Device that harvests water from thin air

[Serpo]

Takes an Aussie...........


Device that harvests water from thin air wins the James Dyson Award

By Bridget Borgobello (http://www.gizmag.com/author/bridget-borgobello/) - November 11, 2011 8 Pictures (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures)
http://images.gizmag.com/hero/airdrop-8.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures) Edward Linacre has won the 2011 James Dyson Award for his Airdrop irrigation concept
Image Gallery (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures) (8 images)

Young Melbourne-based inventor Edward Linacre has won the 2011 James Dyson Award (http://www.gizmag.com/dyson-awards-elevator-pitch-australian-inventors/19367/), making it the second year in a row where the prestigious prize has gone to an Aussie. Linacre stole this year's competition with his Airdrop irrigation concept that collects water from thin air. The Swinburne University of Technology design graduate was driven to transform an ancient cooling technique into a new sub-surface irrigation system, following the enduring Australian drought that saw high levels of farmer suicide along Australia's Murray- Darling Basin.


http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/airdrop-0.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures#1)
http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/airdrop-1.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures#2)
http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/airdrop-2.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures#3)
http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/airdrop-3.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures#4)

The Airdrop irrigation concept is a low-tech design that uses the simple process of condensation to harvest water from the air. Utilizing a turbine intake system, air is channeled underground through a network of piping that quickly cools the air to soil temperature. This process creates an environment of 100-percent humidity, from which water is then harvested. The collected water is stored in an underground tank, ready to be pumped out via sub-surface drip irrigation hosing. The Airdrop design also features an LCD screen displaying water levels, pressure strength, solar battery life and system health.
http://images.gizmag.com/inline/airdrop-1.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/pictures#2)
"The one that I made in the backyard at mum's house was creating about a liter of water a day," Linacre told Gizmag. Although the backyard trial was successful on a small scale, Linacre did prove that it could be implemented on a large agricultural scale. "The low-tech solution is perfect for rural farmers," explained Linacre. "[It's] something they can install, something they can maintain ... taking water out of the air and irrigating their crops."
The James Dyson Award is an international competition that attracts designs and inventions from young creators all over the world. As the winner, Linacre will receive GBP10,000 (US$14,000), with a further GBP10,000 (US$14,000) going to Swinburne's Faculty of Design.
Edward described the Airdrop system to Gizmag at the Australian Design Awards, in a video that we shot earlier this year.http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/" target="_blank">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jYyHpM9-TM (http://www.gizmag.com/airdrop-wins-james-dyson-award/20471/)

[Serpo]

Has California got or getting anything like these.............



Warka Water towers are designed to take advantage of condensation
http://thumbs.media.smithsonianmag.com//filer/07/a0/07a0f6be-b0b5-4a4b-97c0-c0a5e9e2b846/warka_water.jpg__800x600_q85_crop.jpg

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-tower-pulls-drinking-water-out-of-thin-air-180950399/#RhqRLMW6BCkIK053.99

[Serpo]

Fog or dew collection is an ancient practice. Archaeologists have found evidence in Israel of low circular walls that were built around plants and vines to collect moisture from condensation. In South America’s Atacama Desert and in Egypt, piles of stones were arranged so that condensation could trickle down the inside walls where it was collected and then stored.http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/03/07/the-fog-collectors-harvesting-water-from-thin-air/http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/FogQuest9s-600x450.jpg



http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Stenocara_JochenB-300x292.jpg
Stenocara beetle. Photo credit: JochenB

Scientists in Australia are developing an entirely different fog collection strategy modeled after the Stenocara beetle of the Namib Desert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsMJNNshPOs&feature=related). The Namib Desert in southwest Africa is one of the driest places on earth, receiving less than 2 centimeters of rain annually, but night and morning fog from the Atlantic Ocean are the lifeblood of the desert’s flora and fauna. When the fog sweeps in, the dime-sized Stenocara beetle clambers up the dunes, sticks his rear end into the air and faces his back to the fog. The configuration of hydrophilic (water-loving) bumps and hydrophobic (water-repellent) troughs between the bumps on his shell collect the moisture and channel water droplets right into the beetle’s mouth.

[Serpo]

A Billboard That Condenses Water From HumidityPeru's University of Engineering and Technology has designed a billboard that creates clean drinking water from atmospheric humidity.http://pop.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/05/54cb0f0b5584b_-_peru-billboard-01-0413-de.jpghttp://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a8875/a-billboard-that-condenses-water-from-humidity-15393050/

[osoab]

Has California got or getting anything like these.............



Warka Water towers are designed to take advantage of condensation
http://thumbs.media.smithsonianmag.com//filer/07/a0/07a0f6be-b0b5-4a4b-97c0-c0a5e9e2b846/warka_water.jpg__800x600_q85_crop.jpg

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-tower-pulls-drinking-water-out-of-thin-air-180950399/#RhqRLMW6BCkIK053.99

Are those really in use?

[Dogman]

There has to be some level of humidity in the air for setups like those to work. Below that level the water will evaporate, sorta like rainfalls that you can see falling but it never hits the ground.

[ximmy]

Just get one of these...

http://www.waterfromair.com/images/waterunit_index.gif

[Serpo]

Im looking at low tech,

what is that thing Ximmy, does it need power , how much ect....



http://www.permaculture.org.au/images/kyle_chamberlain_6.jpghttp://www.permies.com/t/23408/homestead/Air-collecting-water-air

[Ponce]

I am working going in another direction.....allowing the trees to create energy...I already know how but I am not smart enough to make what I need.......I'll have to find someone to make it for me.

Do you realize how many trees are in this world?......one tree alone will create energy from three to six of my invention, enough to load up a 12V battery.....or so says Ponce.........by the way, there must be wind to move the tree all over the place, not strong wind but some.

V

[Serpo]

what power from the movement of the trees branches

[Ponce]

Is what I call "My invention"........... even saying.......power from trees is saying to much. I did do a micro one, just to see if it would work.......and it does.


V

[Serpo]

Is what I call "My invention"........... even saying.......power from trees is saying to much. I did do a micro one, just to see if it would work.......and it does.


V

http://www.vttresearch.com/media/news/solar-power-from-energy-harvesting-trees-%E2%80%93-watch-the-video

[Ponce]

Sorry Serpo, can't see it from home, have to wait till Monday........

V

[aeondaze]

This guy doesn't explain how it operates really. But its easy. You can build one for yourself for less than $300.

Here is the concept and parts..

100 W PV cell - $100
12 V PC fan - $5
10 Peltier devices - $30

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/z/Ba0AAOSwAHZUM6q0/$_57.JPG

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10pcs-TEC1-12706-12V-60W-Heatsink-Thermoelectric-Cooler-Peltier-Plate-Module-U-/271892454083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item3f4e0d9ac3

Metal/plastic materials - $20
Tubing - $5
12 V car battery - $50
Charger - $20
Sundries (components/microcontroller) - $30 (? maybe less)

I don't know how much water it will produce, but a minimum of 1L/day (.264 Gallon / day) sounds about right. It all depends on the humidity, ambient temperature, temperature/surface area of the peltier device and air flow.

To me the system is absolutely no good for normal soil irrigation, but partial zone irrigation at worst or at best, to cover the water loss due to evaporation in an aquaponics setup it would be ideal.

Having said that, water loss is at its greatest in hot dry conditions which would the most inefficient time to use this electrical condenser. You may as well supplement the system with rain water tanks when the weather is favorable.

I've thought about doing this before, the guy is no genius. Its all rather old school technology. :)