Desiccant Air-Loop Humidification for Low-Humidity Water Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In arid regions with limited access to freshwater, existing methods for obtaining water are costly and inefficient, leading to water shortages that impact human consumption, agriculture, and livestock, ultimately contributing to food shortages.
Innovation Solution
The Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) system condenses water vapor from air using a desiccant-based process, which includes compressing and humidifying air to maximize water extraction, and integrates with carbon dioxide capture and renewable energy sources for efficient water production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If desalination and water filtration processes are used to supply freshwater, then water availability is improved, but cost and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of water vapor from gas to liquid through condensation on cooled surfaces. The condenser coils maintain temperatures below the dew point of ambient air, causing water vapor to naturally condense and collect as freshwater, eliminating the need for high-energy desalination processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs passive condensation where ambient moisture in the air spontaneously condenses on the cooled surfaces without requiring external energy input for the phase change itself. The gravity-driven water collection and the natural heat transfer from warmer ambient air to the cooled condenser surfaces enable the system to operate with minimal energy consumption
2Quantity of substance
If groundwater exploitation is used to supply freshwater, then water availability is improved, but environmental harm and sustainability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts water vapor directly from the ambient air through condensation, bypassing the need to exploit groundwater resources. By capturing atmospheric moisture that would otherwise be wasted, the system provides an alternative freshwater source that does not deplete underground aquifers or cause environmental degradation
3Productivity
If air compression is increased to maximize water extraction, then water production efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the condenser surfaces to below the dew point of ambient air, enabling water vapor condensation without requiring high compression ratios. By optimizing the temperature differential between ambient air and condenser surfaces, the system achieves efficient water extraction with minimal compression energy input
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The AWG system effectively generates usable water even in low humidity areas, supporting agriculture, human consumption, and industrial needs while reducing environmental impact and energy costs through the use of renewable energy.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser configured to condense water vapor into liquid water from a closed air stream
Implementation Method 2
the closed desiccant circulation loop intersects the atmospheric air stream to extract water vapor from the atmospheric air stream
Implementation Method 3
to evaporate water vapor into the air circulation loop
Data Source
AI summary
An atmospheric water generation system comprises water vapor consolidation systems configured to increase the relative humidity of a controlled air stream prior to condensing water from the controlled air stream. The water vapor consolidation system comprises a fluid-desiccant flow system configured to decrease the temperature of the desiccant to encourage water vapor to be absorbed by the desiccant from an atmospheric air flow. The desiccant flow is then heated to encourage water vapor evaporation from the desiccant flow into a controlled air stream that circulates within the system. The humidity of the controlled air stream is thereby increased above the relative humidity of the atmospheric air to facilitate condensation of the water vapor into usable liquid water.