 - 7 years and its cost compared to the other two systems.
I guess time will tell.
tony:
I also like the fact that I heat through the circ pump....quiet and efficient....main pump doesn't have to come on every time the heater does.
Wisoki:
I think you are greatly overstating the "half life" of ozone, to my knowledge it is 20 to 40 seconds. Since it doesn't become a liquid and mix with the water, but is a gas that very quickly raises out of the water, regardless of "contact chamber" and forms a gaseous layer between the cover and water surface. Ozone should NEVER be considered a "Primary" sanitizer. It is has and always will be a suplimental system to bromine, chlorine or biguanides. Even when used in conjunction with a mineral purifier i.e. N2, spa frog, etc... it is secondary to the table spoon per 100 gallons of chlorine and regular addition of shock.
--- Quote ---
2. Circ. Pump vs. Intermitten Main Pump - Ozone has a half life of approx 20-40 minutes if I am not mistaken. Ozone is VERY short lasting and must be produced on an ongoing basis, hence the lower chemical concentration (bromine, chlorine etc) of 0.5-1 ppm. If the ozonator only turns on every four to 12 hours (or whatever you may have scheduled), you will be essentially running without your main disinfectant for most of the time between cycles, relying on your lower concentration of chemical, which is only intended as a back-up system.
OnMedic
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