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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - I-SOFT (Intelligent Electrochemical Cooling Water Softening System)

Teaser

Summary

Cooling Tower (CT) Water systems are widely used in industrial and commercial sectors to cool processes and HVAC systems. CT system cooling water must be treated to avoid scaling, corrosion and bio-contamination that cause high economic losses. Traditional water treatments, chemical additives and water blowdowns, are becoming obsolete. Chemical additives are hazardous and banned by increasingly stringent regulations. Blowdowns are unaffordable since water is becoming a precious resource. New technologies are needed to perform water treatment in an affordable and clean way.
Recently, electrochemical softening has appeared as a non-expensive and clean alternative. However, its widespread use is being ballasted by the lack of reliable monitoring systems, which optimizes the energy supplied to prevent corrosion. I-SOFT is a ground-breaking approach to on-line monitor the scaling events in the CT system with an innovative feedback control that regulates the power supply output, providing a full and highly accurate removal of scale and bio-fouling without promoting corrosion.
To take this innovation to the market, from February 1st until May 31th, 2019, UET carried out an extensive feasibility study for their innovative and intelligent electrochemical cooling water softening system. The objective was to address the feasibility of technical activities to ensure I-SOFT validation on different pilot trials, and enforce commercialization and exploitation strategy of the project by means of a FTO Analysis, a detail business plan and a financial feasibility assessment.

Work performed

We developed a technical feasibility to analyse the technical requirements to optimize I-SOFT. We defined a product plan to confirm technical scalability and its integration on the current UET-CT system. We also performed a detailed list of potential stakeholders in the Worldwide with the stage of negotiation. We currently have 1 patent under development and we have developed an IPR strategy covering IPR infringement, protection and exploitation of our product. We carried out a patent search analysis and we concluded that UET has not infringed on any established IP.
We developed a business feasibility assessment involved contacting key customers, end-users, and potential partners. In-depth interviews were carried out with all of these parties. This built up a picture of the customer pains, and the market where UET would enter. At first approximation, it is clear that the cooling tower water market is expanding, and the dependent users are critically unsupported by the current solutions.
Finally, we carried out a financial assessment in which we performed an in-depth cost/benefit analysis and we evaluated the total investment requirements to bring I-SOFT to the market.
For all that reasons, we conclude that the I-SOFT project is feasible and go therefore ahead with a Phase 2 preparation.

Final results

Phase1 Feasibility Study gave to our company the opportunity to expand the scope of our development, having a better understanding of clientÂ´s and competitorÂ´s needs. Also, we have acquired a better idea of our technical requirements and our IPR management. Now we have a more strategic approach to our commercial and dissemination activities, as well as a better relationship with potential partners and international business support organisations that will increase the reputation and visibility of our company.