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TL Wave Pool Malfunctions
- Thread starter GeneralKnowledge
- Start date
Kamikaze
Well-Known Member
I'm not doubting that you were reporting what you saw. I am doubting, however, that the wood is somehow part of the wave machine. That is where you made your incorrect assumption.
Rob562
Well-Known Member
Warning... I'm making an assumption here. (Though I believe an educated one) 
The wave machine in Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool has two parts to it. The first part produces the small, bobbing waves. It's what your typical wave pool has. It's essentially a large paddle underwater that moves forward and backward to create the bobbing waves.
The second part creates the large surfing waves. This is set up like a giant toilet. Behind the large fake wooden wall (note, that wall of timbers is FAKE, and thus is not the source of the wood) are large concrete water chambers. These have water constantly running into them to fill them. At a set time, a very large valve at the bottom of all each chamber opens up, and the water drains out very quickly, down through a channel and into the pool, just like your home toilet does. (It's no coincidence that the loud "fwoom" you hear before each wave sound very much like the start of a large toilet flushing)This surge of water creates the large waves.
Chances are, the wood did *not* come from the tanks. These tanks are all concrete, with whatever metal the valves are made of. No wood at all. I suppose it COULD be from a service walkway or something that came loose, but a board like that could jam and severely damage the valves, so I doubt they'd continue to run the large waves.
My guess is that the wooden debris came from the paddle(s) that create the bobbing waves. Perhaps one of the paddles wasn't "parking" itself properly, and the rush of water from the tanks caused a loose board or two to break off. The paddles do not support anything structurally, and are just there to provide the smaller waves. And because there's a restricted area up by the wall, there's no chance of a swimmer getting near the loose boards. But when a board came loose in the pool, they'd have to stop the waves and fish out the debris. Plus, there's grills underwater between the pool itself and the wave chambers. So most debris would be kept inside. What you saw were probably little bits that made their way out through the grill, and perhaps the very random board that angled itself just right to float out through the grill intact.
They probably sent divers out there tonight after the park closed to repair the paddles.
EDIT:
Here's a video showing Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool mechanics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ges4Amqoo
-Rob
The wave machine in Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool has two parts to it. The first part produces the small, bobbing waves. It's what your typical wave pool has. It's essentially a large paddle underwater that moves forward and backward to create the bobbing waves.
The second part creates the large surfing waves. This is set up like a giant toilet. Behind the large fake wooden wall (note, that wall of timbers is FAKE, and thus is not the source of the wood) are large concrete water chambers. These have water constantly running into them to fill them. At a set time, a very large valve at the bottom of all each chamber opens up, and the water drains out very quickly, down through a channel and into the pool, just like your home toilet does. (It's no coincidence that the loud "fwoom" you hear before each wave sound very much like the start of a large toilet flushing)This surge of water creates the large waves.
Chances are, the wood did *not* come from the tanks. These tanks are all concrete, with whatever metal the valves are made of. No wood at all. I suppose it COULD be from a service walkway or something that came loose, but a board like that could jam and severely damage the valves, so I doubt they'd continue to run the large waves.
My guess is that the wooden debris came from the paddle(s) that create the bobbing waves. Perhaps one of the paddles wasn't "parking" itself properly, and the rush of water from the tanks caused a loose board or two to break off. The paddles do not support anything structurally, and are just there to provide the smaller waves. And because there's a restricted area up by the wall, there's no chance of a swimmer getting near the loose boards. But when a board came loose in the pool, they'd have to stop the waves and fish out the debris. Plus, there's grills underwater between the pool itself and the wave chambers. So most debris would be kept inside. What you saw were probably little bits that made their way out through the grill, and perhaps the very random board that angled itself just right to float out through the grill intact.
They probably sent divers out there tonight after the park closed to repair the paddles.
EDIT:
Here's a video showing Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool mechanics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ges4Amqoo
-Rob
mousermerf
Account Suspended
A) I see wooden planks sitting atop the chambers in that video. They're probably there so they can walk across them or some other maitenance thing. They're not structural - they're just sitting across them.
B) Not all of the tanks are used during a regular day. They only really use the full power of the wave machine when they're dealing with professional surfers. It's very possible that a tank was being worked on while the others were operating. They can create custome waves that crash certain ways and have certain heights so surfers can train. My fave is the one that starts from each end and comes to a big giant peak at the middle of the pool.
Taking those points into consideration, i'd say it's just as likely for you to see a paint can pop up if someone dropped it while working on the area near the top of the tanks.
B) Not all of the tanks are used during a regular day. They only really use the full power of the wave machine when they're dealing with professional surfers. It's very possible that a tank was being worked on while the others were operating. They can create custome waves that crash certain ways and have certain heights so surfers can train. My fave is the one that starts from each end and comes to a big giant peak at the middle of the pool.
Taking those points into consideration, i'd say it's just as likely for you to see a paint can pop up if someone dropped it while working on the area near the top of the tanks.
JasonP
Active Member
haha that's true. I like your definition of falling apart!
007mickey
Well-Known Member
Great video Rob!!! Never knew it was so much like a toilet...well, at least in some aspects.
