Not a plant to be seen, the desert ground is too dry. But the air contains water, and research scientists have found a way of obtaining drinking water from air humidity. The system is based completely on renewable energy and is therefore autonomous.
Cracks permeate the dried-out desert ground, the landscape bears testimony to the lack of water. But even here, where there are no lakes, rivers or groundwater, considerable quantities of water are stored in the air. In the Negev desert in Israel, for example, annual average relative air humidity is 64 percent – in every cubic meter of air there are 11.5 milliliters of water.
Research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart working in conjunction with their colleagues from the company Logos Innovationen have found a way of converting this air humidity autonomously and decentrally into drinkable water. “The process we have developed is based exclusively on renewable energy sources such as thermal solar collectors and photovoltaic cells, which makes this method completely energy-autonomous. It will therefore function in regions where there is no electrical infrastructure,” says Siegfried Egner, head of department at the IGB. The principle of the process is as follows: hygroscopic brine – saline solution which absorbs moisture – runs down a tower-shaped unit and absorbs water from the air. It is then sucked into a tank a few meters off the ground in which a vacuum prevails. Energy from solar collectors heats up the brine, which is diluted by the water it has absorbed.
Because of the vacuum, the boiling point of the liquid is lower than it would be under normal atmospheric pressure. This effect is known from the mountains: as the atmospheric pressure there is lower than in the valley, water boils at temperatures distinctly below 100 degrees Celsius. The evaporated, non-saline water is condensed and runs down through a completely filled tube in a controlled manner. The gravity of this water column continuously produces the vacuum and so a vacuum pump is not needed. The reconcentrated brine runs down the tower surface again to absorb moisture from the air.
“The concept is suitable for various sizes of installation. Single-person units and plants supplying water to entire hotels are conceivable,” says Egner. Prototypes have been built for both system components – air moisture absorption and vacuum evaporation – and the research scientists have already tested their interplay on a laboratory scale. In a further step the researchers intend to develop a demonstration facility.
It might work
And water is going to be harder to get in the future so we should spare as much as possible so that there wont be any need for searching for new water supplies
It might work
I am not so sure about the transportation of the water from the moon , but the water thats contained in the air is not so drinkable as well.we have limited suplies of water , and the air is poluted wich means the water in it too.We would have to clean the water if we were to drink it
The principle of the process
The principle of the process is as follows: hygroscopic brine – saline solution which absorbs moisture – runs down a tower-shaped unit and absorbs water from the air. It is then sucked into a tank a few meters off the ground in which a vacuum prevails. Energy from solar collectors heats up the brine, which is diluted by the water it has absorbed. Because of the vacuum, the boiling point of the liquid is lower than it would be under normal atmospheric pressure. This effect is known from the mountains: as the atmospheric pressure there is lower than in the valley, water boils at temperatures distinctly below 100 degrees Celsius.
The evaporated, non-saline water is condensed and runs down through a completely filled tube in a controlled manner. The gravity of this water column continuously produces the vacuum and so a vacuum pump is not needed. The reconcentrated brine runs down the tower surface again to absorb moisture from the air.
perhaps there is a solution...
Well,this is really really great,but the amount of water gotten from the sand is not enough..But I read that the scientists found the water on the moon..perhaps if they could find a way to transport it to the Earth that would help...Actually,I'm sure that that would be helpful:)
Amazing!
This is really good! That they found the way but we don't have to go so far! We have to keep the water! To care about the water! If we are causing problems to something, we are trying to find a way with causing problems to something else! Then, what will we have in the end?! If we are using the air, maybe then the air will have problems!? Did you think about this? We don't know what will it be in the future! We are thinking the air have no end but if something happens?! If we go so far to have no air, what we'll be doing then?
We have to try repairing the things we have done to the nature, to try repairing them! We have to have better laws about keeping our mother nature!
There is technology
The scientists have invented that machine. You can see it here http://www.science-parliament.eu/forums/2010-water-science-and-technology ( 2010: Water, Science & Technology -> Water from air?) . It can also be powered from solar collectors.
