This week marks 14 years since a very proud moment in my career: The official granting of a patent for a process I invented that has changed the face of an industry: Hydrosphere (also now known as ‘CPC’).
It’s no small thing to achieve a patent. It’s not just about having a good idea, it has to be something novel, and non-obvious (i.e. more than just a small tweak to something already out there) and capable of industrial application, and Hydrosphere achieved all three.
It comprises two concepts: HydroFill and HydroClean, which, when combined, work symbiotically to produce superior quality system water and long-lasting protection of brand new installations.
HydroFill means all the systems are pre-treated using our (also) patented pre-treatment equipment which prevents almost 100% of microbial life from entering a system. It protects and passivates new systems, from the first drop of water to the last.
HydroClean is the second part of the process – the conditioning equipment (HCUs) enables us to clean systems at BSRIA-specified velocity by removing all system debris through highly efficient cartridge media. All this whilst discharging no water to drain and completing projects in less time than all other methods for pre-commission cleaning systems.
The introduction of this closed-loop cleaning process (CPC) has marked a fundamental shift. Until Hydrosphere was invented, every water treatment company was flushing systems in an antiquated and archaic fashion. This meant throwing millions of litres of chemical effluent down the drain and spending an unnecessary amount of time on-site and causing long-term damage to pipework installations. Sadly some still do, which is odd because the benefits are hard to ignore:
1. Significant water savings
Closed-loop cleaning reduces overall water consumption compared with flushing to drain.
2. Smarter chemical use
Precise dosing and continuous monitoring mean minimal chemical usage and more effective cleaning outcomes.
3. Reduced environmental impact
No effluent is flushed to drain, which eliminates pollution and helps companies to meet stricter compliance requirements.
4. Improved system efficiency
This way of filling and cleaning systems is more effective; produces better and more reliable results; and delivers operational efficiently.
5. Safer operations
A contained process (the HydroFill rig) reduces operator exposure to chemicals and improves overall site safety.
As regulations tighten and sustainability targets become more demanding, approaches like CPC are becoming essential; and Hydrosphere licensed water treatment companies are also able to clean systems far quicker than other pre-commission cleaning methods – so, why would you do anything else?