Bitcoin Mining Meets Water Heating: Turning Waste Energy into Utility

[Bbluez]

A recent innovation shows how Bitcoin mining can be integrated into everyday utilities. I’m diving into a new concept called the “Superheat” device.

Everyone knows that computers get hot when they are working hard. Bitcoin mining converts electricity into heat. The real question is whether that heat is reused or discarded.

Instead of wasting the heat generated from ASIC miners, the system traps the excess heat to warm water for home or facility use. In theory, users get hot water while the device mines Bitcoin in the background.

The device uses about the same amount of energy as a standard electric water heater, but the company claims users should be able to offset some of these costs with the Bitcoin the device mines.

The idea is not entirely new, and if implemented effectively, it could reduce energy waste from mining, change people’s perception of Bitcoin mining, and improve overall energy efficiency.

Do you see this as a real step toward sustainable mining, or just an innovation that won’t scale?

Source: https://www.govtech.com/question-of-the-day/can-bitcoin-mining-guarantee-you-a-hot-shower

[memehunter]

I have heard a similar story where someone tried to farm tulips with the integration of Bitcoin mining,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqjytw7Lq0
IMO, majority of the times it is just a hoax trying to capitalize on crypto hype for luring investors, nothing more. Everything sounds great in theory. 

[Bbluez]

I have heard a similar story where someone tried to farm tulips with the integration of Bitcoin mining,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqjytw7Lq0
IMO, majority of the times it is just a hoax trying to capitalize on crypto hype for luring investors, nothing more. Everything sounds great in theory. 

you're right, it's all to create a bullish story.

[Mia Chloe]

~snip

You've gotta get one thing straight, no matter how hard you try there'll always be energy losses in a heat transfer system. Let's say it was all a fine idea in theory, practical mining wares don't generate high enough heat to raise the temperature of the water to a finely usable one plus the transfer process isn't gonna be effective.

Instead of people spreading concepts like these I think it's high time they channel that energy into improving mining wares such that less electrical energy is converted to wasted heat.

[Bbluez]

~snip

You've gotta get one thing straight, no matter how hard you try there'll always be energy losses in a heat transfer system. Let's say it was all a fine idea in theory, practical mining wares don't generate high enough heat to raise the temperature of the water to a finely usable one plus the transfer process isn't gonna be effective.

Instead of people spreading concepts like these I think it's high time they channel that energy into improving mining wares such that less electrical energy is converted to wasted heat.

fine point. Making Bitcoin easier to mine where less electrical energy is is converted to heat is the way to go.

[stompix]

~snip

You've gotta get one thing straight, no matter how hard you try there'll always be energy losses in a heat transfer system. Let's say it was all a fine idea in theory, practical mining wares don't generate high enough heat to raise the temperature of the water to a finely usable one plus the transfer process isn't gonna be effective.

Instead of people spreading concepts like these I think it's high time they channel that energy into improving mining wares such that less electrical energy is converted to wasted heat.

You couldn't be more wrong about this!

First:
Law of Conservation of Energy, first law of thermodynamics: Energy can't be destroyed, only transformed!
You can't insert 2Kwh in an ASIC, GPU, TV, or Rice cooker and expect one to release less heat, they will all do the same!!  

Second:
This is a 6-gallon water heater doing 1440W: https://www.amazon.com/Electrolux-Electric-Heater-Eliminate-Release/dp/B0FR4XV7W1/
This is a 10120W asic miner https://m.bitmain.com/product/detail?pid=00020250707194812615L4HTKEMY064E

Based on the above law of conservation of energy, which one do you think will heat water faster?

The power of these devices has nothing to do with the failure of the miner heating combo, the problem is the increased price of a 3000W miner that needs expensive chips rather than a simple resistive element to run.

[Joy_learns_crypto]

I have heard a similar story where someone tried to farm tulips with the integration of Bitcoin mining,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqjytw7Lq0
IMO, majority of the times it is just a hoax trying to capitalize on crypto hype for luring investors, nothing more. Everything sounds great in theory. 

I thought that too, because this is not the first time I am hearing of bitcoin mining using alternative energy and they are never sustainable.
It sounds great in the theory because they are trying to use that they can give bitcoin mining a better and cleaner source of energy.

[Mia Chloe]

~snip

Are you suggesting that a 150W LED light bulb generates same amount of heat as a 150w boiler in a practical system? If you are quoting thermodynamic laws you should as well consider the use of the system. Energy cannot be created or destroyed doesn't mean in a real life application 2 appliances with same ratings will generate same amount of heat.

Basic thermodynamics suggests that instead of trying use energy waste in a less effective way you should instead fix the system to improve efficiency before maximising the use of your wastes.

