A new technology could extract litres of drinking water a day from the air, providing great value to millions of people. It involves an apparently simple and inexpensive turbine that is partially placed in the ground.
Cooled air
Worldwide, there are still some 600 million people who barely have access to clean drinking water. Every 40 seconds, a child dies from drinking dirty water. By 2030, half of humanity is expected to live in areas with too little water to meet demand. That is why entrepreneurs Nancy Curtis and Don Zacherl of VICI Labs set to work on what has now become the WaterSeer. This turbine draws moisture from the air using wind energy.
The air is full of water vapour. When this water vapour is cooled, it condenses into a liquid. This natural principle also causes water to form on the outside of an iced glass and is what the WaterSeer is based on. The turbine - part of which is about two metres below ground - condenses pure water from the air without the use of electricity or chemicals. The wind turbine above ground rotates internal fan blades; as a result, air is sent to a condensation chamber below ground. The metal sides of the chamber are cooled by the cold earth in the ground. The water vapour that has formed on the sides is then condensed and the water flows into a reservoir. A user can pump this water to the surface.
Field research
Field studies have shown that the system can produce up to 11 litres of water per day. In more humid areas, this can be as high as 14 litres. According to its maker, the WaterSeer outperforms existing atmospheric water collection devices. WaterSeer is a good solution for poor communities living far from water sources. A 'garden' with a few turbines can produce enough water for an entire community.
VICI Labs is working with the National Peace Corps Association to ensure the WaterSeer is installed where it is needed. All the money they raise through sponsorship is used to improve the product.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: WaterSeer
