Is your home one of the millions in the Northeast U.S. that are heated with a boiler? Then Mark Kendall wants to replace it with one that works better.
Kendall, who lives just outside of Lancaster, is well versed in boiler design, given his experience working for an industry trade association and as the manager of engineering and research for a Lancaster boiler manufacturer. Two years ago he left to design his own boiler and, like a true entrepreneur, opened a bridal shop with his wife.
Kendall explains that standard boilers heat a source of fuel, such as coal or natural gas, to create steam that provides heat. His design, which uses natural gas, is different from other residential boilers because it has not just one heat exchanger, but two devices that transfer heat. Kendall is currently putting together a prototype that he hopes will put 98 percent of the heat generated in the boiler to use warming up a home — a higher rate than is currently available. He also plans to build it with parts manufactured in the United States instead of the European parts that are common now. This would save money so Kendall's boiler could be sold for less than $2,000.
His company, Kendall Innovation, has secured funding from sources including the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania. Kendall's plan is to finish his prototype by March and start manufacturing the boiler on a large scale by the end of 2012.
Source: Mark Kendall, Kendall Innovation
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen