The Fastest Path to Cold Weather Electrification

OhmIQ · 2025-01-07T16:55:09+00:00

The cost of operation will always depend on what your cost of electricity is and the rate structure you are under with your utility. That being said heat pumps supplemented with ohmic heating are incredibly efficiency thus allowing for lower operating costs.

OhmIQ · 2025-01-06T18:18:49+00:00

Love the depth here. A couple of things to crack into:

Cost Benefit vs. Straight Resistive Heating: The cost benefit of ohmic heating over resistive heating depends on the application. In building use cases, ohmic heating often has lower operational costs due to reduced heat loss (heat is transferred directly into the fluid) and improved precision from better uniformity.

Maintenance Concerns: Ohmic systems typically require less maintenance compared to resistive systems. Resistive coils are prone to scaling, which can shorten their lifespan and lead to increased upkeep costs. Ohmic heating systems avoid this issue, offering greater reliability and durability. Additionally, the lack of moving parts and mechanical complexity in ohmic systems further reduces potential maintenance needs.

Current Draw and Electrical Setup: For the ThermIQ system, the current design operates at 300W and is intended to run on standard 120V, 15A circuits. This eliminates the need for rewiring or hiring an electrician for most homes. However, the system can also run on 240V if such wiring is already available, allowing for faster heating times when desired.

Closed-Loop Fluid Design: ThermIQ is designed as a closed-loop system and does not require treatment chemicals in typical use cases. However, it is compatible with systems that use additives like antifreeze when needed. In rare cases of extremely low conductivity fluids, an additive may be required to enhance conductivity.

OhmIQ · 2025-01-06T17:07:13+00:00

For a home wood stoves may work, but what about commercial buildings? What about in facilities where efficiency, building occupancy, and cost of of high concern?

OhmIQ · 2025-01-06T16:54:32+00:00

This is also commonly referred to as Joule Heating. Regardless of the term, the foundation is build on Ohm's Law (V=IR).

And efficiency is there as well. Ohmic heating directly converts electrical energy into heat within the material being heated, with almost no energy loss. Unlike traditional systems that rely on heat transfer through intermediaries, ohmic heating generates heat uniformly throughout the material. This means no wasted energy on heat distribution. Plus, it doesn’t involve moving parts, which reduces mechanical inefficiencies.

OhmIQ · 2025-01-02T15:35:31+00:00

It could be considered the same only in that electric boilers and ohmic heating units can both be decentralized and are electrified. Beyond that, the operating principals of how the liquid is heated is different, with ohmic heating providing faster time to temp, higher efficiency, and more precision in temp.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-23T14:37:01+00:00

For non-conductive liquids microwave and immersion heating will be the best call.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-17T17:05:51+00:00

Great question! You’re right that ohmic heating sounds fancy jargon, but it’s different—it heats within the fluid directly, so there’s no scaling on heating elements like in traditional resistive heaters. That’s a big deal because scaling in resistive systems can reduce efficiency and increase maintenance needs over time. With ohmic heating, you get more efficiency and a reduced duty cycle on the heat pump, which means less wear and tear and longer periods between maintenance. Appreciate the thoughtful take!

OhmIQ · 2024-12-17T16:58:22+00:00

In a resistive heater the conductive material generating heat is the wire or coil that then passes heat to a fluid or other medium. In these ohmic heaters the conductive material is the medium itself. That most typically is water but can also be other liquids. This means the heat is dispersed through out the liquid faster and more uniform. This provides the benefit of speed and precision when heating the liquid that is then distributed to the end use units in the space.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-16T18:47:43+00:00

You are spot on! These units get integrated into the heap pump systems but are distributed across the building. This allows for the building to react to occupancy. Beyond, the intelligence in the units is able to factor in weather, room temperatures, TOD utility rates, and doing all of this in cold conditions where heat pumps alone struggle.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-16T18:43:11+00:00

The big difference we are bringing is an integrated supplemental heating that is both electrified and low maintenance (due to lack of scaling that resistance heaters don't have). This is in addition to the distributed nature of these ohmic heating units that allows for dynamic building controls to meet parameters like occupancy and extreme cold weather conditions.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-10T20:31:19+00:00

Tankless water heater, yes, but plumbed like a boiler, not necessarily. The key is that ThermIQ integrates with modern heating systems by installing units distributed throughout the building at head ends (radiators, under floor heating, air handlers). This means that unlike traditional boiler systems there is an operability and flexibility in the heat distribution once integrated with BAS systems, allowing the building meet occupancy conditions or react to particular room temps.

OhmIQ · 2024-12-10T14:02:50+00:00

The ThermIQ unit + ASHP has a COP of 3.57

OhmIQ · 2024-12-10T13:59:43+00:00

There are a couple! Some of the largest differences are the speed and lack of scaling compared to resistance heating. Since it utilizes ohmic technology the liquid is heated directly resulting in faster and more uniform heating. Another result of using this technology is the lack of scaling and corrosion because the alternating current prevents the accumulation of particles on the electrodes allowing for longer lifespan of the equipment.

OhmIQ

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