Water collection from the air using a portable system
The system is as portable as a bag and has twice the capacity of standard technologies in terms of energy efficiency and moisture collection.
South Korea has made a huge step forward in sustainable water collection by developing an environmentally benign system inspired by the natural mechanisms that plants and animals use. Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), led by Dr. Hyuneui Lim, developed an innovative portable moisture-harvesting system. This system can capture moisture from the air, purify it, and produce water suitable for human use. This technology has the potential to be utilized in a broad variety of contexts, ranging from military operations to survival scenarios to distant camping, all of which require water that can be consumed.
The development is centered on creating a solution that is efficient, compact, and kind to the environment to address the issue of water scarcity. A total of three kilograms is the weight of the system, and it has already been certified by public bodies as having passed tests that check both its water-gathering capabilities and the safety of the drinking water it generates. A relationship with Puresys is what the team intends to use to commercialize the technology. They aim to provide various solutions, ranging from portable units to larger-scale systems.
Using a cycle of adsorption, desorption, condensation, and sterilizing is the fundamental technology that underpins this device for collecting moisture. Compared to conventional dehumidification equipment, this method enables the efficient collection of moisture, resulting in a twofold increase in energy efficiency. To ensure that the collected water is safe for human consumption, the system can sterilize germs on cooling fins by rapidly heating them to a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. The water is then cleansed by utilizing a filter constructed from diatoms, an environmentally benign and biodegradable material.
Conventional methods of collecting moisture, such as air conditioners and dehumidifiers, frequently encounter difficulties caused by refrigerants, including noise, weight, and the influence on the environment. In contrast, the new system makes use of thermoelectric modules, which have the effect of considerably improving the efficiency of moisture collecting while simultaneously reducing the amount of energy that is consumed. With the following statement, the group stressed the worldwide significance of this technology: “This development is a meaningful advancement in enabling the production of drinking water in areas where it is scarce.”They are dedicated to building systems that deliver clean and potable water worldwide by addressing essential challenges such as water shortages and droughts.