Zeta Rod Blog

US Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research & Development Center Reports 20% Water Savings in Cooling Towers with Zeta Rod

From July 2007 to September 2008 the US Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)conducted an independent and thorough comparative study between the Zeta Rod and a conventional chemical water treatment program for cooling towers. Two sites were chosen for the study, Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, and Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ.

The study looked at corrosion, scale and biofouling control as the parameters to be used as the metric to evaluate both programs, however, the ERDC had a special interest in water saving capabilities in order to meet requirements set by Executive Order 13423 regarding water conservation. 

This study was also the launching platform for the Zeta Water Management System, which allows remote control, data logging and monitoring of a cooling tower.

The Abstract of the report reads:

 The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has a specific legislative mandate to increase its conservation of water and energy. It also is interested in improving the effectiveness of open-loop, cooling water treatment processes at its installations worldwide, for purposes of extending the useful life of evaporative cooling equipment and reducing energy use/costs. A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) was approved to demonstrate that, without using chemical additives, a capacitor-based water treatment system is capable of (1)providing equivalent protection to a chemical treatment program in preventing scale, corrosion, and bio-fouling; (2) allowing cooling systems to be operated in an enhanced water conservation mode; (3) delivering measurable reductions in water usage over conventional methods; and (4)providing control, monitoring, and wireless data transfer via the Internet.

Results documented in the subsequent demonstration and evaluation project showed the technology was able to meet every objective and also was able to deliver a 20% reduction in cooling water use over standard chemical treatment methods.

Application of this technology would allow the DoD to (1) reduce chemical usage, exposure, and disposal expenses; (2) conserve water and energy; (3) facilitate water re-use; and (4) meet new goals for conservation of resources.

The complete report can be read and downloaded by going to the following link.

 

Another Satisfied Customer

We received the following unsolicited email from a residential customer in Scottsdale, AZ:

Dear Zeta,

I wanted to write to you and thank you for your wonderful product!  After using it for several months now, I noticed that my pipes were beginning to clear out.  I discovered this because the screens in my faucets started collecting debris and had to be cleaned out repeatedly for a short period of time.  I’ve also noticed that I’m not getting the hard water buildup in my showers like before.  The water here in Scottsdale is extremely hard, and I struggled with it for years.  Now, while I still get some white spotting, none of it sticks!  I’m able to clean the glass and faucets right off with no trouble at all.  Also, it’s nice to be saving the considerable amount of time and money I was spending for the lease and maintenance of my old salt water softener.    

I would highly recommend this product for anyone’s home.  Thank you Zeta!

Regards,

Heidi Bryant

Scottsdale, AZ

The internet has many web forums in which people ask for opinions on several topics. The Zeta Rod has been questioned in several of these forum. Usually negative opinions are given by "trade experts" who have not used, or tested a Zeta Rod. Their opinions are based on their "previous experiences". However, those who have used the Zeta Rod have positive comments about the technology, such as the following entry that was made in one of those forums:

• Posted by dtrimmer (My Page) on

  Tue, Jul 14, 09 at 20:27

I think a lot of the criticism of the Zeta Rod system on this forum has been a bit unfair. First, I have no association of any kind with Zeta Rod. I don't sell or install water conditioning equipment. I do have a degree in chemistry. First, Zeta Rod DOES NOT claim to remove calcium and other dissolved minerals from your water. In fact, they have been very clear that they DO NOT remove anything. Therefore, and chemical test of water that has been conditioned with a Zeta Rod system will have exactly the same chemical composition as the water prior to the test. If you collect some Zeta Rod conditioned water and let it dry, you will get a deposit -- again, exactly what Zeta Rod states. What Zeta Rod DOES claim to do is to keep minerals dissolved in the water, so that they do not precipitate on (coat for the non-chemists) pipes, dishes, sinks, etc. (at least prior to the water evaporating). Zeta Rod also claims that any scale present due to evaporation will be easier to remove than normal scale. I have been using a Zeta Rod system for almost two years and my experience is that both of Zeta Rod's claims are true. Here are the trade-offs between a Zeta Rod and a traditional water softener; at least as I see them: 1. A Zeta Rod system may have a higher installation cost, but a lower operating cost. 2. In municipalities where traditional water softeners are not allowed, the Zeta Rod is a LOT better than nothing. 3. A traditional water softener will remove metals from your water -- the Zeta Rod will not. However, the Zeta Rod does appear to prevent the metals from depositing on pipes and other surfaces (as long as the water is not allowed to evaporate). During the first few months of use, the Zeta Rod also appears to remove any existing scale that has built up on pipes. Based on my personal experience, the Zeta Rod appears to be MORE effective than a salt based water softener at preventing scale buildup on pipes. 4. While the Zeta Rod does not remove anything from the water, it also does not add anything to the water. A traditional water softener replaces metals (usually calcium and magnesium) with sodium and/or potassium, depending on the kind of salt used with the water softener. 5. A traditional water softener should prevent water spots. A Zeta Rod will not prevent water spots. 6. The Zeta Rod system is MUCH smaller than a salt based water softener. If I had to install a new system and salt based water softeners were legal in my area, it would be a pretty close call for me. I would probably opt for the Zeta Rod system because of lower operating costs, smaller size and not lower maintenance (don't have to mess with bags of salt). Cheers, Don

