Researchers in Saudi Arabia have created a system capable of extracting water from the air using only gravity, without the need for electricity or any expensive energy source.
A team of researchers, led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (CHEW), Saudi Arabia, has developed an innovative passive cooling technology that could change the way we harness atmospheric water in arid regions.
This system is capable of extracting water from the air using only gravity, without the need for electricity or any expensive energy source.
The simplicity and efficiency of this method are reinforced by the use of inexpensive and widely available materials, making it a viable solution for areas with limited infrastructure.
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Passive cooling not only has the potential to reduce temperature of electronic devices, but also makes it possible to reuse the collected water for activities such as irrigation, washing and cooling buildings.
According to a Gan, the atmosphere contains six times more water than all freshwater rivers combined, and this water can be harnessed by technologies like this.
However, in arid regions such as Saudi Arabia, most atmospheric water harvesting technologies still rely on electricity, making their adoption difficult in rural areas due to the high cost of infrastructure.
Advancement in research
The team led by Gan made significant progress in solving this problem, with the collaboration of Professor Dan Daniel and Shakeel Ahmad, a postdoctoral fellow in the group.
They found that by adding a lubricating coating made from a commercial polymer and silicone oil, they significantly increased the efficiency of water collection by gravity.
This coating prevents water droplets from being trapped on the surface of the device, eliminating the need for active condensate collection.”Our coating effectively eliminates droplet attachment, allowing for true passive water collection“, explained Ahmad.
The system operates using only passive radiative cooling, with no electricity consumption, and is based on Gan's previously developed double-sided vertical architecture technology.
Originally designed to reflect thermal heat back into the sky and cool solar cells and electronics, this technology now also collects water generated during the process.
After undergoing rigorous testing over a year in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, the device was able to nearly double the water collection rate compared to other technologies.
Professor Daniel highlighted the savings provided by this innovation: “The system does not depend on electricity or mechanical parts such as compressors or fans, which reduces maintenance costs compared to traditional systems."
This project is part of ongoing research at KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies, with contributions from Associate Professor Gyorgy Szekely, and has been published in the renowned journal Advance Materials.