A novel approach to combating air pollution from associated gas flares by innovative hot air balloon technology

• Introduces an integrated system utilizing hot air balloon technology to disperse pollutants and improve air quality. • Theoretical design and modeling show that pollutant concentration at 100 m altitude is 114.16 μg/m³, reducing ground-level pollution. • Converts wasted heat from flaring into electrical energy using a balloon-based generation system. • A 3.5 m diameter balloon generates 225.2 W of power and 1 A of current with an 85°C temperature difference. • The system achieves rapid ascent (8.2 seconds) and offers a high level of control for energy and pollution management. Large quantities of associated natural gas have been burned in oil fields since the discovery of oil, until its flares were called the eternal fire. The combustion products cause significant air pollution in work environments and surrounding communities, where a huge waste could be invested in the economic development of oil-producing countries. This research presents a novel hot air balloon technology integrated with hot gases from associated gas flares to disperse pollutants (CH₄, CO₂, SO₂, CO, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds) at proper heights, thus refining air quality near ground level. Specifically, this system utilises wasted energy from burning associated gas to generate electrical energy to address the economic loss connected to gas flaring. Theoretical design and a theoretical model derived from the literature are used to measure pollutant concentrations at different balloon altitudes while considering the impact of pollutant discharge point on air quality near the ground surface. The results indicate that the pollutant concentration of 114.16 μg/m 3 at 100 m of balloon altitude. Afterwards, a balloon of 3.5 m diameter is constructed and successfully integrated to an electricity generation system. In turn, the results reveal the generation of 225.2 W of power and 1 A of current within an ascent time of just 8.2 seconds, accomplished with a temperature difference of 85°C between the interior and exterior of the balloon. Accordingly, this advanced technology not only disperses hazardous gaseous combustion products away from human populations but also exploits lost thermal energy, aiding to sustainable energy solutions and elucidating high operational efficacy. In other words, the potential of this technology is assured as an efficient technique to mitigate air pollution from associated gas flares while generating valued electrical energy.