 

Zeta Rod and Tankless Water Heaters

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from potential residential Zeta Rod customers is whether the Zeta Rod will help protect their Tankless Water Heater from scaling. The answer is: "Yes, the Zeta Rod will prevent scale deposits from forming on the tankless water heater pipes".

The following is a brief description on how tankless water heaters work and why are they susceptible to scale deposits forming on their pipes.

Tankless water heaters are gaining popularity over the older tank water heater model. Some of the advantages that tankless water heaters offer over the older tank design include: reduced floor space, lower energy consumption and endless hot water available on demand .

Tankless water heaters work by rapidly heating the water in a heat exchanger to the desired temperature as the water flows through the heater. The burner of the unit only turns on when there is demand for hot water, this is how it is able to use less energy while providing endless hot water. Older model hot water heaters store water in a tank and heat it up with a burner (or electric heating elements) when the water drops below a certain temperature. This has the inconvenience that the burner may turn on even when there is no demand for hot water.  The following diagram shows a simplified version of a tankless water heater.

Because of the design of the tankless heaters, the water is heated at a very fast rate, forcing the water to come in contact with very hot surfaces on the pipes as it goes through the heat exchanger. This provides conditions that favor minerals in the water to precipitate and form scale deposits on the tube  walls. In places with hard water the problem is exacerbated and precautions must be taken to prevent scaling of the heat exchanger tubes.

Mineral scale is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (hardness in the water) which precipitates from the water under certain conditions (such as high temperature, high pH or high concentrations). Scale has a very low heat transfer coefficient, or thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of copper is 384 W/(m*K) and the thermal conductivity of scale is 2.6 W/(m*K). This means that scale is about 140 times less efficient in transferring heat than the copper which is used in the tankless heater pipes. The following graph shows the amount of energy increase that would be required to overcome a layer of scale.

The lower thermal conductivity  of scale has a direct negative effect on the performance of the tankless water heater. Since the amount of heat transfered to the water is reduced, the unit would have to operate at a higher rate in order to try to get the water to the design temperature, which in turn would result in higher energy consumption. If the scale is thick enough, the unit may not be able to heat the water to the desired temperature at all. And if scaling is very aggressive, water flow can be restricted through the unit and it eventually could lead to tube failure.

The Zeta Rod is an ideal low cost and environmentally friendly option to prevent scale formation in tankless water heaters. A Zeta Rod installed in the main water line entering a home will protect the tankless water heater as well as all the fixtures in the house. The following pictures are courtesy of R&G Sales and show a Zeta Rod displayed with a Noritz Tankless Water Heater at Central Arizona Supply. At this show room's display the Zeta Rod protects the tankless heater and the shower fixtures. This picture shows the small floor space that both the tankless heater and the Zeta Rod take.

Ferguson Enterprises Inc. Kleindale Branch, Tucson AZ, not only a vendor but a satisfied customer as well.

Ferguson is a leading wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products with over 1300 service centers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. They became one of the earliest suppliers of Residential Zeta Rod systems when Zeta Corporation introduced the new product line.