[stompix]

~snip

Are you suggesting that a 150W LED light bulb generates same amount of heat as a 150w boiler for instance?

Oh god, you had to take a light bulb
Not a gpu, not a tv, not a console, hair dryer, electric blanket but the only thing that gets things muddy!

Anyhow, light is still energy
- An old bulb with an incandescent filament will transform 3%-5% into light 95-97% into heat
- A brand new LED bulb will do about 20% into light and 80% into heat

Now light, is still energy, it can't be destroyed, when light hits something in the room it will still heat it!!!! it might now look like that to you since the heat is dispersed in a 40mc³ but yes, after 1 hour of use both would have heated an enclosed space with the same amount!

Energy cannot be created or destroyed doesn't mean in a real life application 2 appliances with same ratings will generate same amount of heat.

Yes, that's what I'm saying, and this is what a basic law in physics is saying!
Two appliances rated 200W drawing 200W from the socket will generate the SAME amount of heat!

Where do you think that energy goes?

[retreat]

Do you see this as a real step toward sustainable mining, or just an innovation that won’t scale?

What I know is that most things like this are only good in theory but in practice they are useless, because apart from this water heater there are several other innovations that want to use mining rigs for various purposes outside of just mining. But these things don't match the actual needs of use and only add to the hassle for rig owners. So, instead of increasing utility, these solutions actually become an additional burden which may not be worth it for the rig owner.

[Mia Chloe]

Yes, that's what I'm saying, and this is what a basic law in physics is saying!
Two appliances rated 200W drawing 200W from the socket will generate the SAME amount of heat!
Where do you think that energy goes?

Hahaha... Finally got you lol. Well both of them draw same power and same energy but not same amount of heat. Heat generation in a practical system is not directly based off energy generation rather it is a function of the use of the system. The bulb will draw 200watts but over 150 w of that power is used to generate photons or light.

The heat decipated is based solely off electrically resistance not just intended heat same applies for all electrical systems. If your 200W TV was generating 200W worth of heat then what power is left to cover for display signal and sound?

[memehunter]

The bulb will draw 200watts but over 150 w of that power is used to generate photons or light.

Those photons will ultimately bump and transfer heat so all in all @stompix is right that it is not an efficiency issue as you are trying to put it (me too lol when I gave you merit). Thanks @stompix for clearing the basics so patiently.   

[stompix]

Yes, that's what I'm saying, and this is what a basic law in physics is saying!
Two appliances rated 200W drawing 200W from the socket will generate the SAME amount of heat!
Where do you think that energy goes?

Hahaha... Finally got you lol. Well both of them draw same power and same energy but not same amount of heat.

Where do you got me? Seriously, where the hell did I say that?
A cooking pot drawing 200W will release the same heat as CPU at 200W! end of story!

The bulb will draw 200watts but over 150 w of that power is used to generate photons or light.

And those 150w of power will turn to heat the moment they hit something, and unless you're living in the void that would be you, your walls, your furniture!
In a normal room, let me say it again 6x100w led bulbs will heat that room the same way as a 600w heater!

The heat decipated is based solely off electrically resistance not just intended heat same applies for all electrical systems. If your 200W TV was generating 200W worth of heat then what power is left to cover for display signal and sound?

Sound is energy! Light is energy!

When light is reflected on something, it heats up that thing, because it transforms to heat! Why do you think get hot in the sun???

Do you think sound acts differently?
https://www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2015/11/05/can-sound-waves-generate-heat/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20sound%20waves%20can%20generate,heat%20when%20they%20are%20absorbed.
No it doesn't!

So let me tell you again, a TV of 200w, a sound bar of 200w, a cpu of 200w, a led bulb of 200w , a hair dryer of 200w, a blanket warmer of 200w will all release the SAME amount of heat over time!

Are you actually trying to rewrite the laws of thermodynamics or what?
To not get this discussion further down the drain, go and ask ChatGPT how long it would take for a 1000-watt soundbar to heat a room to x degrees!
You might have the surprise of your lifetime as sound will heat a room!!!

[lionheart78]

Lol, someone is discussing about the amount of heat being produced, and the other one is talking about the thermal behaviour.  

I think it is always good to make use of the heat generated by Bitcoin mining, but it is more important to develop the efficiency of the machine to save energy while increasing its hashing power.

[Mia Chloe]

~snip

Stompix I think you are blurring the line between useful work and heat losses. If the eventual and final heat loss byproduct of every system is as effective as you make it seem then there might be no need to get a heating device of any sorts. Even for a heat generating system energy losses are still a problem.

