Wave pools work like modern flush toilets, with two compartments and a hydraulic piston pushing out water to create waves. The pools are efficient and recycle water, but the waves must be dissipated to prevent injury.
It’s not often that the perfect analogy falls into place, but in the case of wave pools, we have one. In essence, wave pools work on the same principles as another hydraulic and fluid dynamics engineering feat: the modern flush toilet. Your favorite water park might not care for this analogy, but it’s surprisingly apt and illustrative.
Just like modern flush toilets, wave pools consist of two separate compartments. There is a holding tank filled with clean water supplied by external lines and a separate tank filled with… let’s just say swimmers. A plug closes the drain hole at the bottom of the collection tank, at least until a hydraulic piston pushes the plug out and the water flows out with considerable force.
The secret behind these pools lies in what happens next. The water is first directed downwards, then into a channel with a curled back lip. This causes the water to crash into the retaining wall between the two tanks. The impact of this incident, combined with the rising water level, causes a wave to form. It is this wave that moves through the pool area, eventually crashing into the shallow end.
The wave pools are extraordinarily efficient. Part of the water from each wave cycle remains in the tank, while the rest is recovered in side channels which lead back to the collection tank. As a wave cycle occurs, feed lines fill the holding tank. The number of waves possible on an average day depends on how quickly the tank can recover. Some pools can be restored in minutes.
There are some differences between wave pools and other water park attractions. The water in these pools is usually not as chlorinated as that in a standard pool, as the water is recycled more often. The gradual fading of wave pools is also not accidental. Without the choking effect created when the water approaches land, the waves could crash violently on unsuspecting guests. The wave energy must be dissipated.
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