Today we'd like to recognize their Kleindale Branch in Tucson, AZ. They are not only a distributor but have become a satisfied customer as well.

Here is their comment on the Zeta Rod installation for the swamp cooler system in the warehouse:

May 19, 2009

Dear Zeta Rod;

I am writing this to let you know what a wonderful solution the Zeta Rod was to our evaporative cooler problem. It has made all of our cooler problems disappear.

Prior to putting the Zeta Rod on the water line that supplies water to our coolers, we had the following problems:

*The air being blown into our warehouse had a damp fishy smell.

*We found that by leaving the coolers on 24/7 the smell was not as bad, but; we used a lot of expensive electricity.

*Running the coolers constantly also wore out the pads, the motors, and the pulleys more often; and they were expensive to replace.

We understand that the Zeta Rod does not allow biofilm to form and that makes our air smell better and helps the coolers run cleaner.

We are also able to turn the coolers off each night.  We start them each morning and they run clean and have no smell.  Since they only run for 8-10 hours we know we have less wear and tear on the pumps, pulleys and pads!  We could not be happier!

Mike Van Stelle,

  

Ferguson

Enterprises Incorporated

Kleindale Branch,

Tucson

 

Arizona

3445 East Kleindale Rd

(520) 795.0296.

 

Zeta Corporation Attends FMA Congress on Progressive Energy & Environment

From April 20-22 the FMA Congress on Progressive Energy & Environment took place at the Westin Peachtree Hotel in Atlanta, GA. The conference was focused on showing how different companies are profiting from reduction of energy consumption by applying new technologies or implementing innovative approaches to Smart Building designs.

Exhibitors included Architecture firms, Green Energy Companies, High Energy Light Fixture Companies, Heat Pumps and several others. Zeta Corporation was the only company representing a new technology that provided water conservation to the buildings, and as such it was received with great enthusiasm by all of the attendees at the conference.

The presentation on the new Zeta Water Management System given by Dr. M. Michael Pitts, President of Zeta Corporation generated a lot of interest amongst the people who attended. Zeta Corporation's proposal of delivering and documenting water savings of up tp 20% in cooling systems, while providing remote monitoring and control capabilities is being seen as the way of the future in efficient water management.

For more information on the Zeta Water Management System, contact Zeta Corporation.

Zeta Corporation Associates Become LEED Acredited Professionals

Press Release:

Tucson, AZ:  Zeta Corporation is pleased to announce that Rodrigo Romo and Carolyn Pittshave earned LEED® Accredited Professional status (LEED AP) by passing the LEED NC examination. To see the full text of the press release see the following link .

Having two LEED AP's in the company sets Zeta Corporation in a leading position in Green Building Applications. Understanding how LEED credits are awarded and in what areas can the Zeta Rod technology be applied to help projects earn these credits.

Contact Zeta Corporation to learn more about how the Zeta Rod can help you obtain LEED credit points in your project.

 

ETL/UL, IAPMO, NSF Part 61: What is Behind a Listing?

Have you ever wonder what is behind a ETL or UL sticker in any product you purchase? These stickers represent a series of tests that the products bearing them have been submitted to to ensure the safety of the consumer/end user.

In Zeta Corporation we have our products tested by Intertek Testing Laboratories .

   The ETL Listed Mark is an alternative to the CSA and UL marks.

ETL Testing Laboratories has been conducting electrical performance and reliability tests since 1896. Intertek Testing Services (ITS) acquired ETL from Inchcape in 1996. ITS is recognized by OSHA as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), just as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and several other independent organizations are recognized.

ITS tests products according to nearly 200 safety and performance standards. The ETL Listed Mark and C-ETL Listed Mark are accepted throughout the United States and Canada when denoting compliance with nationally recognized standards such as ANSI, IEC, UL, and CSA.

This certification mark indicates that the product has been tested to and has met the minimum requirements of a widely recognized (consensus) U.S. product safety standard, that the manufacturing site has been audited, and that the applicant has agreed to a program of periodic factory follow-up inspections to verify continued conformance.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) work together with government and industry to implement comprehensive plumbing and mechanical systems worldwide. IAPMO has developed the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). IAPMO Research and Testing is the product certification body which tests and inspects samples from supplier's stock or from the market to verify compliance to the requirements of the UPC for the United States.

