Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

Industries worldwide face increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints and optimize operational costs amidst volatile energy markets and supply chain disruptions. The demand for sustainable cold chain solutions and localized resource production is surging. This technology addresses these trends by transforming atmospheric CO2 into a valuable commodity on-site, reducing reliance on external suppliers and fostering greater energy independence for facilities.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Reduces logistics costs by ~33% through on-site dry ice production

02

Maximizes energy efficiency through waste heat reuse and HVAC air supply

03

Ensures business stability with compact design and robust IP protection

Market Opportunity
🧊 Food & Pharmaceutical Logistics
$350M globally (AI est.)
Cold chain demand for dry ice is increasing, but transportation costs and supply stability remain challenges. On-site production resolves these issues, contributing to quality preservation and cost reduction.
Major cold chain logistics providers Pharmaceutical manufacturers with global distribution Food processing and distribution companies
🏢 Smart Buildings & Facilities
$200M globally (AI est.)
Managing CO2 concentration in buildings directly impacts comfort and health. This technology combines air purification with energy-efficient HVAC, contributing to new value creation in the smart building market.
Commercial real estate developers HVAC system integrators Facility management service providers
🏝️ Remote & Island Infrastructure
$150M globally (AI est.)
Procuring dry ice in regions with vulnerable logistics infrastructure is costly and unstable. On-site production supports regional economic revitalization and improves essential living infrastructure.
Local government agencies for remote communities Fisheries and aquaculture operations Disaster relief and emergency service providers
🏭 Manufacturing: Cleaning & Cooling
$350M globally (AI est.)
Dry ice is essential for precision cleaning and cooling processes. Reduced environmental impact, stable supply, and shorter procurement lead times are expected to improve production efficiency and cut costs.
Semiconductor and electronics manufacturers Automotive component suppliers Industrial cleaning equipment manufacturers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a broad scope covering the entire dry ice manufacturing system that uses atmospheric CO2 as a gas source. Key protected elements include the wet TSA separation and concentration unit, the waste heat recovery and reuse mechanism, and its application for HVAC air supply, which were recognized as clear differentiators from prior art. Despite an initial office action, the patent was granted after submitting arguments and amendments under accelerated examination, indicating robust and difficult-to-invalidate claims, providing licensees with strong business security.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the integrated system for dry ice production and HVAC air supply. White space exists in novel applications for the captured CO2 beyond dry ice, such as direct chemical synthesis or advanced material manufacturing, and in integrating the system with specific industrial exhaust streams for enhanced capture efficiency.

Economic Impact
~$550K/year estimated logistics and CO2 procurement cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

For dry ice procurement in remote or island regions, assuming transportation costs account for ~20% of the dry ice unit cost. For a company using 1,000 tons of dry ice annually, transportation costs could be ~$350K/year (AI est.). Additionally, assuming CO2 gas purchase costs are ~$200K/year (AI est.), implementing this technology could reduce these combined costs by ~$550K/year (AI est.).

Speed to Market
4× faster than in-house development
This technology is an application of wet TSA CO2 gas separation and concentration units, with established fundamental algorithms and key component integration. The system configuration and device functions described in the patent specification are clear, likely shortening the proof-of-concept phase. Energy-saving mechanisms like waste heat recovery and unliquefied gas reuse are also detailed, enabling licensees to rapidly develop prototypes and conduct validation tests, potentially reducing time-to-market by approximately 3 years compared to in-house development.
Competitive Positioning

X: Environmental Contribution & Economic Efficiency
Y: Supply Chain Resilience

Business Models & Applications
🎁 On-site Dry Ice Production & Sales
Licensees could not only use the dry ice produced by this system for their own product cooling but also establish new revenue streams by selling it to local and surrounding businesses.
💡 System Provision & Licensing
Developing a dry ice production and HVAC system based on this technology and licensing or selling it to other companies and municipalities could enable expansion into broader markets.
🌿 CO2 Emission Credit Generation & Trading
By capturing and utilizing atmospheric CO2, licensees contribute to CO2 emission reduction, creating value as emission credits. These could be sold on trading markets to monetize environmental value.
♻️ Integrated Facility HVAC System Services
Propose highly efficient HVAC systems utilizing CO2-removed air. Through deployment in office buildings, commercial facilities, and factories, this could offer services that combine energy savings with improved comfort.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🌱 Agriculture & Plant Factories
Optimized CO2 Fertilization & Temperature Control
In plant factories, CO2 recovered and purified by this system could be used for fertilization to promote growth and increase yields. Simultaneously, leveraging the cooling capacity from the dry ice production process could optimize temperature and humidity control within the factory, potentially enhancing both production efficiency and quality.
🚨 Emergency Disaster Relief
On-site Cooling Material Supply Infrastructure
In disaster situations, this system could produce dry ice on-site with just power and air, providing a rapid supply of cooling materials for medicines and perishable foods. It has the potential to significantly contribute to medical and life support in affected areas, even when logistics are disrupted.
🧪 Water Treatment & Purification
CO2-Based pH Adjustment System
In water treatment processes, recovered CO2 could be used for wastewater pH adjustment, potentially reducing chemical usage and environmental impact. This is particularly promising for alkaline wastewater treatment, offering an efficient and sustainable method to strengthen compliance with environmental regulations.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 22-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technical Validation & Basic Design
Duration: 4 months
Evaluate compatibility with the licensee's existing facilities, CO2 demand, and HVAC systems. Optimize the system configuration for the deployment environment, conducting basic design and cost estimation.
Phase 2: Prototype Development & Validation
Duration: 9 months
Develop prototypes for key modules (CO2 separation/concentration, waste heat recovery, dry ice production) based on the basic design. Conduct performance verification and energy-saving effect validation under real-world conditions.
Phase 3: Commercialization & Market Rollout
Duration: 9 months
Build the final system incorporating validation results and commence full-scale deployment and operation. Collect and analyze operational data to plan further efficiencies and expansion strategies for surrounding regions.
Technical Feasibility
This technology's system configuration, centered on a wet TSA CO2 gas separation and concentration unit, is detailed in the patent specification, with clear inter-device linkages. System construction is estimated to be relatively straightforward by combining existing CO2 separation/concentration, refrigeration, and liquefaction technologies. Mechanisms for waste heat recovery and unliquefied gas reuse can be implemented with existing heat exchangers and pump technologies, allowing integration into existing factory or facility infrastructure without significant new capital investment.
Success Scenario
Implementing this technology in a remote island food processing plant could reduce dry ice transportation costs, previously sourced externally, by approximately $350K annually (AI est.). Simultaneously, utilizing CO2-removed air for factory HVAC could reduce air conditioning electricity costs by up to 20%. This combination of supply chain strengthening and significant operational cost reduction is estimated to generate over $550K in annual economic benefits (AI est.).
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2022-084014
REGISTRATION NO.
7174205
FILING DATE
2022/05/23
GRANT DATE
2022/11/09
EXPIRATION DATE
2042/05/23
PATENT HOLDER
岡野　浩志
Examination History
2022年06月03日
出願審査請求書
2022年06月03日
早期審査に関する事情説明書
2022年07月05日
早期審査に関する通知書
2022年07月12日
拒絶理由通知書
2022年08月02日
意見書
2022年08月02日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2022年08月30日
特許査定