Final product being heat does not mean that heat is effective and useful else I'll get a 200w sound system in a cold room instead of a heater. Again final product of heat doesn't mean I can usefully harvest that heat.

[stompix]

~snip

Stompix I think you are blurring the line between useful work and heat losses.

Let me remind you of where the discussion started:

Let's say it was all a fine idea in theory, practical mining wares don't generate high enough heat to raise the temperature of the water to a finely usable one plus the transfer process isn't gonna be effective.

Wrong! A 10 000w bitcoin miner will always release more heat than a 9990 watt water heater!
Having a 3 kw miner or a 3kw heater in the room is no different!

I think it's high time they channel that energy into improving mining wares such that less electrical energy is converted to wasted heat.

How would that work?
Asics run by having electrons running through the chips, you need energy for that, since you can't destroy energy, every single watt of that energy that goes into the chips will end as heat! There is no other way around unless you break the fabric of the universe or something!

Again, from 100% physics point of view, those water heaters, room heaters, anythign heaters with an ASIC miner are feasible.

The problem with these gadgets is that
- A 5 kW water heater costs $400 / a 5 kW miner costs $3000
- A water heater runs for a few minutes a day, a miner running for half an hour a day would ROI in the next century

Nothing stops these things from working, being efficient, doing their jobs, the problem is that one has a piece of resistive material worth 10 bucks in it, the other 324 chips $10 each!

[Ambatman]

This isn't a new innovation
I have seen individuals on the mining that makes good use of the heat from ASIC
Especially in winters
Heard it can be used also for heating greenhouses.

Hahaha... Finally got you lol. Well both of them draw same power and same energy but not same amount of heat. Heat generation in a practical system is not directly based off energy generation rather it is a function of the use of the system. The bulb will draw 200watts but over 150 w of that power is used to generate photons or light.

The heat decipated is based solely off electrically resistance not just intended heat same applies for all electrical systems. If your 200W TV was generating 200W worth of heat then what power is left to cover for display signal and sound?

P.S @Stompix I believe you both might have gone a little bit off topic.

[nakamura12]

I have heard a similar story where someone tried to farm tulips with the integration of Bitcoin mining,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPqjytw7Lq0
IMO, majority of the times it is just a hoax trying to capitalize on crypto hype for luring investors, nothing more. Everything sounds great in theory. 

I think the same but still, the heat generated by the mining tool isn't wasted which is used to heat a water or something else. In my opinion, it's not a total waste since the heat is used for something rather than not using it at all. I have seen a video where they use their mining tools to heat their home it's like killing two birds with one stone but in this case is that they are mining bitcoin but also heating their home. If there's heat then there should be some use of it especially in places that are cold.

[Mia Chloe]

Two appliances rated 200W drawing 200W from the socket will generate the SAME amount of heat!

Nahhh they consume the same energy but they do not actually deliver the same useful or localized heat to a target like water due to differences in temperature, coupling, and heat transfer paths.

A cooking pot drawing 200W will release the same heat as a CPU at 200W! end of story!

Again the pot releases heat directly into the medium at high temperature which  is useful but CPU releases low-grade heat that must pass through multiple thermal resistances that actually reduces  effective heat transfer.

And those 150w of power will turn to heat the moment they hit something

Yes, but by the time absorption happens the energy is diffuse and near ambient temperature making it far less effective.

Sound is energy! Light is energy!

Yeah but once converted to heat through absorption, that energy is low grade and largely unrecoverable for useful heating applications which is very much like the case of a miner.

A TV of 200w, a sound bar of 200w, a cpu of 200w, a led bulb of 200w will all release the SAME amount of heat over time!

They release similar theoretical total heat to the environment but not with the same efficiency, or effectiveness for heating which makes them typically less useful.

Nothing stops these things from working, being efficient, doing their jobs

Nahhh physics limits their effectiveness as heaters . low operating temperatures, poor coupling, thermal dispersion all affect a practical application in a case like this.

The problem is only cost

I'll argue  cost is secondary cos even at equal cost ASICs remain inferior heaters due to heat transfer physics and operational constraints in real life not just theory.

Heat transfer can b a problem.  What is the use of making better GPU? They all work with same principles but more optimised to ensure the end goal is achieved before the heat by product that doesn't mean the heat is useful IRL. There's a big difference between practical and ideal thermodynamics.

[Youngrebel]

There are sure lots of possibilities when.it comes to.emergy conversation from one stage to another, and theres sure no.limit to knowledge at any point. I believe this can work iys just matter.of getting started already. 
For me me its very much possible with the increasing rate of the.amoumt of people in Bitcoin mining recently it is 100% possible.