New portable device extracts drinking water from the air

Researchers have developed a portable device that can extract drinking water from the air. It should be particularly energy efficient and therefore particularly suitable for areas with water shortages.

A new technology promises to be able to extract drinking water from the air while using only half as much energy as previous methods. To achieve this, researchers developed a portable device that can extract water more efficiently and quickly using nickel-titanium materials.

The technology could improve the lives of many people, especially in regions with water scarcity. The approach is not only efficient, but also easy to use. The device should even fit in a backpack and therefore be easy to transport. While other systems are often large and energy intensive, the new device uses a method called elastocaloric cooling.

New device collects drinking water from the air

The innovative technology is intended to reduce energy consumption through a compact design. The researchers compared the device to traditional dehumidifiers, which often rely on desiccant wheels that absorb water from the air.

The results show that the new device can collect more water in 30 minutes while using significantly less energy than comparable systems. A particular advantage of the prototype is its ability to adapt to different humidity levels. The device could primarily work maximally efficiently in regions such as Indonesia, the Philippines or Haiti, as the humidity there is optimal.

Components come from the 3D printer

The researchers emphasize that the system is easily scalable, meaning they can adapt it to larger communities or even entire households in the future. They not only have the potential for water production in mind, but also sustainability. Since the device is partly made of 3D printed materials, the collected water must be filtered to remove possible microplastic residues.

In the long term, this device could play an important role in combating the global water crisis. There is particularly great potential in crisis situations where access to clean water is often lacking. The hope is that clean drinking water will become accessible to everyone – and perhaps this dream will soon become a reality.

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