The company, based in the town of Shefayim in central Israel, intends to test the ground-breaking air conditioning in six restaurants in Tel Aviv. If all goes according to plan, nitrogen air conditioning units should hit the market in the summer of 2023.
The basic principle of air conditioning is liquid nitrogen. “We create energy from the pressure that occurs between liquid and gaseous nitrogen,” said CEO Tal Leizer. “We use liquid nitrogen with a temperature of -196 degrees Celsius. When it turns into a gas, it creates a very strong pressure, and we use that pressure to activate a mechanical engine.”
Leizer explained that her team was working with cryogenic liquids at extremely low temperatures as part of an unrelated project when they realized the potential for using nitrogen for air conditioning. “We are now calculating the carbon footprint. We use liquid nitrogen, which is a by-product of oxygen produced for hospitals. And our device emits nitrogen, an inert gas that we breathe,” Leizer described.
Liquid nitrogen is commonly used as a cooling medium in many industries. Leizer and her team came up with the idea of building on existing technology and using it to develop a system for cooling outdoor air. “Everyone is amazed at how simple it is, how we had this energy right under our noses, we just didn’t think of how to use it,” Leizer comments on the discovery.
“Compare this to other air conditioners with gas, which is toxic and pollutes the environment. We do not use any polluting gases. And we don’t use electricity. Electric air conditioning adds warmth to the atmosphere. We have an alternative that does not add heat to the atmosphere,” the director names the essential advantages of the new technology.
Conventional air conditioning units require significant amounts of electricity and emit chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which deplete the Earth’s ozone layer. In addition, uncleaned air conditioning ducts collect dust and bacteria, which then spread through the air.
The Kensho air conditioner does not use water, there is no moisture in it and it does not generate any noise. The disinfection capsule cleans the air from chemicals and bacteria. The device is portable and can be used both indoors and outdoors. For example, restaurants using this unit will be able to comfortably serve diners outside despite the heat.
In terms of maintenance, it is necessary to replace the nitrogen once every 7 to 10 days (depending on how the unit is used). Unfortunately, the company does not indicate how the exchange will be carried out, nor its price. The cost of purchasing the equipment should not be significantly different from the prices of conventional air conditioners, which, combined with zero electricity costs, can mean significant savings.
