Science NIE ACTIVITY
is a series presented in
MATTERS!
… IN CONNECTICUT
By Ethan Novek, Greenwich High School
Using Low Temperature Waste Heat to Convert Carbon
Dioxide Into Valuable Byproducts
Climate change and ocean acidification are global crises primarily caused by rising
levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In the U.S., over 50% of carbon dioxide
emissions are from industrial and electricity generation sources. Presently, there
are no economically viable systems for separating carbon dioxide from flue gas or
converting it into a valuable byproduct. Current carbon sequestration systems reduce
energy efficiency by over 30% and increase operating costs by over 90%.
The system I invented converts untapped low temperature waste heat into the valuable
byproducts of electricity, captures carbon dioxide, and bonds it into one of the world’s
essential fertilizers, urea. The system takes flue gas before it would go up the chimney,
combines it with a liquid (ammonia + water) forming a salt containing the carbon
dioxide. Another container with water is connected to the salt solution. Between the
salt solution and water is a semi-permeable membrane, which blocks the salt, while
allowing water to travel freely across the membrane toward the solution with more
salt. This process is called osmosis, which generates significant pressure that can spin
a generator to produce electricity. Once all the water travels across the membrane,
the salt solution is heated with low temperature waste heat, producing carbon dioxide
and Ammonia gases. These gases react together in an alcohol, forming ammonium
carbamate, which is converted into urea.
It is the first system to simultaneously capture and sequester carbon dioxide while
improving the efficiency of power plants. My invention can slow down climate change by
making the elimination of carbon dioxide economically viable, efficient and sustainable.
Skills and Knowledge:
Although I’m a junior in high school, I’ve been self-studying chemistry and environmental
engineering since middle school. My independent research and the development of my
invention required a strong understanding of solution chemistry, in-depth background
research on environmental problems and weaknesses in current processes and 50+
hours a week of experimentation and brainstorming. Much of my research involved
investigating various processes that were considered unconnected, yet had overlapping
chemistry or other characteristics.
045274
Science Matters!
collaboration with the Connecticut Academy of
Science and Engineering.
For more information, visit www.ctcase.org
or call 860.571.7143.
WORDS TO KNOW
• Climate Change: A change in climate patterns due to rising levels of
heat trapping gases, especially CO2, in the atmosphere
• Ocean Acidification: The change in ocean chemistry from higher
quantities of CO2 reacting with ocean water, forming an acid
• Carbon Dioxide: A colorless, odorless gas produced when carbon containing materials
are burned in air
• Flue Gas: Gases emitted by a power plant when fuel is burned
• Waste Heat: Heat emitted by processes that use energy
• Urea: An essential fertilizer for modern farming
• Semi-Permeable Membrane: A material allowing certain substances
to pass through and not others
• Osmosis: A process which water passes through a semipermeable
membrane from a less salty solution into a saltier one
• Ammonium Carbamate: A substance produced from ammonia and
carbon dioxide in the absence of water that can easily be converted into Urea
• Power Plants: Systems that generate and distribute electricity
Meet the Scientist
I’ve always been curious about how things work and how they can be improved. When I
was eleven, I became fascinated with chemistry. A retired science teacher recommended
the book Uncle Tungsten, by Oliver Sachs, which describes the Periodic Table through his
autobiographical stories and historic applications. Energy became my focus when I learned
about its application in chemistry, particularly in decomposition reactions and phase change,
allowing untapped energy sources to be used to produce more valuable forms of energy (e.g.
electricity) and useful compounds. Also, I’m a long distance runner and love breathing clean air.
Ethan Novek has won several awards for his project including First Place and the Innovation
Exploration Grand Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, First Place at the
2015 Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair and top prizes at Connecticut and National JSHS. He
is a winner of the 2015 H. Joseph Gerber Medal of Excellence, an award of the Connecticut Academ
of Science & Engineering presented in partnership with the Connecticut Center for Advanced
Technology.
Hyperlinks:
http://www2.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/clean-power-plan-existing-power-plants
http://www.oliversacks.com/books-by-oliver-sacks/uncle-tungsten/
http://www.wfsb.com/Clip/11580714/ethan-novek-shows-us-his-new-invention
For Students and Teachers Making Curriculum Connections and
Connecticut State Deaprtment of Ecucation (CSDE): Science Framework
Common Core State Standards (CCSS): Mathematics
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP3 Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4 Model with mathematics
• CCSS.Math.Practice.MP5 Use appropriate tools strategically
• Scientific inquiry is a thoughtful and coordinated attempt to search out, describe, explain and predict natural phenomena
• Scientific inquiry progresses through a continuous process of questioning, data collection, analysis and interpretation
•Scientific inquiry requires the sharing of findings and ideas for critical review by colleagues and other scientists