I'd like to see that work
This is a great idea indeed. The only problem is that the people that want water to be scarce will not support this. But if people themselves could privately build some technical equipment to use air humidity for drinking water we wouldn't have to be afraid of the lack of water. And if everyone had access to these machines there would be enough water to satisfy the whole world.
Quote your sources
Source: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Added by Andreas (Moderation Team)
Sceptical
Unfortunately I cannot share your hopes. This invention may be great scientifical progress but I don't see how it could solve the water problem. The amount of water in our planet is limited and we have to live with it.
I don't believe that air pollution would affect the effectiveness of this method, because it should only concentrate water in it's pure chemical form (which means that it won't even be drinking water without more intervention and additions).
However the balance of the water humidity is very important. By trying to take water from the atmosphaire we would disturb this balance and we could cause serious problems to the environment. Think only of the carbon dioxyde that has been released in the air and in reality is only a small percentage compared to the total mass or the atmosphaire. This small amount of human interference is the cause of exceptionaly grave problems now. I don't think we can afford to "play" with nature's laws.
Anyway, I believe this method would be something like the use of sea-water : The most poorer countries, who are really in need for it wouldn't be able to afford it, so it woudn't change much.
I totally agree with you, the
I totally agree with you, the human being has already thrown off balance too many nature systems, we should try to go on with what we already have, although the scientific research in new projects is as important. We have to consider every possibility!
I agree with honj90
Hello!
I agree with honj90, it is necessary to have caution about these extremely serious issues, even though I don't know if water wouldn't be polluted (please, I want THE CREATER OF THIS FORUM to tell me more about these issue).
About making rain, it is still a very uneffective technique - it rarely works - and I'm affraid the substances used for it will damage the Environment.
I was wondering...
We know that the amount of water in our planet is certain. When we pollute the environment and disturb the ecosystems, it does not rain so much as it did before, so we face water-problems. However, the water remains in the atmosphere, and, just because it does not rain so much, it exists there in bigger quantities. My point is, why can't we use technology just for extracting from the atmosphere the extra water? For example, creating the proper conditions so that to cause rain.I have heard that people in China did it once, to put out a fire. In this way, we will not be disturbing the balance of the ecosystem! If only we could fing a way to develop an affordable technology for that!
like the others said it is a
like the others said it is a good idea but the air is too polluted!!!
Pollution
I agree with Francesco, the biggest problem is always the same: pollution. We must work to reduce it!
Good if used wisely
I also see this technology as a very promising one, as, with no CO2 emission (except in these facilities' production, of course), we may obtain water simply from air.
Nevertheless, we must consider some aspects. Firstly, we must do more research and studies to make this technology more profitable, more adapted to large scale water needs and to make sure water obtained through it is healthy, clean and safe (per example, if it isn't polluted if the air is also polluted).
Secondly, if we really start using this technology, we must be careful not to extract too much air humidity, because, if we do so, we will affect plants and animals who can use this water source and we will seriously damage the water cycle and so disturb all of Earth's biodiversity.
If we don't remind this, this technology will be much more negative than its absence.
Water in the desert?
Could air humidity be a solution for people living in the desert? Maybe, this could even be a solution to the water problems many regions are facing! I find this method interesting, challenging, promising!
However,according to what is mentioned above, this method has not been tasted on a large scale. We need to further improve it, if we want to use it in the future.
Something else I would like to bring to your attention: what if the air in some areas is polluted? Who can ensure us that the quality of the water produced in this way will be high, the water will be safe to drink?
I think we still have a long way ahead of us, before we can rely on air humidity for coverig our needs!
Ok
Totally agree with you, but if the air is polluted the problem is bigger...unfortunately.
Is this a safe method;
In my opinion, drying out the air entails damaging the balance of the ecosystem. Air has a certain percentage of water in form of gases which may be vital for the survival of many species. And I am asking you if there has come out any research that proves that there are now negative side effects from this method;
YAP
Totally agree, that this method can have harmful effect on plants and animals since there are some species that take the water form air.
What's more, I wonder it this technology won't be expensive enough. Yes, I understand that when it comes to environment, one can not think about the money, but still, people are more eager to use a technology that is cheap enough for them.