Abstract

SICK OF SITTING IN A COLD ARENA?

By: Jessica Anderson

            Is it possible to redirect wasted heat energy from under an arenas ice surface to the seats to provide heated bench seating? The expected results are that the research will not only indicate that this is possible, it’s plausible and could potentially save clients a significant amount of money as well as increase spectator satisfaction. Minor changes to a typical design will generate major future outcomes. Construction details are the same, although the design is slightly different.

            The heated polyethylene pipes are spaced at 48” O.C throughout the sand and gravel base layer, the heats main purpose is to eliminate any possible frost build up under the surface. This sand and gravel base layer temperature should be kept just under 3.5°C (38°F) (Russell-Ausley). The insulation is meant to accommodate these temperature changes to ensure the proper temperature of the ice, these cooling pipes are spaced at 24” O.C.  These rink pipes cool the rinks surface to maintain quality ice. The generated heat that would normally be wasted is captured and redirected to pass through a thermal storage buffer before branching off into the seats. Polyethylene piping is also used under these bench seats.

Since the rink has these cooling pipes beneath its surface to generate the proper temperature, the temperature of the rest of the arena does not affect the ice itself. The added heat arising from the seats would affect the room temperature so very slightly that the ice is unaffected from these changes. An arenas room temperature is commonly kept around room temperature, 60-70 degrees, depending on a few things such as outside temperature or the amount of people in the building.  

The conventional design of a typical rink is very similar to that of the implemented design intended to fulfill the intent of the proposal. There is still a heat transfer fluid consisted of glycol, methanol, and calcium chloride (Caliskan & Hepbasli, 2010, p.1418).

 In conclusion, the overall design is practical and the beneficial aspect carries a lot of potential. These results are expected but again not yet substantiated. This innovated design will be taken to further measures to work towards ensuring competent results.

Graphic 1:

Graphic 2 (Detail A1):

changes compete!

well its been a busy past week or so with classes finishing up and final projects being due very soon, but i have my updated dwg!!

minor dwg changes

Hey all, I've been notified that there are some unclear points on my illustrations, so I will be modifying them slightly and I will have a updated version shortly.

Original Graphic

This above picture is the layout of under the rinks surface.

This graphic above indicates the pipe layout in the seats.

Finally, this picture above is the general idea of how the pipes would be incorporated together.

Minor Improvements

Hey everyone, so my new proposal has some minor changes. It clarifys better about the real topic to my research.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF PROPOSED PROJECT:

            So it has been determined that radiant heated seats are possible and already constructed. This improved proposal is on the more defined topic is it still possible to provide radiant heated bench seats in an arena by conserving the energy produced from under the ice surface.

PURPOSE:

            The purpose is to generate radiant heated seating areas for spectators while saving money. This proposal is still all about creating an alternative for the wasted energy that is being produced. Although this heat has some value, as it maintains the quality of the ice, we can save the energy and create other opportunities to use it, such as heated seats. Further research will provide a better understanding. The energy that would normally be wasted is now being re-used to accompany the comfort of the spectators.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:

            The complete task is to improve the energy efficiency while maintaining good quality ice and contentment of spectators. This will achieve an evenly distributed heat throughout the arenas seating vicinity, increasing indoor climate control and thermal comfort. The heat being produced underneath the ice surface is generating energy that is being wasted and costing a pricey budget for the maintenance of the arena. By controlling and redirecting this energy we can utilize an alternative, providing a secondary use for the energy to prevent waste and increase quality.

METHODOLOGY AND ANALYTICAL APPROACH:

            There are generally certain criteria of a conventional ice rink design. Typically, there is a base layer of gravel and sand. Contained throughout this base layer is evenly spaced, typically polyethylene, heated pipe. Above the heated pipes is a layer of high density rink floor foam insulation. There can be a heated concrete slab underneath the insulation to prevent the ground from below the ice form freezing. Next there is a cooled concrete slab with rink pipes evenly distributed within the slab. Finally the ice surface is created. The heated pipes purpose is to eliminate frost build up under the rink. To do so the temperature of the sand and gravel should be just under 3.5°C. (Russell-Ausley)

            Adding these same heated pipes around the arenas floor and inside the bench seating is a perfect way to get full use of the produced heat. Instead of the energy generated going nowhere, it will be providing radiant heat to the seats and floors.

All the pipes are connected to a header trench. This header manifold is where the piping feeds from. These headers are 8" DIA steel. The pipes that surround the seating areas will also be connected to the header trench and would be tied in with the heat from under the surface of the ice. The same general method of producing heat under the ice surface is applied to the seating facilities to ensure excellence. 

PREVIOUS STUDIES OR RELATED INFORMATION:

            Recent investigation has shown that there are a few different locations that have now incorporated heated bench seats in there ice arenas. Previous studies have taken place and proven the effective result of conserving the energy produced and putting to other uses such as heating other buildings. The ice rink is generally frozen by circulation of a heat transfer fluid. This heat transfer fluid is usually methanol, glycol, and calcium chloride. (Caliskan & Hepbasli, 2010, p.1418) Another study has shown that the energy costs to operate an ice rink in Canada for 8 months are on average $86,000. (Mun & Krarti, 2011, p.1087) The improvement of energy performance to decrease costs is one of the main goals in this topic.

PLANS FOR DISSEMINATION OF WORK:

            Creating a blog for this proposal will ensure the information is being distributed into the eyes of other readers and researchers whom this topic interests. Circulating this proposal to arena faculty who carry out lots of seniority and interest will also open the door to other possibilities.

update

So after I contiuned some research, I've realized from a few different places that heated seating in arenas and sports facilities has already been developed. So I had to try and come up with a new propsal. I continued to look into it and then I came up with the fact that my question still remains, can you use the excess heat energy generated from under the ice surface and re direct it into bench seating? So I had a productive chat with my mentor, and I am going to continue with my topic just as a more defined question. I now know it is possible to create radiant heated seats, but is it still possible to save energy while providing this benefit! I have found some really interesting facts and I am almost finished with a new dwg that should help explain. I will post it up shortly.