Dalkia and EDF Sign Research Partnership with CSTB

Dalkia and EDF have signed a research partnership with France’s scientific and technical centre for the construction industry (CSTB) covering the causes and methods of preventing scale deposits in heating and hot water systems. The five-year partnership will carry out fundamental, active research on physical treatment solutions designed to limit the scale formation, which causes the majority of problems affecting hot water systems today. Targeted treatment solutions will help to protect the environment by enabling significant energy savings and reducing the use of chemicals.

There has so far been very little specific research into the problem of scale build-up, even though generic studies have already been carried out in an attempt to clarify how it forms. The partnership between Dalkia, EDF and CSTB will provide a better understanding of the issue and will develop research into innovative solutions to effectively combat scale. The partnership also aims to involve other stakeholders interested in the issue to create research consortia. Research work will be carried out at the CSTB Carnot Institute, a separate entity dedicated to CSTB research activities.

Partnering an established public body like CSTB will allow Dalkia and EDF to identify innovative more environmentally friendly solutions with a view to ensuring their customers improved energy performance and major savings. The annual cost of damage to hot water tanks in France is estimated at more than €400 million. Putting in place effective treatment solutions to combat scale could extend the lifespan of hot water tanks and reduce their renewal rate.

The partnership is in line with CSTB’s drive to pursue scientific research into sustainable water management to reduce the impact of human development and promote sustainable buildings and cities. CSTB covers everything from system components inside buildings, such as plumbing and related accessories, to infrastructure for entire districts, including waste water treatment processes and underground waste water and storm water drainage. It provides outstanding testing resources—embodied by leading research facility AQUASIM—and digital simulation tools to characterise and optimise the sanitary, environmental and mechanical performance of different water management systems.

The open research partnership also provides scope for other organisations to join testing initiatives in the next few months.

Source: Dalkia