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Post by Coolkat on Apr 13, 2017 12:15:51 GMT -8
This actually sounds promising. You can’t squeeze blood from a stone, but wringing water from the desert sky is now possible, thanks to a new spongelike device that uses sunlight to suck water vapor from air, even in low humidity. The device can produce nearly 3 liters of water per day, and researchers say future versions will be even better. That means homes in the driest parts of the world could soon have a solar-powered appliance capable of delivering all the water they need, offering relief to billions of people. ScienceMag |
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kenv
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Post by kenv on Apr 13, 2017 12:17:59 GMT -8
Cool!
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Apr 13, 2017 12:20:10 GMT -8
I remember reading about these contraptions a few years ago. The inventor claims output of 25 gallons per day--enough for a family of 4 or so to have drinking / cooking water. Not bad. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 13, 2017 12:34:28 GMT -8
Or this one. At 11 gallons a day, I'd think it worth investing in one. At $134 each, I might just install one for filling the pool, or watering the plants.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 13, 2017 12:48:12 GMT -8
True, but hot air will still be needed for water retrieval. Otherwise, tossing out herrings does no one any good.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Apr 14, 2017 7:49:32 GMT -8
Or this one. At 11 gallons a day, I'd think it worth investing in one. At $134 each, I might just install one for filling the pool, or watering the plants. I looked at this. My first question is how do you keep it clean? Wouldn't it become a big bowl of dead insects and worms in a stew of algae. I went on to Google it and got: www.reddit.com/r/IsItBullshit/comments/57a7gq/isitbullshit_the_waterseer_turbine_that_claims_it/I don't know if his math is correct but it sounds reasonable. I also Google'd the Warka. Their website is: www.warkawater.org/They sound a little more up and up but still there have been no test anywhere except Italy. Only 9 built so far. The unit cited at the top of the post is still just a proof of concept prototype but the use of hydrophilic material in very interesting to me. It also looks like it will be smaller and portable compared to the other devices mentioned. |
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Apr 14, 2017 7:55:33 GMT -8
Can't get what's not there. One article said that the current lower limit was 20% relative humidity. Yesterday, here in Tucson, the RH was 6%. It will be down to as low as 1% in June when water in the desert would be most needed.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 14, 2017 9:10:02 GMT -8
Can't get what's not there. One article said that the current lower limit was 20% relative humidity. Yesterday, here in Tucson, the RH was 6%. It will be down to as low as 1% in June when water in the desert would be most needed. And here on the coast where we have lots of humidity (and need water in summer, since it doesn't rain for months), would there be enough sun to make it work? I still think there has to be an easy and efficient way to harvest the fog (short of redwood trees or miles of cheesecloth). |
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Apr 14, 2017 10:13:03 GMT -8
Can't get what's not there. One article said that the current lower limit was 20% relative humidity. Yesterday, here in Tucson, the RH was 6%. It will be down to as low as 1% in June when water in the desert would be most needed. First I think it may involve the night humidity and possibly the dew point for collection part of the cycle. The details seem sparse on this new one like does it have an active fan or is a purely passive device. Maybe I missed something. |
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Apr 14, 2017 11:00:41 GMT -8
First I think it may involve the night humidity and possibly the dew point for collection part of the cycle. The details seem sparse on this new one like does it have an active fan or is a purely passive device. Maybe I missed something. My understanding is that the device is solar dependent to power the water extraction. |
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