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BIZCHINA / Center

Scientists harness power of dry air

By Wang Shanshan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-10 09:30

Could it be a marvelous breakthrough, or just hot air?

Chinese scientists claim to have discovered a new clean energy source -
simply by using dry air.

The discovery could have positive implications for parts of northern and
western China, which have dry climate conditions, according to scientists
at Tsinghua University.

"The breakthrough makes it possible to use dry air, instead of
electricity, to cool down the water and the indoor air, and be applied at
least to power large-scale air-conditioning equipment in office
buildings," Jiang Yi, director of the university's architecture science
department, who leads the research project, told China Daily.

For decades the world's scientists have been eyeing the potential of
turning dry air into a useable energy.

The premise sounds simple enough: dry air absorbs moisture, and in doing
so causes the air's temperature to drop.

Jiang said he was confidant the energy could be widely applied, and that
his team at Tsinghua were cooperating with a company in Xinjiang to
produce air-powered air-conditioning equipment.

So far trials in some large buildings had been successful.

"Believe me, the air looks tranquil but it is imbalanced
thermodynamically when it is dry," said Jiang, who is also an academic at
the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The process does not produce electricity, but provides a means to allow
less reliance on electricity.

The technology could be compared to a solar hot water heater, whereby
water is continuously heated as long as there is sunlight.

Currently the air-powered air conditioners can keep room temperature
between 25 and 28 C, and scientists are still working to expand the range.

Zhang Fulin, the director of the science and technology office under the
Ministry of Construction, said the breakthrough could have great
implications for emission reductions.

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