MCE News Channel - 07/2023 en

c NEWS channel

N.7/23

energy efficiency - smartness - renewables - sustainability - comfort

Blue gold

It is the most widespread chemical compound in nature, covers two thirds of the Earth’s surface, and is indicated as the best candidate for the extraction of green hydrogen. And yet, for a quarter of the world’s population, access to water is still an extremely critical issue. It therefore follows that one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses on water — its availability and the efficiency of the infrastructures that ensure its drinkability and distribution. Clearly, there is still a lot to do. Aqueducts disperse on average 40% of the water they transport, and residential consumption is not always sufficiently parsimonious. Furthermore, for technical or industrial use, water often needs to undergo certain treatments so that the systems that rely on it do not suffer breakdowns or inefficiencies linked to the formation of unwanted substances. For each of these problems, there exists at least one solution, so why are we talking instead of acting? To an extent, the fault lies with the inertia of some institutions, with red tape that certainly does not help. Then, there is the economic question, perhaps the thorniest, which however fails to take into account the costs associated with the lack of action.

The recent Drinking Water Directive is a first significant step in the right direction, but it needs to be applied as soon as possible in order to start reaping its maximum benefits. The advantages are numerous and obvious. All that remains is to act!

Massimiliano Pierini Managing Director RX Italy

THE MCE – MOSTRA CONVEGNO EXPOCOMFORT NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO ENERGY TRANSITION

A THOUSAND USES, A SINGLE ELEMENT: WATER

Drinking water, a resource needing to be protected

With the publication of Italian Legislative Decree No. 18 of 23 February 2023, the so-called Drinking Water Directive, concerned with the regulation of the quality of water intended for human consumption, was transposed into Italian law.

A few words with...

Essentially, the directive establishes the minimum requirements for drinking water and regulates monitoring activities; it defines the sanctions for failure to comply with the regulatory parameters, and the minimum requirements for chemical reagents and active and passive filtering materials used in water treatment.

Aqua Italia – the association within Anima Confindustria that represents the manufacturers of plants, accessories, components and chemical products for the treatment of primary (non-waste) water for civil and industrial use and for swimming pools – has, ever since the start of the revision of directive 98/83/EC, collaborated with European and Italian bodies and institutions to achieve this important result.

The transposition of the directive is an important step forward in enhancing the value of Italian mains water, which is already known to be among the best in Europe in terms of quality and controls. This is an issue close to the heart of Aqua Italia, which aims to highlight the considerable benefits that water treatment can bring in terms of tap water consumption, hygiene and savings.

Fabrizio Leoni

THE DRINKING WATER DIRECTIVE ENSURES THAT THE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER IS OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD President of Aqua Italia

Drinking water directive: a health objective

Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption introduces not only a new approach to water safety but also new models of analysis and management of contamination risks, as it covers not only the natural but also the integrated water cycle.

The text of the directive establishes the minimum requirements that drinking water must meet, and the monitoring activities that must be carried out by drinking water managers, and by environmental and health authorities; it also defines the sanctions for failure to comply with the regulatory parameters, and lays down the minimum requirements for chemical reagents and active and passive filtering materials to be used in water treatment.

The transposition of the Drinking Water Directive

means greater protection both of the water supply chain, of which Assopompe represents a segment, and of the end user. Indeed, the new law aims to guarantee the entire population higher quality water, making use of modern tools to protect it up to the point of delivery. In particular, the text of the law establishes new limits for substances hazardous to health, including PFAS, chromium and chlorates; in addition, legionella checks are regulated and attention is paid to the quality of materials and products in contact with drinking water as sources of potential pollution.

In other words, thanks to the new directive, water checks now extend right up to our “front doors”, and thus cover a section of the delivery chain that, until now, was not subject to specific regulation.

President of Assopompe

Stefano Sampaolo

Water needs to be used properly, avoiding waste. It also needs to be treated according to its use in order to preserve and maximise system efficiency. There’s no shortage of solutions.

A thousand uses, a single element: water

Water is a valuable resource and must be managed as such. Whether it is to be used for technical purposes (as in air conditioning systems) or for the production of domestic hot water, it is imperative to avoid waste.

Ensuring clean water for all

What’s more, when it is introduced into pipes and systems, it should be appropriately treated in order to maximise the efficiency of the equipment. The necessary technologies exist, it’s just a case of applying them.

Cinzia Lori, Marketing & Technical Sales Support Manager, GF Piping Systems Italia

Access to clean drinking water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. Yet, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation (more than 25% of the world’s population) and about 3 billion have no adequate facilities to wash their hands safely at home.

In order to meet today’s needs, water management systems for human consumption must satisfy certain key criteria; at a global level, regulations and guidelines are currently in place for the management of water sup-

plies in buildings, such as the EU Directive 2020/2184 which has been implemented in Italy through Legislative Decree 2023/18.

