Atmospheric water generator explained

An atmospheric water generator (AWG), is a device that extracts water from humid ambient air, producing potable water. Water vapor in the air can be extracted either by condensation - cooling the air below its dew point, exposing the air to desiccants, using membranes that only pass water vapor, collecting fog,[1] or pressurizing the air. AWGs are useful where potable water is difficult to obtain, because water is always present in ambient air.

AWG may require significant energy inputs, or operate passively, relying on natural temperature differences. Biomimicry studies found that the Onymacris unguicularis beetle has the ability to perform this task.[2]

One study reported that AWGs could help provide potable water to one billion people.[3] [4] [5]

History

Incas were able to sustain their culture above the rain line by collecting dew and channeling it to cisterns.[6] Records indicate that they used water-collecting fog fences. These traditional methods were passive, employing no external energy source and relying on naturally occurring temperature variations.

In 2022 brine-based extraction technology was contracted by the US Army and the US Navy from Terralab and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).[7]

DARPA's Atmospheric Water Extraction program aims to develop a device that can provide water for 150 soldiers and be carried by four people. In February 2021 General Electric was awarded 14 million dollars to continue development of their device.[8]

In 2022, a cellulose/konjac gum-based desiccant was demonstrated that produced 13 L/kg/day (1.56 US gal/lb/day) of water at 30% humidity, and 6 L/kg/day (0.72 US gal/lb/day) at 15% humidity. The dessicant releases the water when heated to .[9]

In 2024 researchers announced a device that used vertical fins spaced 2 mm (0.08 in) apart. The fins are copper sheets, enveloped in copper foams coated with a zeolite. The water is released when the copper sheets are heated to 184 °C (363 °F). The fins become saturated in air with 30% humidity once per hour. Heated hourly, the harvester can produce 5.8 L (1.5 gal)/day per kilogram (2.2 lb) of material.

Technologies

Cooling-based systems are the most common, while hygroscopic systems are showing promise. Hybrid systems combine adsorption, refrigeration and condensation.[10] [11] Air wells are another way to passively collect moisture.

Cooling condensation

Condensing systems are the most common approach. They use a compressor to circulate refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator coil to cool the surrounding air. Once the air reaches its dew point, water condenses into the collector. A fan pushes filtered air over the coil. A purification/filtration system removes contaminants and reduces the risk posed by ambient microorganisms.[12]

The rate of water production depends on the ambient temperature, humidity, the volume of air passing over the coil, and the machine's cooling capacity. AWGs become more effective as relative humidity and air temperature increase. As a rule of thumb, cooling condensation AWGs do not work efficiently when the ambient temperature falls below 65F or the relative humidity drops below 30%.

The Peltier effect of semiconducting materials offer an alternative condensation system in which one side of the semi-conducting material heats while the other side cools. In this approach, the air is sent over the cooling fans on the cooling side, which lowers the air temperature. Solid-state semiconductors are convenient for portable units, but this is offset by low efficiency and high power consumption.[13]

Generation can be enhanced in low humidity conditions by using an evaporative cooler with a brackish water supply to increase humidity. Greenhouses are a special case because the interior air is hotter and more humid. Examples include the seawater greenhouse in Oman and the IBTS Greenhouse.

Dehumidifying air conditioners produce non-potable water. The relatively cold (below the dewpoint) evaporator coil condenses water vapor from the processed air.

When powered by coal-based electricity it has one of the worst carbon footprints of any water source (exceeding reverse osmosis seawater desalination by three orders of magnitude) and demands more than four times as much water up the supply chain than it delivers to the user.[14]

Hygroscopy

Hygroscopic techniques pull water from the air via absorption or adsorption, which desiccate the air. Desiccants may be liquid ("wet") or solid. They need to be regenerated (typically thermally) to recover the water.

The most efficient and sustainable method is to use an adsorption refrigerator powered by solar thermal, which outperforms photovoltaic-powered systems.[15] Such systems can use waste heat, e.g. for pumping or for overnight operation, when humidity tends to rise.

In 2024 a sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting technology using a fin-array adsorption bed powered by high-density waste heat demonstrated 5.8 liters per kg of sorbent per day at 30% humidity via a 1 l adsorbent bed and commercial adsorbents.[16]

Wet desiccants

Examples of liquid desiccants include lithium chloride, lithium bromide,[17] calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium formate, triethylene glycol, and [EMIM][OAc]. [18]

Concentrated brine can serve as a desiccant. The brine absorbs water, which is then extracted and purified. Some versions produce 5 gallons of water per gallon of fuel.[19] Concentrated brine, streamed down the outside of towers, absorbs water vapor. The brine then enters a chamber, under a partial vacuum and is heated, releasing water vapor that is condensed and collected. As the condensed water is removed from the system using gravity, it creates a vacuum which lowers the brine's boiling point. The system can be powered by passive solar energy.[20]

