Water Heater with Integrated Computing Device for Waste Heat Reuse
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers and computing devices generate significant waste heat, contributing to environmental footprint and energy inefficiency, while traditional cooling methods are not optimized for energy reuse.
Innovation Solution
A pumpless liquid direct cooling system for computing servers integrated into water heaters, where the heat generated by servers is transferred to a water tank, providing hot water while minimizing energy consumption and operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cooling methods are used for computing devices, then computing tasks can be performed, but significant waste heat is generated contributing to environmental footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated by computing devices into a beneficial resource by integrating heat exchangers that transfer this thermal energy to water, transforming an environmental problem into a useful hot water supply for residential or industrial applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two previously separate systems - computing devices and water heating systems - into a single integrated unit where the computing device is housed within the water heater and shares its thermal output, simultaneously achieving cooling for the computer and heating for water
2Productivity
If data centers are built to meet computational demand, then processing capacity increases, but energy consumption and environmental footprint increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where the water heater serves dual purposes: traditional water heating and computing device operation, allowing the same energy input to perform both functions simultaneously and reducing the need for separate dedicated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from computing operations into a beneficial hot water supply, thereby reducing the net energy consumption of the system and eliminating the need for separate water heating energy input
3Loss of energy
If computing devices are integrated into water heaters, then waste heat is reused for water heating, but the water heater must simultaneously serve both heating and computing functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the computing device and water heater into a single integrated unit, merging previously separate functions into one device that simultaneously performs computing operations and water heating, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the carbon footprint of data centers and water heating systems by utilizing waste heat for water heating, achieving high net electrical efficiency and decentralized computing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the heat generated by servers is transferred to a water tank
Implementation Method 2
a pumpless liquid direct cooling system for computing servers integrated into water heaters
Data Source
AI summary
An electric water heater with a computing device used to heat water from a residential or industrial water tank while executing useful computational tasks for a network. It includes a water tank, a heat exchanger, a computing device, a connectivity system to connect the computing device to a network, the network supplying computing tasks to the computing device, such that running the computing tasks results in a heat production, and a temperature control system to control the heat production from the computing device responsive to the water and heat exchanging fluid temperatures. The computational tasks are defined by one or more network user.