Current Research

In a recent update on THERMOPHASE™, we are doing work for the Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation via a side-by-side comparison of Dupont Filmtec Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filters. One filter was treated with THERMOPHASE™ while the other was left untreated. After running seawater in an enhanced fouling environment through these filters, the side with THERMOPHASE™ had reduced differential pressure. While running the same pressures on both sides, the side with THERMOPHASE™ had considerable more flow through it. THERMOPHASE™ is gaining major steam in the utility and industrial sectors. The nano-coating is designed to prevent fouling, improve thermal efficiency, and reduce maintenance and emissions. It has been applied to various heat exchangers, such as condensers, chillers, plates, and frames. While in use over 24 months at a 770 MW thermal power plant, THERMOPHASE™ enabled millions in cost savings, slashed emissions and cut water usage - plus additional reductions in ash, NOx, SOx, Hg, ammonia, lime and activated carbon. The results are validated in a DOE/NETL study, as mentioned below.

DOE/NETL Research

An example of the success of THERMOPHASE™ includes data presented in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE) / National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). This data was gathered in research of THERMOPHASE™ being applied to membrane filters, specifically. The analysis is directly from plant historical (DCS) and includes five years of operation prior to THERMOPHASE™, and two years of operation with THERMOPHASE™.
This chart summarizes that, over a two-year period, using THERMOPHASE™ saved 1.3 billion gallons of water, emitted 136 million less pounds of CO2, and saved $3.35 million in fuel costs (Note: does not include SOx and lime reductions, NOx and Ammonia reductions, Hg and ACI reductions, less ash produced, less chemistry for water used, and water discharged). The graphs on the left represent various measurements taken over a five year window of the experiment. The numerical benefits of THERMOPHASE™ described above area clearly shown. The product also showed to reduce cooling tower fill fouling during the application. There is a Department of Energy link to the report for this application on the OSTI.gov website. EPRI validated THERMOPHASE™'s heat transfer success that we have seen in heat exchangers, chillers and condensers on industrial and utility installations including the 770MW DOE/NETL funded multi-year test data. Other benefits from THERMOPHASE™ we have seen such as fouling prevention (significant data from other tests) and cooling tower fouling prevention (as seen at 770MW unit) were not a part of the EPRI testing, but it was stated they could not get the tubes to foul with THERMOPHASE™ in the EPRI testing.

local Hospital Research

Another impressive example comes from a local hospital, where the borescope shows major fouling in twelve months without THERMOPHASE™, and then with THERMOPHASE™, really none for two years!
Borescope Image of Fouled Chiller Tube One Year after Operation
Borescope Image of Chiller Tube One Year after THERMOPHASE™ application without cleaning