The 4 SME Participants in the INTELLIPOOL project – ULTRAAQUA, VES, Electrocell and Swan aim to develop technology solutions to eliminate the severe adverse health effects caused by chlorinated disinfection by-products (DBP) in recreational bathing water facilities and simultaneously save energy, chemicals and water associated with pool water sanitation. We will create a toolbox of analytical/design methods and novel treatment systems including an innovative intelligence driven sanitation control system based on a dynamic model tailorable to each installation. To achieve our objective we will develop knowledge with of the kinetics of, disinfection microbiology, DBP formation chemistry, and construct a flexible hydrodynamics modeling method of pools with these kinetics embedded. This knowledge will be translated into a radically improved treatment concept responding dynamically via optimized real-time control systems and treatment process interfaces. It will use a novel photocatalytic reactor integrated into energy recovery air conditioning to destroy airborne DBP’s and a combination of on-site chlorine electrolysis, energy-efficient filtration, UV technology, air stripping, smart sensors and control technology to reduce water borne DBP’s. This represents a paradigm shift compared to current chemical and energy intensive practices and targets markets worth in excess of €100 million (2010) in the EU, €4.3Bn in US and €12.6 Bn in Middle East
Whilst the SMEs form a complete supply chain for the manufacturing and commercialization of the INTELLIPOOL concept we have neither the facilities nor the resources to undertake the R&D. The R4SMEs funding provides a vehicle for outsourcing the complex R&D to 4 RTO’s – DHI, University of Heidelberg, Leitat and BHRVP. The foreground intellectual property generated will be owned and exploited by the SMEs who will benefit from sales and licensing of IPR, generating >€40 million in revenue over a 5-years.