Atmospheric Water Harvesting Using Thermoelectric Cooling Technology

Abstract

Given Indonesia's average atmospheric humidity of 75% to 85%, this study explores the potential of atmospheric air as an alternative clean water source to mitigate water shortage.The research employs a thermoelectric cooler (TEC 1-12706), supplemented with a heatsink and fan on its hot side to enhance heat dissipation.A copper-made cooling coil serves as both a heat absorber and a condenser for atmospheric air passing through it.The cooling source for the coil (diameter=7.9mm;length=1000mm) is derived from a waterblock attached to the cooler's cold side.Experiments were conducted across three environmental conditions: laboratory, residential area, and coastal area, with the air flow rate of the heatsink cooling fan varied.Data collection spanned a humidity range of 72.27%-83.01%.Findings revealed a direct correlation between the air mass flow rate of the heatsink cooling fan and the amount of water extractable from the air.In initial testing at the Laboratory, at a mass flow rate of 0.046 kg/s it produced 4.25 ml/hour and at 0.069 kg/s it produced 4.625 ml/hour and at 0.092 kg/s it produced 5.5 ml/hour.Furthermore, from the three environmental conditions tested, more water can be extracted on the coast than in laboratories and residential areas.In coastal areas, the air mass flow rate is 0.092 kg/s, water that could be extracted is 7.75 ml/hour, while in the laboratory environment it is 5.5 ml/hour and in residential areas it is 4.75 ml/hour.These promising results encourage further research to augment water extraction by maximizing the contact surface between the air cooler and the coil surface, potentially offering a viable solution for clean water shortage.

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