System and method for making a building carbon neutral

Abstract

An air-handling system is provided and includes an air-handling unit (AHU) which outputs exhaust air with relatively high CO 2 content, a cooling tower, which is receptive of the exhaust air from the AHU and which is configured to cool water in the exhaust air and to output exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2 content and relatively high water content, and a duct. The duct is receptive of the exhausted air from the cooling tower and includes an air-conversion element configured to convert the exhausted air into fuel and air with relatively low CO 2 and water content and relatively high oxygen (O 2 ) content. The duct is configured to direct the air into the AHU.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air-handling system, comprising:
 an air-handling unit (AHU) which outputs exhaust air with relatively high CO 2  content;   a cooling tower, which is receptive of the exhaust air from the AHU and which is configured to cool water in the exhaust air and to output exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and relatively high water content; and   a duct receptive of the exhausted air from the cooling tower and comprising an air-conversion element configured to convert the exhausted air into fuel and air with relatively low CO 2  and water content and relatively high oxygen (O 2 ) content, the duct being configured to direct the air into the AHU.   
     
     
         2 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate duct by which the exhaust air from the AHU is directed to the cooling tower. 
     
     
         3 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust air with the relatively high CO 2  content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and the relatively high water content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm and a water content above about 30 gm/m 3 . 
     
     
         5 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air with the relatively low CO 2  and water content and the relatively high O 2  content has a pressure of about 1-6 atm. 
     
     
         6 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a storage system for storing and packaging the fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The air-handling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-conversion element uses sunlight to convert the exhausted air into the fuel and the air. 
     
     
         8 . The air-handling system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fuel comprises hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         9 . A method of air-handling, the method comprising:
 outputting exhaust air with relatively high CO 2  content from an air-handling unit (AHU);   receiving the exhaust air from the AHU in a cooling tower;   cooling water in the exhaust air in the cooling tower;   outputting exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and relatively high water content from the cooling tower;   receiving the exhausted air from the cooling tower in a duct comprising an air-conversion element configured to convert the exhausted air into fuel and air with relatively low CO 2  and water content and relatively high oxygen (O 2 ) content; and   directing the air into the AHU.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the exhaust air with the relatively high CO 2  content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and the relatively high water content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm and a water content above about 30 gm/m 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the air with the relatively low CO 2  and water content and the relatively high O 2  content has a pressure of about 1-6 atm. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising storing and packaging the fuel. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising using sunlight to convert the exhausted air into the fuel and the air by the air-conversion element. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the fuel comprises hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         16 . An air-handling system, comprising:
 an air-handling unit (AHU) which outputs exhaust air with relatively high CO 2  content;   a cooling tower, which is receptive of the exhaust air from the AHU and which is configured to cool water in the exhaust air and to output exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and relatively high water content; and   a CO 2  storage system for storing and packaging CO 2  drawn from the cooling tower.   
     
     
         17 . The air-handling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the exhaust air with the relatively high CO 2  content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm. 
     
     
         18 . The air-handling system according to  claim 16 , wherein the exhausted air with the relatively high CO 2  content and the relatively high water content has a CO 2  content higher than 700 ppm and a water content above about 30 gm/m 3 .