Flooded plenum for surf pool

Abstract

A surf pool includes a surf basin; and a wave generator disposed on a first side of the surf basin and configured to generate waves travelling from the first side of the surf basin to an opposite second side of the surf basin, the wave generator comprising: a plenum configured to hold pressurized air; and a plurality of wave generating structures, wherein each wave generating structure comprises: a caisson defined by a plurality of caisson walls; one or more openings extending through one of the plurality of caisson walls and allowing water to move between the caisson and the plenum; a supply valve configured to release pressurized air from the plenum into the caisson to expel water from the caisson and into the surf basin; and a vent valve configured to release pressurized air from the caisson to draw water in to the caisson from the surf basin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surf pool comprising:  
       a surf basin; and 
       a wave generator disposed on a first side of the surf basin that is configured to generate waves that travel from the first side of the surf basin to a second side of the surf basin opposite the first side of the surf basin, the wave generator comprising:  
       a plenum configured to hold pressurized air; and  
       a plurality of wave generating structures, wherein each wave generating structure comprises:  
       a caisson defined by a plurality of caisson walls; 
       one or more openings extending through one of the plurality of caisson walls and allowing water to move between the caisson and the plenum; 
       a supply valve configured to release pressurized air from the plenum into the caisson to expel water from the caisson and into the surf basin; and  
       a vent valve configured to release pressurized air from the caisson to draw water in to the caisson from the surf basin. 
     
     
         2 . The surf pool of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum is defined by a plurality of concrete walls. 
     
     
         3 . The surf pool of  claim 1 , wherein the water moves between the caisson and the plenum through the one or more openings based on a pressure differential between the caisson and the plenum. 
     
     
         4 . The surf pool of  claim 3 , wherein the wave generator further comprises a gate provided at each of the one or more openings, each gate selectively repositionable between an open position to allow water flow through the corresponding opening and a closed position to prohibit water flow through the corresponding opening.  
     
     
         5 . The surf pool of  claim 4 , wherein each gate is an automated mechanical gate.  
     
     
         6 . The surf pool of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of blowers configured to keep the plenum supplied with pressurized air. 
     
     
         7 . The surf pool of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of blowers are positioned in a mechanical room disposed directly above the plenum. 
     
     
         8 . The surf pool of  claim 1 , further comprising piping directly connecting the plenum to the surf basin and allowing water to move therethrough between the plenum and the surf basin, and wherein the piping is in fluid communication with the surf basin via a basin opening and in fluid communication with the plenum via a plenum opening.  
     
     
         9 . The surf pool of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the plenum opening is positioned at a lower height than the basin opening; and   at least a portion of the piping defines a downward angle to encourage a flow of water from the surf basin to the plenum.    
     
     
         10 . The surf pool of  claim 9 , wherein the piping extends between the surf basin and the plenum beneath the caisson.  
     
     
         11 . The surf pool of  claim 9 , wherein the piping extends between the surf basin and the plenum within one of the plurality of the caisson walls.  
     
     
         12 . The surf pool of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the piping comprises a first piping segment and a second piping segment;    the first piping segment extends from a first end of the plenum and connects to a first end of the surf basin;   the second piping segment extends from a second end of the plenum, opposite the first end of the plenum, and connects to a second end of the surf basin, opposite the first end of the surf basin.    
     
     
         13 . A method of generating a wave in a surf pool, the method comprising: 
 providing a wave generator disposed at a first side of a surf basin, the wave generator comprising: 
 a plenum configured to hold pressurized air; and  
 a plurality of wave generating structures, wherein each wave generating structure comprising:  
 a caisson defined by a plurality of caisson walls; 
 a supply valve; and 
 a vent valve; 
   releasing pressurized air from the plenum into the caisson via the supply valve;   expelling water from the caisson and into the surf basin to generate the wave in the surf basin, the wave configured to travel from the first side of the surf basin to a second side of the surf basin opposite the first side;    releasing pressurized air from the caisson via the vent valve to draw water into the caisson from the surf basin; and   moving water from at least one of the surf basin and the caisson to the plenum to cool the plenum.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving water from at least one of the surf basin and the caisson to the plenum comprises moving water through one or more openings extending through one of the plurality of caisson walls. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:  
       the wave generator further comprises a gate provided at each of the one or more openings;  
       the method further comprises selectively repositioning each gate between an open position to allow water flow through a corresponding opening of the one or more openings and a closed position to prohibit water flow through the corresponding opening.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each gate is an automated mechanical gate.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the wave generator further comprises piping directly connecting the plenum to the surf basin;   the piping is in fluid communication with the surf basin via a basin opening and in fluid communication with the plenum via a plenum opening; and   the method further comprises drawing water into the plenum from the surf basin through the piping.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the plenum opening is positioned at a lower height than the basin opening; and   at least a portion of the piping defines a downward angle to encourage a flow of water from the surf basin to the plenum.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the piping extends between the surf basin and the plenum within one of the plurality of the caisson walls. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wave generator further comprises a plurality of blowers, and wherein the method further comprises supplying the plenum with pressurized air via the blowers.