Hydrogels can capture moisture (e.g. at night in a desert) to cool solar panels[21] or produce fresh water.[22] [23] One application is to irrigate crops locating the hydrogel next to[24] [25] solar panel integrated systems or beneath the panels.[26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]

Solid desiccants

Silica gel and zeolite desiccate pressurized air.[32] One device consumes per liter of water. It uses a zirconium/organic metal-organic framework on a porous copper base, attached to a graphite substrate. The sun heats the graphite, releasing the water, which then cools the graphite.[33]

Fuel cells

A hydrogen fuel cell car generates one liter of potable water for every 8 miles (12.87 kilometers) traveled by combining hydrogen with ambient oxygen.[34]

Hydropanel

Potable water can be generated by rooftop solar hydropanels using solar power and solar heat.[35] [36] [37]

Energy

Unless the air is super-saturated with moisture, energy is required to harvest water from the atmosphere. The energy required is a function of the humidity and temperature. It can be calculated using Gibbs free energy.

Notes and References

  1. Rao . Akshay K. . Fix . Andrew J. . Yang . Yun Chi . Warsinger . David M. . Thermodynamic limits of atmospheric water harvesting . Energy & Environmental Science . Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) . 2022 . 15 . 10 . 4025–4037 . 1754-5692 . 10.1039/d2ee01071b . 252252878 .
  2. Nørgaard . Thomas . Dacke . Marie . 2010-07-16 . Fog-basking behaviour and water collection efficiency in Namib Desert Darkling beetles . Frontiers in Zoology . 7 . 1 . 23 . 10.1186/1742-9994-7-23 . free . 1742-9994 . 2918599 . 20637085.
  3. News: Yirka . Bob . Model suggests a billion people could get safe drinking water from hypothetical harvesting device . 15 November 2021 . Tech Xplore . en.
  4. News: 13 November 2021 . Solar-powered harvesters could produce clean water for one billion people . 15 November 2021 . Physics World.
  5. Lord . Jackson . Thomas . Ashley . Treat . Neil . Forkin . Matthew . Bain . Robert . Dulac . Pierre . Behroozi . Cyrus H. . Mamutov . Tilek . Fongheiser . Jillia . Kobilansky . Nicole . Washburn . Shane . Truesdell . Claudia . Lee . Clare . Schmaelzle . Philipp H. . October 2021 . Global potential for harvesting drinking water from air using solar energy . Nature . en . 598 . 7882 . 611–617 . 2021Natur.598..611L . 10.1038/s41586-021-03900-w . 1476-4687 . 8550973 . 34707305 . 238014057.
  6. Web site: Water II . foresightfordevelopment.org . Foresight For Development . 29 March 2022.
  7. Web site: Totty . Michael . September 24, 2007 . Innovations for Life : Awards . 2022-05-24 . www.wsj.com.
  8. Web site: Tucker . Patrick . The Military Wants To Produce Water From Air. Here's the Science Behind It . www.defenseone.com . 8 February 2021 . Defense One . 13 February 2021.
  9. Web site: Irving . Michael . Cheap gel film pulls buckets of drinking water per day from thin air . 2022-05-24 . 2022-06-04 . New Atlas . en-US.
  10. http://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/igb/en/documents/sheets/pt/1510_PB-pt_wasserausluft_en.pdf Fraunhofer
  11. Web site: April 25, 2016 . Innovation Making Waves Pulling Water From Air . Simon Fraser University.
  12. http://www.ajc.com/homefinder/content/shared/money/stories/2008/10/WILLIE_WATER_1015_COX.html Latest Willie Nelson venture: Water from Air
  13. Web site: Solid State Detectors - an overview ScienceDirect Topics . 2022-06-02 . www.sciencedirect.com.
  14. Peters . Greg M. . Blackburn . Naomi J. . Armedion . Michael . June 2013 . Environmental assessment of air to water machines—triangulation to manage scope uncertainty . The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment . en . 18 . 5 . 1149–1157 . 10.1007/s11367-013-0568-2 . 2013IJLCA..18.1149P . 111347244 . 0948-3349.
  15. Alobaid . Mohammad . Hughes . Ben . Calautit . John Kaiser . O’Connor . Dominic . Heyes . Andrew . A review of solar driven absorption cooling with photovoltaic thermal systems . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews . 76 . 2017 . 10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.081 . 728–742.
  16. Li . Xiangyu . El Fil . Bachir . Li . Buxuan . Graeber . Gustav . Li . Adela C. . Zhong . Yang . Alshrah . Mohammed . Wilson . Chad T. . Lin . Emily . 2024-07-12 . Design of a Compact Multicyclic High-Performance Atmospheric Water Harvester for Arid Environments . ACS Energy Letters . en . 9 . 7 . 3391–3399 . 10.1021/acsenergylett.4c01061 . 2380-8195 . 11250079 . 39022669.
