In 2022, Cetiat (Centre Technique des Industries Aérauliques et Thermiques) is piloting some twenty collective action projects. The aim of these multi-year projects is to help manufacturers develop efficient aeraulic and thermal systems. A rich program whose orientations are supported by the 2020-2023 Contract of Objectives and Performance, signed between the French government, Cetiat and Uniclima, and which responds to the challenges faced by manufacturers in relation to the objectives of energy and ecological transition, well-being and health, industry of the future and decarbonization, performance assessment and energy metrology.
An ambitious, manufacturer-led program
The goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 means a drastic energy and ecological transition for manufacturers. To support them in this transition, Cetiat is now piloting 22 collective action projects, launched since 2020. The technical center's aim is to help manufacturers develop aeraulic and thermal systems that meet current and future challenges, in particular that of decarbonizing industry. Studies in this area are already being carried out jointly with its subsidiary, Alliance Allice.
This program corresponds to a total budget of 7.4 M€, with work spread over the years 2020-2026. It includes a number of themes, covered by the 2020-2023 Contract of Objectives and Performance signed between the French State, Cetiat and Uniclima, such as :
New fuels: manufacturers of heating appliances, domestic hot water production systems and industrial thermal equipment have entrusted Cetiat with the task of studying the operation of appliances using decarbonated fuels (mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen, pure hydrogen, biomethane, biofuels and, with a view to the future, ammonia). A total of €2.7 million has been allocated to several projects.
Thermodynamic machines : refrigerants with low environmental impact are being studied in a project on heat pump and air-conditioner design, as well as how to assess the seasonal performance of heat pumps in the laboratory or in regulatory calculations. The budget is €1.2 million.
Ventilation and indoor air quality: €2.1 million is devoted to the quality of indoor environments. Projects examine how to improve the quality of ventilation systems or ventilate buildings during the construction phase. They also look at intelligent ventilation control and the rules for installing air purifiers in commercial premises. Two projects are dedicated to the acoustics of filters and air handling units.
Modeling : represents an essential means of designing more efficient equipment. A number of projects, with a budget of €1.4 million, are exploring fan design, the evaluation of air and pollutant transfer in buildings, the design of droplet separators in air flows and, more generally, the modeling of the operation of HVAC equipment and systems.
An organization to prepare for the future and guide the profession
In view of today's challenges, and in order to be able to carry out more ambitious projects, the organization of Cetiat's collective actions into multi-year projects not only enables us to clearly identify the issues facing manufacturers, but also to implement actions leading to results useful to manufacturers.
The budget comes mainly from the Taxe Fiscale Affectée (TFA), which Cetiat receives from manufacturers, plus public and private co-financing (€0.9 million). At this stage, the co-financiers are : Ademe, Bulane, Cetim, CSTB, EDF, FF3C, GRDF and Uniclima.
In addition to projects, Cetiat's collective actions include work on standardization, regulations, certification and test methods, in close collaboration with Uniclima and manufacturers, as well as technology watch work to identify interesting innovations and research results. In 2022, the corresponding annual budget is €1.3 million.