One of GF Piping Systems’ goals as the world leading company in the sector has always been to help ensure the supply of clean water and to overcome the challenges posed by infrastructures through innovation. Our technologies can ensure safe and effective water management inside buildings, compliance with quality standards and the achievement of ESG goals.

Conscious training and information

Federica Fiore, Marketing Manager, Atlas Filtri

The issue of the intelligent use of water involves the whole society. The crucial aspect for everyone is to understand how the attentive and careful management of this resource is fundamental for a sustainable future.

As manufacturers of water filtration and treatment systems, Atlas Filtri wants to give its contribution to a water conscious society. We decided to invest in a training project that involves not only professionals with a dedicated path, but also a wider audience thanks to an integrated communication plan. We organise theoretical and practical courses, dealing with hot issues and new technologies, for training professionals in using the solutions delivered by our company as well as possible. At the same time, we promote a communication activity that can also reach end users thanks to its simple and understandable language. Our mission is to create solutions that contribute actively to awareness and concrete action, in order to ensure that respect for this vital resource becomes an integral part of our way of living and working. Our goal is to provide solutions and to make conscious actions a habit for everyone, so that each individual can contribute to the protection of water.

The importance of water treatment for air conditioning

If not properly treated, the technical water circulating in air conditioning systems may generate a series of problems related to poor quality.

First of all, the corrosion caused by aeration differences due to the fact that, in the presence of water, a layer of scale on a metal surface can lead to the formation of two zones (water/contaminants and contaminants/metal) with different oxygen content and different current flows that provoke the corrosion of metal surfaces. In addition, pump blocking and seizures can be caused by suspended particles that get stuck due to their particular geometry and to the magnetic fields generated by the pumps themselves.

Finally, fouling and scale accumulation can affect the yield of heat exchangers and significantly reduce fluid flow rates and transmittance values.

The treatment must also solve problems caused by the air trapped in hydronic systems, which can be annoying for users in terms of noise and poor water circulation. This phenomenon becomes particularly serious in radiant panel systems, but can also cause thermal imbalances and lower yield in radiators or fan coils.

Domenico Mazzetti, HVAC Product Marketing and After Sale Manager, Caleffi

Efficiency and sustainability, from an SDG perspective

Loris Giancotti, PMC Department Manager, EBARA Pumps Europe

Since the establishment of EBARA Pumps in 1912 by Issey Hatakeyama, we have been able to keep the founder’s passion and dedication in the development of pumping products and systems for each specific sector, from industrial and residential applications to drainage and water supply. We strive to meet the customers’ needs and contribute to the resolution of social and environmental issues, as indicated by UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG). Not only do we share these goals, but environmental and social sustainability is one of the principles on which the concrete objectives of the EBARA Group’s development plan (E-Vision 2030) are based. This is why it is essential for us to constantly invest in technological innovation and in quality with the aim of creating solutions that guarantee a responsible and sustainable use of natural resources. As a result, we can better face today’s challenges but also future ones, supporting the society and providing an important reference point for the industrial and domestic pump market.

Treating

Claudio Pinzi, Technical Advice & Academy Manager, Ivar

Water is an essential element for life and plays a fundamental role in many industrial and domestic processes. In addition to its importance for human consumption, water is also the most widely used heat carrier in HVAC systems. However, its quality, understood as the absence of contaminants or of other undesirable substances, greatly affects the efficiency and durability of hydronic systems.

Treating water means modifying its chemical-physical properties in order to improve its effectiveness in conveying thermal energy from the heat source to the terminal units, while preserving the integrity of the system. Ferrous contaminants, for example, can clog heat exchangers, insulating the system thermally and progressively reducing heat transfer until it needs to be replaced. Other coarser contaminants can clog control valves, while scale tend to reduce the free section of pipes, increasing the power consumption of circulators which also need to make a greater effort to keep the water moving. Corrosion is another common problem that can result from the presence of unwanted substances in water, such as dissolved oxygen and metal ions. Corrosion can damage pipes and other system components, causing leakage and requiring costly repairs. To treat the water it is possible to use physical devices, such as magnetic contaminant separators (which eliminate contaminants by settling and mesh filters and retain ferrous particles thanks to magnets), and chemical additives with different functions: anti-scale, anti-algae, anti-freeze agents, water pH modifiers, and so on.

In Italy, the aspects related to water treatment in winter and summer air conditioning systems, for the production of domestic hot water and in solar thermal systems are regulated by the UNI 8065 standard. This is a particularly important rule because it is referred to in the Ministerial Decree of 26 June 2015 (the so-called “minimum requirements decree”), which makes its application mandatory. So water treatment is required by law in hydronic systems.

The aforementioned decree correlates water quality with system efficiency. Investing in the best water treatment devices, such as the IVAR Dirtstop XL high-flow magnetic dirt separator, designed particularly for heat pumps, reduces the operating and maintenance costs of hydronic systems.

water is not just useful – it is essential

Innovations and materials for a better future

Andrea Franchi, Technical Director, Eurotis

Plumbing and heating systems play a crucial role in ensuring comfort in every building. The growing interest in sustainability and energy efficiency places the emphasis on technological improvements as well as the materials that can help increase the efficiency of such systems.

