An Atmospheric water generator (AWG), or atmospheric condenser, produces pure drinking water from the humidity of the surrounding air. An AWG is a Fancy dehumidifier: air is passed through a cooled coil, causing water to condense. The amount of water that can be produced depends on the humidity, the volume of air passing through the coils, and the size of the machine and the temperature. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... A dehumidifier is a household appliance that reduces the level of humidity in the air. ...

The device is used in situations where pure drinking water is otherwise difficult to obtain.

In practical AWGs the air is filtered first, to reduce pollutants and bacterial contamination. Commercial systems use reverse osmosis as a final purification step. Some systems use ozone, or brass silver or copper as a long-lasting biocide in the coil and main tank. This reduces offensive smells and possible disease. Reverse osmosis is a separation process that uses pressure to force a solvent through a membrane that retains the solute on one side and allows the pure solvent to pass to the other side. ... It has been suggested that Ozone generator be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ...

Principle of operation

Basic operating principle of an AWG

An AWG uses refrigeration techniques optimized to condense water from air. Blower driven air is drawn into the system through an electrostatic filter. In the machine's exterior housing, a compressor circulates refrigerant through a coil array located in the path of the air providing a temperature differential between the air and coil surface, resulting in condensation. Image File history File links Operation. ... Image File history File links Operation. ... Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, and rejecting it elsewhere for the primary purpose of lowering the temperature of the enclosed space or substance and then maintaining that lower temperature. ... Electrostatics is the branch of physics that deals with the force exerted by a static (i. ... Compressor has several meanings: A gas compressor is a mechanical device that takes in a gas and increases its pressure by squeezing a volume of it into a smaller volume. ... A refrigerant is a compound used in a heat cycle that undergoes a phase change from a gas to a liquid and back. ... Water vapor condensing over a cup of hot tea Condensation is the change in matter of a substance to a denser phase, such as a gas (or vapor) to a liquid. ...

The condensation is funneled into a holding tank. A level switch in the holding tank controls the water making cycle.

Water in the tank must be purified. In some commercial systems, reverse osmosis removes pure water to a secondary tank, and brine is drained. Reverse osmosis is a separation process that uses pressure to force a solvent through a membrane that retains the solute on one side and allows the pure solvent to pass to the other side. ...

In other proposals, water in the tank is pumped through an ozone generating UV light chamber to kill bacteria and then through high and low density charcoal filters to remove solids and oxygenates. It is finally collected back in the holding tank. The water filtration cycle is both flow and time controlled. Water is dispensed by tap. It has been suggested that Ozone generator be merged into this article or section. ... “UV” redirects here. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... Activated carbon from a water filter used for carbon filtering in powder and block form Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal, is a general term which covers carbon material mostly derived from charcoal. ... In polluted or even unfiltered mountain water there are lots of parasitic organisms and inorganic chemicals that are dangerous to humans. ...

Copper and brass fittings are used in practical systems as copper poisons common bacteria, fungi and algae, but is proportionally less harmful to humans.

The actual amount of water produced depends on the relative humidity and ambient air temperature. Relative humidity measures the amount of water vapour present in the air at a given temperature. The higher the relative humidity and air temperature, the more efficient an AWG will be. A conventional AWG becomes inefficient when the ambient temperature is below 15.5°C (60°F) or the relative humidity is below 30%. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Considerations

• Needs no water source, only air.
• Can generate from 20 litres to over 250.000 litres or more in 24 hours.
• Is designed for maximum cost efficiency.
• Contains no harmful minerals or chemicals
• Can be powered by solar,wind,dyno or aqua electrical generation systems.

A wide range of Atmospheric generators are available, from a home/office unit producing 28 litres a day, to 1200 litres and even more than 500.000 litres per day for industrial bottling plants.

Details

The economy of an atmospheric water generator depends on the capacity of the machine and the air's humidity and temperature.

AWGs are normally powered by electricity. Some models operate from solar, wind, gas or oil. These which can be of great help for relief efforts.

Cost Details

The following is the cost per liter calculation for a typical 120 litres per day AWG with power consumption 2.6kW @ INR(Indian Rupee) 4.5 per kWh.

The cost of producing 1 liter of water will typically range from $US0.03 (85-100% RH) to $US0.06 (40-50% RH). This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Total annual electric costs : 2.6kW × 24 hrs/day × 365 days/year ×INR 4.5 per kWh = Rs.1,02,492/year ≈ US$2,277.60/year (US$1 = INR45).......A

Total annual water production : 120 litres per day × 365 days/year = 43,800litres/year..........B

COST PER LITER = A ÷ B = US$0.05

References

Alternative methods

The below listed methods are not AWGs but other alternative methods of water making.

• One company is using the desiccant lithium chloride to pull water from the air, after which the water must be boiled off and distilled.

Source: Sciperio Inc. Lithium chloride behaves as a fairly typical ionic compound, although the Li+ ion is very small. ...

• Another company is involved in making a machine that extracts water from car exhausts. Although the machine is in a prototype stage with a lot of problems with water quality, it is another non-conventional means of water making.

Source: LexCarb LLC

External links

• In popular culture: In the fictional Star Wars universe, atmospheric water generators were the source of livelihood for the Lars family.^[1]

• Atmospheric Water Generators at the Open Directory Project - lists commercial sites.