Carbon sequestration in the ocean could become far more feasible with a system being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Continuous Jet/Hydrate Reactor takes carbon dioxide from power plants flue gases and produces a solid-like composite material that holds its shape when released in water at the proper depth and temperature about 1,200 meters and 3.3 degrees Celsius. The composite product, which can be made denser than seawater, slowly dissolves as it sinks. Continuous production of these sinking gas hydrates ice-like compounds -- at intermediate ocean depths provides increased sequestration efficiency without the significant costs of deep injection. In addition to its application for CO2 sequestration, this technology can be used for water desalination, natural gas storage and food production. The technology, which has been successfully demonstrated in Monterey Bay, is being developed by Costas Tsouris and Liyuan Liang. Funding for this research is provided by DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov]

ENERGY -- Pure, efficient power . . .

Grocery stores, schools, hotels and hospitals are likely candidates for a high-efficiency system that provides heating, cooling and electric power. The PureComfort system, developed through a partnership between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and United Technologies Research Center, features a combination of 60-kilowatt microturbines and a new direct exhaust-fired double-effect absorption chiller/heater that recycles exhaust streams. The system provides simultaneous electric power and cooling. Bob DeVault of the lab's Engineering Science and Technology Division noted that the system can be configured to provide emergency backup power to the customer in case of an electric outage. Optionally, PureComfort can provide heating, regenerate a desicc
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Contact: Ron Walli
wallira@ornl.gov
865-576-0226
DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
11-Aug-2005