 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. 

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

Zeta Corporation is a member of the USGBC.

Because we care about our customer's safety and the quality of our products, we go the extra mile to procure the proper listings and certifications for our products.

 

Zeta goes to Vegas!

Last month R&G Sales, one of Zeta Corporation's Distributors organized a series of Technical an Sales presentations with diverse Plumbing supply companies and Engineering firms in Las Vegas to promote the technology.

The plumbing companies visited were Interstate Plumbing & Air Conditioning and Hawthorne. Another company that was visited was FERGUSON. 

The reception and level of interest shown by every company visited was very encouraging, there were many questions asked at the end of each session and many projects were brought up for consideration of the Zeta Rod. 

The most pleasant surprise came from one of the project managers at one of the plumbing companies who had installed a Zeta Rod about year and a half ago at a luxury Loft building in Las Vegas.  Regarding the performance of the Zeta Rod he had to say the following:

-"We know the Zeta Rod is working because we have had no complains from any of the loft owners who expect to have no problems with hardness issues in the water, and we know for a fact that they would be calling us if they were not satisfied. The building has a water feature in the lobby, usually these water features present a lot of problems, such as scaling of the nozzles, scale build up on the surfaces and bad odors. These problems will have a negative impact on the soothing effect that the feature is meant to have. There have been no nozzles plugging up on this feature, no scale buildup on the surfaces and no bad odors with the water, it remains as clean as it did when it was installed. And the final proof to us was when we had to remove one of the water heaters due to some problems (not related to the water side) and opened it to see the condition of the coils, we found them to be clean of any deposits at all, and after over a year of operation with the water here that is very impressive".

We want to give our thanks to Interstate Plumbing, Hawthorne, and Ferguson's for their time and R&G Sales for the tremendous effort they are doing in growing the market in Las Vegas.

Zeta Corporation wishes all of its customers and clients a Prosperous New Year!

We look forward to the New Year that offers very promising opportunities in the residential, commercial and industrial markets both in the US and Internationally.

Business seems to be off to a good start this new year as the markets in Arizona and Nevada are showing good growth.

One of our residential customers sent us the following testimonial and asked us to post it on this site:

“For the interested parties:

I am writing in regards to the installation and performance of the Zeta-Rod water conditioner.  I installed the MFR-30 about a month ago and I can see the difference from my potable water supply with a Zeta-Rod compared to one without.  My dishes are coming out much cleaner with little or zero water spots.  That is even when I let them completely dry in the dishwasher.  Before the Zeta-Rod, I would pull the dishes out and dry them off with a rag to avoid water spots from covering my glasses and plates.  One of the other benefits that I have seen is the accumulation of water spots on the shower glass door.  It seams to take more showers for the calcium deposits to show on the glass compared to before.  An even greater benefit is that I can wipe the spots clean with a little soap and water with a rag instead of using a toothbrush and CLR.  It has only been a month, but I am very happy with the performance of the Zeta-Rod.  The unit does not take up any floor space, it was easy to install and I never have to worry about maintenance.

Randy, The Water Heater Man”

We wish you all have a prosperous New Year.

Zeta Corporation

Lakewood Instrumentes Announces the Roll Out of their "Partners Page"

Lakewood Instruments Inc. has recently announced the roll out of their "Partners Page" in their website.

In a letter from Lakewood they explain the release as a means to providing customers with referrals of qualified water treatment companies in different regions. In their letter they state:

"To that end, we are announcing the roll out of our " Partners Page" on the Lakewood Instruments website (www.lakewoodinstruments.com) . From now on, callers wanting a " Good Water Treater"  will be directed to this page. They will be able to choose a state and then a RANDOMIZED list of current Lakewood Instruments Partner Water Treater' s who provide treatment services in that state, will appear. Since you are receiving this letter, we already consider you a partner. "

In Zeta we have been using Lakewood Controllers as the controller of preference primarily because of their reliability and quality. We worked closely with them in the remote monitoring system that we used for the two successful  military demonstration project of the Zeta Rod for cooling tower applications. 

It is an honor for Zeta Corporation to be recognized as a partner to Lakewood Instruments.