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Ammonia Airship Cooling: An Option for Renewable Cooling in the Tropics

Author

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  • Julian David Hunt

    (Climate and Livability Initiative, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Behnam Zakeri

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Andreas Nascimento

    (Energy Group, Mechanical Engineering Institute, Federal University of Itajuba, Itajubá 37500-903, Brazil)

  • Fei Guo

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

  • Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos de Freitas

    (Energy Planning Program, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil)

  • Cristiano Vitorino Silva

    (Department of Engineering and Computer Science, Regional Integrated University of Upper Uruguay and Missions, Erechim 99700-000, Brazil)

  • Bas van Ruijven

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria)

Abstract

The world is warming, and the demand for cooling is increasing. Developing a future green hydrogen economy will also increase the demand for cooling for hydrogen liquefaction. This increase in cooling demand will happen mainly in tropical and developing countries due to their increase in population, improvements in quality of life, and the export of their renewable potential with liquid hydrogen. To solve this increase in demand for cooling, this paper proposes the use of ammonia airship cooling (AAC). AAC extracts cold from the tropopause (−80 °C) with airships and ammonia refrigeration cycles. The liquid ammonia is then transported back to the surface to provide low temperature cooling services (−33 °C). This cooling service is particularly interesting for lowering the electricity consumption in hydrogen liquefaction plants. If all the technological challenges mentioned in the paper are addressed, it is estimated that the cost of cooling with the technology is 8.25 USD/MWht and that AAC could reduce the electricity demand for hydrogen liquefaction by 30%. AAC is an innovative renewable cooling technology that has the potential to complement other renewable energy sources in a sustainable future.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian David Hunt & Behnam Zakeri & Andreas Nascimento & Fei Guo & Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos de Freitas & Cristiano Vitorino Silva & Bas van Ruijven, 2023. "Ammonia Airship Cooling: An Option for Renewable Cooling in the Tropics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2023:i:1:p:111-:d:1306791
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xu, Jingxuan & Lin, Wensheng, 2021. "Integrated hydrogen liquefaction processes with LNG production by two-stage helium reverse Brayton cycles taking industrial by-products as feedstock gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    2. Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Falchetta, Giacomo & Nascimento, Andreas & Wada, Yoshihide & Riahi, Keywan, 2020. "Mountain Gravity Energy Storage: A new solution for closing the gap between existing short- and long-term storage technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
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    4. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco & Costalonga, Leandro, 2022. "Seawater air-conditioning and ammonia district cooling: A solution for warm coastal regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
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