REVIEW OF DIFFERENT METHODS

OF
AIR WATER GENERATION
TECHNIQUES
Prof. Siddique Ahmed
Rohit Desai#1, Nitin Puthran#2, Prasad Kokitkar#3, Bhaskar Mudaliyar#4
SIES GST Mechanical Department

Abstract- This review is based on different
methods of water generation from air. However,
each method has some limitations along with
advantages. The methods used are
dehumidification by refrigeration (by liquid
desiccant method), vapour compression method
and using Peltier effect method. In case of
water generation using desiccant method, water
produced is low in quantity. In case of vapour
compression method, system becomes bulky
and heavy due to use of compressor. Peltier
effect method of water generation is recently
developed. Results obtain from Peltier effect
method are quite satisfactory.
Keywords: Atmospheric water generation,
Dehumidification, peltier, dessicant,
dehumidification and cooling
I.INTRODUCTION
Now days water scarcity is becoming major
issue globally. Therefore, researchers are
finding new solutions to solve this problem.
One solution was generation of water from air.
This is due to fact that air almost contains
12500 km3 of water.
1. Dehumidification Using
In wet desiccation method, a brine solution is
exposed to atmospheric air (humid air) which
absorb water vapour from that air. The
solution is then sent to regenerator. In
regenerator, water vapour is extracted from
solution. The advantages of this method are
having high efficiency and the ease with which
it can adapted to renewable energy,
particularly solar. This method is used by
Niewenhuis et al. 2012.
Discussion and result:
We infer that Liquid desiccant method seems
to have potential to generate water
theoretically. But when this method implanted
by researchers and when prototype was made
and tested it the results obtained were not
satisfactory. Only 72.1 mL of water is
generated

Liquid Desiccant Method: 2. Dehumidification by using

composite desiccant material
through fixed focus concentrating dehumidified
solar thermal power:
This method is similar to liquid desiccant
method. However, in this method composite
desiccant material is used. Highlights of this
method are:
 Scheffler reflector is used for fast
water production.
 Composite desiccant material
LiCl/sand, CaCl2/sand & LiBr/sand
have been used.
 Absorption rate and regeneration rate
are carried out for water production.
 115 ml/day of water can be produced Discussion and result:
from CaCl2/sand
This method was used by Anbarasu and
In this method, absorption is carried out during
Pavithra (2011) for generation of water from
night time in open atmosphere whereas
regeneration process takes place during day air. However, prototype made became quite
time by using newly designed Scheffler bulky due to use of compressor and noisy. But
reflector. we infer that it is more effective than
compared to Peltier device.
Discussion and result:
4. Dehumidification using Peltier
Water absorption during night time and
regeneration during daytime was new idea and
effect (by thermoelectric cooler):
could be effective. However, its effectiveness This method is exactly same as that of Vapor
also depends upon composite material used. Compression Refrigeration method but here
During analysis, three composite desiccants we use a Peltier device to achieve the required
were used i.e. LiCl/sand (CM-1), CaCl 2/sand dew point temperature. Peltier device is
(CM-2) and LiBr/sand (CM-3). The results compact, has fewer moving parts, is energy
were 90mL/day,115mL/day,73mL/day of efficient and has a very long-life span which
water generated by CM-1, CM-2 and CM-3 requires very less maintenance.
respectively.
Peltier device consists of two side with
3. Dehumidification using vapour semiconductor junction between them. When a
compression method: current is passed through semiconductor
medium, one side get hotter and other side gets
A vapour compression refrigeration system colder. When humidified air passes over cold
consists of four main components: a side its temperature decreases and
compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion simultaneously its water holding capacity. Due
valve and an evaporator. It uses a circulating to decrease in capacity, water starts
liquid refrigerant as the medium which absorbs condensing. In research paper “Solar based
and removes heat from the space cooled. The atmospheric water generator utilisation of a
heat absorbed is then rejected elsewhere. In fresh water recovery: a numerical study”
case of dehumidification, humid air is blow (Kabeela el.at.2014)
over an evaporator using fan. Once the humid
air passes over an evaporator, temperature of T Inlet air System performance
air decreases. Due to decrease in temperature, E parameters
water starts condensing and air gets C T ( R Flo TEC Water Rat
us ℃ H w consu (g/h) e
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% (m3 power )
) /h) (W)
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Management Scenario 2025 Problems,
2[7] 25. 60 129 65.5 27.9 1.7 Issues and Challenges. WATER
3 .1 8 SCENARIO 2025, Prof. P.G. Shinde,
3[1 27 82 13. 100 40.3 16. Head, Department of Geography, Ex-Vice
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Thane. Chairman, Board of Studies of
10 30 65 80. 135 5 0.3 Geography, University of Mumbai.
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Discussion and result:

Peltier effect is similar to vapour compression
cycle. In case of Peltier effect, compressor and
other devices are avoided which make it
portable and reduces noise. Also, it can be
powered by solar energy (using solar panel)
which make this method energy efficient.
IV: CONCLUSION
Although there are different methods available
to generate water from air but each method has
certain disadvantages. Also amount of water
produced is very low in quantity. In case of
Peltier effect method, results obtained were
quite satisfactory. Also amount of water
generated can increased by adding some
devices and modifications in AWG structure.
Even though the Efficiency of Peltier module
is comparatively low but with appropriate
design of AWG system the system efficiency
i.e. the water produced per watt of electricity
supplied could be high than other systems
References:
1. Anbarasu T., Pavithra S. “Vapour
Compression Refrigeration System
Generating Fresh Water from Humidity in
the Air”, 2011
2. Niewenhuis B., Shepperly C., Beek R.V.,
Kooten E.V. “Water generator water from
air using liquid desiccant method”, 2012
3. Kabeela A.E, Abdulazizb M., Emad M.S.
“Solar-based atmospheric water generator
utilisation of a fresh water recovery: A
numerical study”, 2014
4. V Ganesan “Engineering
Thermodynamics “.
5. Comprehensive Optimization for
Thermoelectric Refrigeration Devices by
Robert A. Taylor