Product category:
Heating Systems, Controls and Management
News Release from: Sentinel Performance Solutions | Subject: GASTEC research
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 September 2005
Chemical water treatment in domestic
heating
Sentinel publishes first ever independent research relating to energy efficiency of using chemical water treatment in domestic heating systems.
Sentinel, the UK's leading chemical water treatment provider for domestic heating systems, has published extracts from the first ever independent research programme into the benefits of chemical water treatment - to their knowledge, anywhere in the world - undertaken on their behalf by GASTEC The research confirms that sludge build up in radiators on a normal domestic heating system can reduce their effectiveness by up to 15%
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 6 Mar 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Chemical water treatment in domestic heating
Sentinel publishes first ever independent research on the benefits of chemical water treatment in domestic heating systems.
Sentinel range available via Energysmart scheme
Sentinel's range of central heating water treatment products is now available through the EnergySmart Scheme.
In addition, it says that proper cleansing of a system using a chemical additive to 'break-up' sludge deposits combined with a power-flush of the system will result in greater uniformity of radiator temperature and result in less risk of system hydraulic imbalance.
This is turn should lead to an increase in overall boiler energy efficiency of 2% - an increase that is substantial enough to turn a boiler effectively operating within SEDBUK Band 'B' (between 88-90%) into an operational Band 'A' boiler.
There is considerable evidence that many installers do not correctly flush out domestic heating systems when they are upgrading the system hardware, controls or replacing the boiler.
Further reading
Ultrawarm installers concentrate on job in hand
Sentinel water treatment concentrate products have seen impressive sales as more and more installers are converted to their use by the ease of application to a heating system.
New approach to training from Sentinel
Sentinel new e-learning training package for installers designed to help them save time, reduce call backs to jobs and to help them offer the most energy efficient solutions possible.
Sentinel boost life expectancy of properties
New central heating systems being installed in 2,750 properties will have an extended lifespan, improved fuel efficiency and lower running costs, thanks to Sentinel products.
Many boiler replacements - and there are more than 1 million of these a year in the UK - are currently sponsored or part supported by Government grants, either directly or indirectly, and there is an understandable fear from Government and from those agencies responsible for overseeing energy efficiency improvements, that the absence of such flushing is degrading the value of the new boiler installations.
The brief for the research was to gain a greater understanding of the problems that inadequate cleaning and treatment of systems may cause, to quantify the loss in energy that may arise as a result and to quantify the consequential gain that can be expected from - and which is directly attributable to - correct cleaning and inhibiting of systems utilising the company's product range.
It is important to stress that the research relates to the use of Sentinel products - not chemical water treatment products per se - as many of the products on the marketplace are recognised as being of vastly inferior quality, with very little active chemical ingredient.
Indeed some products are as much as 97% water, just 3% chemical content, and these products will clearly not have the impact that quality products with a far higher percentage of active ingredient will have on a system.
The research project was based around a purpose-built replica of a simple domestic installation, comprising a 11kW condensing boiler and five radiators at two levels.
The radiators were all extended surface single panel units and fitted with two lockshield valves.
The hydraulic load of the system was accurately balanced.
Although the research became more complex as it proceeded to address a wider range of situations, the original concept of the research programme was to start with a clean system and determine its thermal efficiency.
The system would then be fouled wit the addition of sludge taken from existing central heating systems and the effect of this on thermal efficiency would be measured.
A new boiler would then be fitted, and the new efficiency level measured.
This would be the equivalent of retrofitting a new boiler without power flushing the system.
Then the system would be power flushed and again the performance with the new boiler would be measured.
Finally, corrosion inhibitor would be added and a long-term study of the performance of the system would take place.
Sentinel's Mark Walker is understandably delighted that the research programme has proved what the company has been saying for many years about the energy efficiency effects of quality chemical water treatment products: "We now have indisputable proof that using the correct chemical water treatment products, in conjunction with a quality power flush system such as our Sentinel Jetflush 4 unit, has a significant and measurable effect on energy efficiency in domestic heating and hot water systems.
Using quality products will provide an important extra efficiency boost to a system.
"We're delighted that the Energy Saving Trust has been so impressed with the research we have undertaken and we hope to be announcing soon the results of some work we have been doing with the EST that will see them recognising in a tangible way, the importance of chemical water treatment products.".
• Sentinel Performance Solutions: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