The replacement of old boilers with new energy-efficient models or the implementation of new technologies such as the heat pump are some of the most immediate and convenient actions that improve the efficiency of plumbing and heating systems. In addition, the integration of photovoltaic panels to heat domestic water or feed heating systems represents an eco-friendly approach that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of these systems.

In order to guarantee system efficiency, it is essential to rely on durable and high-performance materials. For example, the pipes used for connecting the various components play a fundamental role. The use of high quality materials, capable of withstanding high pressures and temperatures, and insulated with innovative materials, is essential to reduce heat loss and, consequently, improve the overall performance.

Eurotis is committed to delivering high-performance and safe products. Our CSST stainless steel piping systems for solar, water and gas systems are the result of the continuous research for solutions and constant development to support the work of plumbing and heating professionals. For example, the formability of our pipes makes it possible to bend them manually, thus drastically limiting the use of elbow fittings that considerable increase pressure drops. Often, in fact, the designer is obliged to increase the dimensions of pipes due to the pressure drop taking place through the system. We therefore believe that system efficiency can be obtained through an integrated approach, combining cutting-edge technologies and high-performance materials. Only in this way will we be able to give our contribution to a better future for the plumbing and heating sector.

Technological innovation for the good of all

Nadia Bosi, Sales Manager, Pucciplast

At Pucci we have always considered technologies as a means to create innovative products at the service of users and installers, with a particular attention to mitigating the impact on the environment.

The Oasis Green Innovation Award won by Pucciplast in 2019 recognises the production philosophy that has always characterised the company. This award is in fact reserved for companies that, in their specific field, contribute to environmental sustainability in an innovative way – the prize was awarded to Pucciplast for a cistern model intended mainly for public use – and pursue social responsibility in their production operations.

Our company’s commitment to water saving, one of the most sensitive environmental issues, dates back to the early 1990s when Pucci launched on the market ECO (meaning ECOlogy/ECOnomy), the first cistern in the world with a dual button, under the motto “Water, the gold of the future”.

We have thus paved the way for the rational use of water in the bathroom, promoting this philosophy with other products. For example, in 1995 the compact cistern for the discharge of maximum 6 liters, and today we are still the only ones to produce it.

We are therefore ready to implement all European and national directives aimed at saving water and protecting our common goods, for the benefit of the environment and the people.

Taking care of water quality

Sergio Bellano, Product Director with responsibility for Product Management and R&D, Watts Water Technologies

Water is a valuable and indispensable resource. It is life, agriculture, climate, home comfort. Water circulates in most of the air conditioning systems of our homes, heating or cooling the rooms where we live. It also enters our daily life as domestic hot water (DHW) to allow us to cook, wash, drink or, for the lucky ones, fill the swimming pool. We cannot fail to take care of it: it is necessary to treat water adequately so that the systems in our homes can become increasingly efficient and our comfort does not undergo sudden changes. Scale and contaminants occur naturally in mains water. We see it every day: every time we unscrew the faucet aerator or when the rivulets of water stain the shower. Filtration systems and dirt separators are particularly important for removing scale and contaminants and thus guarantee the reliability and durability of our air conditioning and DHW systems over time. For this reason it is necessary to treat the water with filters that effectively reduce scale and sediment buildup but, at the same time, do not require the addition of salts or chemicals. How? By installing the WHOF1 system upstream in combination with the OneFlow® system by Watts. In addition to this system, it is also important to install a dirt separator such as the DSPN magnetic threaded model which exploits the centrifugal force of water through a mechanical action, and separates any contaminant inside the closed heating circuit to prevent damage to the main components for the production of both domestic and heating hot water (such as circulators and heat exchangers in the first place).

More efficiency and tax deductions

Aroldo Berto, CEO GEL Spa

Drinking water meets the legal requirements, but its characteristics do not always guarantee the energy efficiency of the heating and plumbing systems in our homes. Fouling, scale and dirt can compromise the thermal and energy efficiency of boilers. Specific studies and tests have shown that by treating water it is possible to improve the efficiency of boilers by up to 18-20% and of heating systems up to 8-10%. Italy’s inter-ministerial decree of 2015 on the energy efficiency of new or renovated buildings makes the treatment of water destined for plumbing and heating systems mandatory, with the aim of improving their energy efficiency and environmental impact. In addition in Italy, water treatment solutions that increase energy efficiency benefit from tax deductions. For over 40 years, GEL has been committed to mitigating the impact on the environment through the high quality and effectiveness of its water treatment solutions. Only in this way is it possible to ensure the healthiness, efficiency and duration of plumbing and heating system. With this in mind, we have developed an innovative application for the remote control of the operating status of GEL products installed in homes and for monitoring water and energy consumption through the free “Gel Pocket Water” app (available for Android and iOS based systems).