**If sized correctly to the load it should run far more than the 20-30% utilization rate the typical datacenter sees. There are about 120 different distributed computing networks out there now (a good Wiki search) and they are growing in number every day. Bitcoin is a distributed computing network. The idea idea is to compute whenever there is a need to generate heat, when the system is sized right that need can be pretty consistent. Again - we would not continue to develop this design, it is just the first prototype.
Care to share your calculations?
Only in a perfect world where weather conditions never change throughout the year and people always use the same amount of heating/AC/hot water/refrigeration, this might work well.
**Wont share the calculations but I will give you a clue - the key is in the storage tanks.
**Not the model - a valiant effort but, seriously, who would do that? And... why would we publish the business model on a forum?
Where else would you publish it, the local newspaper? You guys came to this forum asking for feedback without giving us any idea of what your product does. We really shouldn't have to pry this info from you especially when you're weeks from launching a kickstarter.
**We came to see how people react to the idea, not to give them our business model.
What exactly is your business model? Will you be running a monetized distributed network? Selling the rube golberg machines by themselves? Selling hardware+rube golberg machine combos? Designing a chip? Installing/servicing entire home integrated systems?
Not sure how we're supposed to know/discuss your concept while you guys are providing as little information as possible.
**That is a problem but you are obviously smart and think about this stuff, I'm sure you will think of several viable business models if you let the concept sink in for a day or two.
So far here's what you've demonstrated:
- Using a computer creates heat
which can then be sent through a watercooling loop to an insulated tank that can store the heat for a few hours and release it when heating is needed. (subtracted the rube golberg part)
- By spending several hundreds of dollars you can match the efficiency of a stock cpu fan+heatsink when it comes to heating your home using a computer.
**No, you removed a key and fundamental element of the system.
Here's what you need to demonstrate:
- You can store 190F water in a tank for hours without significant heat loss.
**I'll do you better - the next set of tanks will be filled with phase change material that actually holds significantly more energy than the water tanks we are using now. Noodle on that for a bit.
- You can use 190F water from a computer to efficiently and cost effectively power a watertank/AC/refrigerator.
**Already done. Wait - do you want to actually drink a computation cooled beer? That can be arranged.
- You can efficiently power each of those appliances at the same time.
**We don't need to - think about energy storage... you'll get it.
- You can do so while maintaining a constant/efficient computing rate throughout the day/year.
**We don't need to. If the energy source for the computation is free then I care a whole lot less about the efficiency of the computation.
- You can prove the costs are not more than regular gas/electric heating.
**Alright. Computation produces the same amount of heat for the same energy as a resistance heater. Computers are, after all, resistance heaters. If you currently have a resistance heated anything we are 1-1 - if you don't the free computation more than pays for the delta in cost.
- You can give people an incentive to run their computers 24/7/365 (it's not like people are naturally using 1.5KW 24/7. More like ~200W a few hours a day)
**We don't want to run your computer, we'll want you to run our computer and we
might be able to do that very inexpensively, from an energy perspective.
Until then you really have no business starting a crowdfunding campaign, but that's just my opinion.
**I don't remember asking for permission but perhaps the above answers have changed your mind?
**Whoa. Is there a business model in there somewhere?