Fluid Dynamics scale-prevention technology validated by GSA Green Proving Ground study

June 18, 2015

A water scale-prevention technology new to the US, but proven in Europe for more than 40 years, has been validated by a General Services Administration Green Proving Ground study.

Developed by Fluid Dynamics, the proprietary technology was proven effective as a salt-free, no-chemical, no-power solution to the problem of calcium deposits due to “hard water” – a serious and growing issue for residential, commercial and industrial water users alike.

“Scale build-up is a serious problem and getting worse, and traditional attempts of dealing with hard water have proven ineffective, costly or environmentally damaging,” said Rob James, Chief Visionary Officer for Fluid Dynamics USA. “This GSA study confirms for North America what we already knew from a million-plus installations worldwide – the simplest design is usually the best solution,” he said.

Traditional hard water approaches rely on complex systems using chemicals, salts or electromagnetic energy. In contrast, the Fluid Dynamics solution is totally green, and as simple as it is effective. The catalytic technology is integrated into the line carrying the water, which flows over a proprietary metal alloy where turbulence causes calcium and carbonate to bond together to form aragonite instead of calcite. The aragonite remains suspended in the water instead of bonding to surfaces as it does with calcite.

The GSA field study was conducted during 2013-2014 by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It confirmed that Fluid Dynamics’ unique technology not only prevents scale build-up, it actually eliminates prior scaling over a period of time.

The study focused on the issue of hard water in water heating systems, where calcium deposits cause serious problems ranging from increased energy usage to outright system failure. The complete report is available at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/211883, with the effectiveness of the technology confirmed by the report’s conclusion:

"The technology has demonstrated its effectiveness in this study, and should be considered for adoption by GSA facilities that are experiencing scaling issues in water heating systems,” the report stated. The report also noted the simple payback period was less than one year.

Another unique benefit of the Fluid Dynamics technology is the wide range of sizes and applications. From a 1/2” residential water line to a 48” industrial system, the same concept works across the board.

Fluid Dynamics’ scale prevention products have been sold in the UK and Europe since 1973, and available in North America since 2009. The product range has been marketed under the names Scaletron, Limetron, Housetron and Colloid-A-Tron, and the company is currently finalizing new branding identification which will be introduced in the immediate future.

Fluid Dynamics is the world's oldest and largest manufacturer of catalytic hard water treatment and scale prevention systems, with global offices located in the UK and North American headquarters in Atlanta, GA. For more information visit scalepreventionusa.com or call toll free 844-966-7225.

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For More Information

Matt Taylor

844-966-7225

matt@scaleprevention.com

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About the GSA Green Proving Ground Program

GSA’s Green Proving Ground (GPG) program represents an innovative response to Executive Order 13514. To meet target sustainability goals and enable the realization of net zero buildings, federal agencies must develop effective ways of reducing energy use. GPG leverages GSA’s real estate portfolio to evaluate innovative sustainable building technologies and provide recommendations on their deployment. By devoting research to technologies in the pre- or early-commercial stages of development, GPG facilitates and accelerates the transition between bench-scale technology and commercial viability.

In the product development cycle for new technologies, one of the biggest hurdles involves moving from an early working model to a proven commercial product; few building owners are willing to risk being the test case for an unproven new product, and first users frequently face higher costs than those who wait and adopt a proven technology later on. GPG seeks to absorb some of this risk by using its building portfolio as a test bed for new technologies in order to recommend deployment strategies towards achieving ambitious energy-saving goals.

Working with DOE’s National Laboratories, GPG evaluates technologies in a real-world context. Project reports are developed by the combined efforts of GPG and the national laboratories and provide credible, detailed information about product performance that is pivotal in determining the technology’s success in the marketplace.The Green Proving Ground program has 23 ongoing technology evaluations in buildings across the country. Eighteen results have been published to date. For more information visit http://gsa.gov/portal/category/102575.