The Heatworks Model 1 measures a length of 12.5 (32 cm) inches and 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. (Credit: Kickstarter)ISI Technology, a Charleston-area, South Carolina-based start-up company, has launched a Kickstarter campaign in order to fund their HeatWorks Model 1—an innovative energy and water saving electric water heater.
The Model 1, according to the project’s description, eliminates all failure modes of conventional water heating technology and provides more features at the same or less cost. This technology also offers the possibility of WiFi or “smart grid” connectivity to measure and control temperature, duration, and power levels.
The developers of the Heatworks Model 1 say that the device can produce instant, endless hot water while providing up to 40% energy savings and 10% water savings. The main difference between most conventional water heaters and the Heatworks Model 1 is the use of graphite electrodes instead of a heating coil.
The Kickstarter page describes it as follows:
Electricity passes through a heating coil which is heated to over 1000 °F (538 °C) which then heats the water. This process means that a tremendous strain is placed on the coil which frequently burns out or breaks in as little as 12 months. Most units also contain a flow switch, which is inherently unreliable technology. The flow switch creates a “flutter” of alternating hot and cold water at low flow rates, which is frustrating and uncomfortable, but also unsafe due to excessive heating of water which can cause scalding. HEATWORKS MODEL 1’s graphite electrodes use the resistance of the water to heat it, and so they never get hotter than the surrounding water. This ensures a long life while heating the water reliably and consistently, even at low flow rates. Plus, the MODEL 1’s technology heats the water instantly where any other electric tankless unit take a minimum of 30 seconds to heat the water, which wastes the water that goes down the drain until the hot water arrives.
Not having a flow switch also saves water because the MODEL 1 produces hot water at 0.1 GPM (.4 Liter/min), while competitive units require at least 0.5 GPM (1.9 LPM) just to turn on. ASHRAE data shows that half of hot water draws in a house are 0.5 GPM (1.9 LPM) or less, so that every other product out there requires a higher water flow just to turn on, which also wastes water.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water—around 86 gallons per day. Even greater energy savings of 27%–50% can be achieved with the installation of a demand water heater at each hot water outlet.
