What is the CARBIOX Project?
The CARBIOX project is an innovative start-up focused on producing electricity from industrial thermal waste. At its core lies a proprietary patent for a thermal machine that operates on a low-temperature transcritical CO₂ power cycle, specifically between 70°C and 90°C. This system, known as MiniFlash, transforms available heat starting from as low as 40°C into clean electricity, using exclusively natural CO₂ as the working fluid. The project has already seen studies and functional prototypes that confirm its feasibility, and the next phase aims to develop a prototype capable of measuring and simulating all parameters essential to validate the concept. The use of CO₂ is particularly clever because its critical point at 31°C allows it to function efficiently in both liquid and gaseous states, making it ideal for low-temperature thermal machines.
Main Benefits of the CARBIOX System
The CARBIOX system offers several impressive advantages that set it apart from conventional energy solutions:
- Generates energy from low-temperature heat sources starting at 40°C
- Uses natural CO₂ exclusively, avoiding toxic fluids
- Eliminates the need for pumps by leveraging temperature variations and fluid density differences
- Compact, modular, and elegant design with superior performance compared to current standards
- Applicable across various sectors including domestic micro-cogeneration, distributed sustainable micro-generation, and heat recovery from existing plants
- Suitable for residential, tertiary, agricultural, and off-grid applications
- Patent protection filed with INPI in Paris, ensuring intellectual property security
How the Technology Works
The CARBIOX system is composed of multiple compartments where CO₂ exists in different physical states and densities. This clever design allows the system to harness temperature variations to drive the cycle without the need for mechanical pumps, which typically consume energy and reduce overall efficiency. By eliminating pumps, the system achieves a considerable increase in performance. The transcritical CO₂ cycle operates efficiently within the low-temperature range, making it ideal for recovering waste heat that would otherwise go unused. This approach not only boosts energy efficiency but also contributes to reducing environmental impact.
Fields of Application
The versatility of the CARBIOX system opens up a wide range of applications. It is perfectly suited for domestic micro-cogeneration, providing households with a sustainable way to generate electricity and heat simultaneously. Distributed sustainable micro-generation is another key area, enabling decentralized energy production close to the point of use, which reduces transmission losses. Additionally, the system can recover heat from existing industrial plants, turning waste heat into valuable electricity. Its adaptability extends to residential buildings, tertiary sectors like offices and commercial spaces, agricultural settings, and even off-grid locations where traditional energy infrastructure is lacking.
Intellectual Property and Collaboration
The CARBIOX technology is protected by a patent currently under examination by the INPI in Paris. This ensures that the innovative aspects of the system remain secure and exclusive to the company and its partners. Technical details are shared only under confidentiality agreements with trusted partners and investors. The project is actively seeking industrial collaborators to help develop and scale the technology across its various potential applications. This collaborative approach aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy solutions by combining expertise and resources.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – by providing clean electricity from low-temperature heat sources
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – through the development of innovative thermal machine technology
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – enabling decentralized and sustainable energy generation
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – by recovering waste heat and improving energy efficiency
- SDG 13: Climate Action – reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions
Looking Ahead: The Future of CARBIOX
The next phase for CARBIOX involves further studies and the creation of a prototype that will allow comprehensive measurement and simulation of all relevant parameters. This step is crucial to demonstrate the full validity and scalability of the project. With its unique approach to harnessing low-temperature heat and the exclusive use of natural CO₂, CARBIOX is poised to make a significant impact in the sustainable energy landscape. The company’s search for industrial partners highlights its commitment to collaboration and innovation, aiming to bring this promising technology to market and contribute to a cleaner, more efficient energy future.
