Low-Cost, Energy-Efficient and Carbon-Saving Dry Ice Air Conditioning System – A Possible by-Product of a Novel And Highly Cost-Effective Carbon Capture Technology
To combat global warming and climate change, it is necessary to have technologies for the low cost capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the associated toxic components of the flue gas emissions from industries and for the low-cost storage and utilization of the captured CO2. This paper presents a brief description of a new technology for emission capture (NTEC) to capture nearly 100% of the CO2 from industrial emissions in the form of liquefied CO2 and dry ice, very cost effectively, at -$14 to $23 per ton of CO2 captured, depending on whether the power is generated by coal or natural gas and the CO2 concentration in the flue gas. The negative sign means the capture generates additional auxiliary energy for the industry. NTEC is patented in the USA (No. 10670334 B2 June 2, 2020). Using dry ice that could be abundantly available with NTEC, the proposed future technology of a dry ice air conditioning system is presented. Assuming that dry ice is not more than $80 per ton with NTEC, then, for air conditioning a house of area 256 sq. m. (the inside temperature maintained 24 hrs 7 days/wk at 70 F, while the outside temperature is at 102 F for 12 hrs), it would save $160 in a hot summer month. Assuming that the sublimated CO2 is not captured back, then for air conditioning one house this would also save the emission at power plants of 992 kg or 290 kg of CO2 in a hot summer month if the power is generated by coal or natural gas respectively. The paper also discusses an efficient technique of storing dry ice and capturing back some of the CO2 that would be emitted during sublimation of the dry ice. If the sublimated CO2 is captured back, the net carbon saving would be quite substantial with the proposed dry ice air conditioning system. The paper further discusses some of the positive impacts such technology can have on climate mitigation and the future green environment.