Space Mountain
Well-Known Member
I'll look into the problem, but chances are.. 1. It is from one of the platforms on top the chambers, or 2. its not "wood" and it is debris from the trees.
Mr.EPCOT
Active Member
The topic of discussion here is Typhoon Lagoon, dry humor will not be tolerated.
:hammer:
I actually said that the wood was coming out of the wave release channels. I also never said there was any imminent danger of anything collapsing as that is absurd. I am a structural engineer and believe me nothing that is a crucial structural element in that entire park is made of wood, beside the railings and foot bridges. There was wood coming out of the wave machine....Im sure it was not part of the actual machine since all it is is a pump with elevated tanks. As you can see in the video it was most likely the wood slats going across the top of the tanks, which is actually what I said in my original post. Thank you for being so impolite with your attacking posts though.
I wasn't assuming it was part of the machine, only that it was coming from the machine, which it most definitely was.
Thanks for looking into it. It definitely wasn't tree debris though, it was definitely dimensioned lumber, mostly 1x4's and one 2x4.
Now that I've seen the video, that is probably what it came from, unless there is some other maintenance platform around. Even though they aren't crucial structural members, its still pretty bad show to allow the to deteriorate to the point that they are falling apart and into the wave tanks. Very un-disney-like if you ask me.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
I thought the "wood" at the wave end of the pool, was the usual fibre glass, cement and concrete? :shrug:
That said there's nothing worse when your swimming than dodging floaters.
That said there's nothing worse when your swimming than dodging floaters.
It is, this is some behind the scenes wood, not the wall at the end of the pool.
Logic and reason will not be tolerated. You should know better than that Rob.Warning... I'm making an assumption here. (Though I believe an educated one)
The wave machine in Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool has two parts to it. The first part produces the small, bobbing waves. It's what your typical wave pool has. It's essentially a large paddle underwater that moves forward and backward to create the bobbing waves.
The second part creates the large surfing waves. This is set up like a giant toilet. Behind the large fake wooden wall (note, that wall of timbers is FAKE, and thus is not the source of the wood) are large concrete water chambers. These have water constantly running into them to fill them. At a set time, a very large valve at the bottom of all each chamber opens up, and the water drains out very quickly, down through a channel and into the pool, just like your home toilet does. (It's no coincidence that the loud "fwoom" you hear before each wave sound very much like the start of a large toilet flushing)This surge of water creates the large waves.
Chances are, the wood did *not* come from the tanks. These tanks are all concrete, with whatever metal the valves are made of. No wood at all. I suppose it COULD be from a service walkway or something that came loose, but a board like that could jam and severely damage the valves, so I doubt they'd continue to run the large waves.
My guess is that the wooden debris came from the paddle(s) that create the bobbing waves. Perhaps one of the paddles wasn't "parking" itself properly, and the rush of water from the tanks caused a loose board or two to break off. The paddles do not support anything structurally, and are just there to provide the smaller waves. And because there's a restricted area up by the wall, there's no chance of a swimmer getting near the loose boards. But when a board came loose in the pool, they'd have to stop the waves and fish out the debris. Plus, there's grills underwater between the pool itself and the wave chambers. So most debris would be kept inside. What you saw were probably little bits that made their way out through the grill, and perhaps the very random board that angled itself just right to float out through the grill intact.
They probably sent divers out there tonight after the park closed to repair the paddles.
EDIT:
Here's a video showing Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool mechanics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ges4Amqoo
-Rob
:lol:
k.hunter30
New Member
Then if you really want to pick apart something, pick apart that fact that he's guessing where the wood came from, not whether or not what he describes would be considered "falling apart."
Sorry, I just get tired of people jumping at the chance to correct other people's posts for the sake of... well... I'll just stop there.
Thank you, every time I post on here, rather than generating useful discussion, all I get is people trying to tell me I'm wrong. Maybe people take me as a newbie since I only have ~60 posts, but I've been around here for almost a decade. Not to mention, I've been visiting the Disney Parks for over 20 years and go almost every weekend.
Space Mountain
Well-Known Member
^Kind of like how I post new information and a few days later someone else posts it like it was never seen before...
jmvd20
Well-Known Member
Sorry,... but he specifically stated
I simply stated that a few pieces of wood does not imply anything is falling apart. After that statement the op then said
Therefore the OP is the one debating what is considered falling apart, not myself...
Then you stated:
I also grow tired of people trying to correct others posts incorrectly, thus the need for me to correct your post correctly...
jmvd20
Well-Known Member
Right... My "impolite" and "attacking" posts... Funny how I am impolite and attacking when I merely pointed out the "fact" that a few pieces of wood in a pool does not mean that "the wave pool is falling apart" as you stated...
Even after all of this I must admit that I do like, and completely agree with your signature!
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Come now, light the candles, hold hands, start swaying rhythmically, incense on the breeze, start humming that old Coke © tune................................
c'mon even the boring people can join in.
c'mon even the boring people can join in.
cmatt
Active Member
Ahh theres the problem...I actually forgot about that post...that statement was a sarcastic exaggeration in an attempt to get people to respond to the topic. Of course the pool isn't gonna collapse or anything, I have said this many times since then.
Thank you very much. I actually have a T-shirt that says that on it. Its so true isn't it.