nir-vana innovation network

Water hardness is a common quality of water which contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium, as well as other elements such as iron. Hard water causes damage, discomfort, and extra expense to businesses and homes and the treatment of hard water is an important part of mitigating long-term costs. Water also needs to be treated in swimming pools to remove bacteria but can cause eye and skin irritation.

A UK company has developed a new system for treating hard water, a problem which is currently formed when rain absorbs carbon dioxide as it falls to earth and percolates through the ground. The resulting acidity of the water causes normally insoluble calcium carbonate (chalk or limestone) to dissolve into a bicarbonate state. Thus calcium bicarbonate becomes part of the water chemistry, and can not be removed by simple filtration.

When hard water is heated some of the carbon dioxide is released resulting in a small amount of its calcium bicarbonate reverting back to a calcium carbonate state. As a result, precipitated hard crystals form onto the surface that caused their precipitation. As more water is introduced, further crystals form and build-up to produce scale.

The UK company has developed an electronic descaler or water conditioning system that offers limescale management for cooling/heating systems, wastewater optimisation and swimming pool conditioning.

The product is an electronic water conditioner that is applied externally to the pipe of the water system or equipment requiring protection against damaging limescale. Treatment is applied simply by wrapping a signal cable around the outside of a pipe to form a coil. A range of units are available to cover pipe sizes from 8 mm to 1250 mm. No cutting into the pipework or additional plumbing is required.

Using modern microprocessors and signal processing techniques, the UK company's system produces a complex, frequency modulated waveform. When these frequencies are applied, an oscillating electric field is induced into the water resulting in agitation of water molecules sufficient to trigger the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting in the premature precipitation of calcium bicarbonate. Because precipitation occurs in the bulk of the water, the crystals seed onto other naturally occurring ions in the water, such as zinc. Their size and shape bear no physical resemblance to those formed in untreated water and they remain in suspension until discharged to drain.

This process naturally results in a tiny increase in solubility, which allows the now unsaturated water to dissolve existing scale deposits and remove them from the water system. Even deposits on the outside of the water system, on bathroom fittings for example, will soften with regular contact with treated water resulting in easier cleaning without the use of chemicals.

They are seeking hotel or leisure centre operators with swimming pools, marine operators and wastewater companies to use the system via commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Advantages & innovations

The system is non-chemical, non-invasive, uses no consumables and low energy. The product prevents limescale as well as removing pre-existing fouling. The physical water treatment system offers: 1) limescale management in both heating and cooling systems for the benefits of: - energy efficiency - water savings - asset life maximisation - Legionella mitigation 2) wastewater treatment optimisation – providing: - dewatering improvements using less polymer - reducing tankering costs - mineral fouling removal and prevention - Improving heating & cooling equipment - biomethane yield improvement from anaerobic digesters. 3) swimming pool conditioning: - reduce swimming pool maintenance by up to 50% - reduce the use of chlorine by at least 35% - reduced energy used to heat pool. - reduce turbidity even with reduced need for filter backwashes - water savings with reduced backwashing. - remove scum deposits from the pool edge. - return stainless steel fittings to their former pristine condition. - remove limescale and hence bacteria from within the swimming pool plant. - reduced need for chemicals to maintain pH balance. 4) marine industry – protecting: - fresh water hot and cold services, - swimming pools, - air-con chiller systems - seawater cooling for engines, electricity generators and freshwater generators

Stage of development

Already on the market

Partner sought

Type: Industry Activity of partner: Leisure centre or hotel owner/maritime operator/wastewater treatment centre Specific role of partner sought: Adoption of the technology to treat their water systems or swimming pools via commercial agreement with technical assistance.