  17. News: Chartrand . Sabra . 2001-07-02 . Patents; Draw water from air, measure how much water you drink and be kind to the fish you catch. . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-24 . 0362-4331.
  18. Su . Wei . Lu . Zhifei . She . Xiaohui . Zhou . Junming . Wang . Feng . Sun . Bo . Zhang . Xiaosong . Liquid desiccant regeneration for advanced air conditioning: A comprehensive review on desiccant materials, regenerators, systems and improvement technologies . Applied Energy . February 2022 . 308 . 118394 . 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118394. 2022ApEn..30818394S .
  19. News: Greenfieldboyce . Nell . October 19, 2006 . Water Extracted from the Air for Disaster Relief . en . NPR.org . May 5, 2022.
  20. Web site: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft . June 8, 2009 . Drinking Water From Air Humidity . May 5, 2022 . ScienceDaily . en.
  21. News: 12 June 2020 . Hydrogel helps make self-cooling solar panels . 28 April 2022 . Physics World.
  22. Youhong Guo . W. Guan . C. Lei . H. Lu . W. Shi . Guihua Yu . 2022 . Scalable super hygroscopic polymer films for sustainable moisture harvesting in arid environments . Nature Communications . 13 . 1 . 2761 . 2022NatCo..13.2761G . 10.1038/s41467-022-30505-2 . 9120194 . 35589809 . 248917548.
  23. Shi . Ye . Ilic . Ognjen . Atwater . Harry A. . Greer . Julia R. . 14 May 2021 . All-day fresh water harvesting by microstructured hydrogel membranes . Nature Communications . en . 12 . 1 . 2797 . 2021NatCo..12.2797S . 10.1038/s41467-021-23174-0 . 2041-1723 . 8121874 . 33990601 . 234596800.
  24. News: 15 April 2021 . Self-contained SmartFarm grows plants using water drawn from the air . 28 April 2022 . New Atlas.
  25. Yang . Jiachen . Zhang . Xueping . Qu . Hao . Yu . Zhi Gen . Zhang . Yaoxin . Eey . Tze Jie . Zhang . Yong-Wei . Tan . Swee Ching . October 2020 . A Moisture-Hungry Copper Complex Harvesting Air Moisture for Potable Water and Autonomous Urban Agriculture . Advanced Materials . en . 32 . 39 . 2002936 . 2020AdM....3202936Y . 10.1002/adma.202002936 . 0935-9648 . 32743963 . 220946177.
  26. News: These solar panels pull in water vapor to grow crops in the desert . 18 April 2022 . Cell Press . en.
  27. News: Ravisetti . Monisha . New Solar Panel Design Uses Wasted Energy to Make Water From Air . 28 April 2022 . CNET . en.
  28. News: 2 March 2022 . Strom und Wasser aus Sonne und Wüstenluft . 28 April 2022 . scinexx Das Wissensmagazin . de-DE.
  29. News: 1 March 2022 . Hybrid system produces electricity and irrigation water in the desert . 28 April 2022 . New Atlas.
  30. News: Schank . Eric . 8 March 2022 . Turning the desert green: this solar panel system makes water (and grows food) out of thin air . 28 April 2022 . Salon . en.
  31. Li . Renyuan . Wu . Mengchun . Aleid . Sara . Zhang . Chenlin . Wang . Wenbin . Wang . Peng . 16 March 2022 . An integrated solar-driven system produces electricity with fresh water and crops in arid regions . Cell Reports Physical Science . en . 3 . 3 . 100781 . 2022CRPS....300781L . 10.1016/j.xcrp.2022.100781 . 2666-3864 . 247211013 . free . 10754/676557.
  32. Web site: Solar-Powered Device Pulls Water Out of Thin (And Pretty Dry) Air . Prachi . Patel. IEEE. 13 April 2017.
  33. Web site: Hamilton . Anita . April 24, 2014 . This Gadget Makes Gallons of Drinking Water Out of Air . 2022-05-24 . . en.
  34. Web site: 2016 Toyota Mirai Fuel-Cell Sedan . 28 August 2016.
  35. Web site: 29 November 2017 . New rooftop solar hydro panels harvest drinking water and energy at the same time . 2017-11-30.
  36. LaPotin . Alina . Zhong . Yang . Zhang . Lenan . Zhao . Lin . Leroy . Arny . Kim . Hyunho . Rao . Sameer R. . Wang . Evelyn N. . 20 January 2021 . Dual-Stage Atmospheric Water Harvesting Device for Scalable Solar-Driven Water Production . Joule . English . 5 . 1 . 166–182 . 10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.008 . 2542-4785 . 225118164 . free.
    News article: News: Solar-powered system extracts drinkable water from 'dry' air . 28 April 2022 . Massachusetts Institute of Technology . en.
  37. Web site: Rain fed solar-powered water purification systems. . 21 October 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Atmospheric water generator".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.