Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators
Atmospheric water generators (AWGs) produce potable water from the moisture in the air, providing a potentially viable water source in austere locations or emergency response scenarios. In this study, the operating constraints of three existing commercially available AWG devices are investigated, co...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/accec9 |
| _version_ | 1797837532606496768 |
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| author | Anthony T Brenes Christopher M Chini |
| author_facet | Anthony T Brenes Christopher M Chini |
| author_sort | Anthony T Brenes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atmospheric water generators (AWGs) produce potable water from the moisture in the air, providing a potentially viable water source in austere locations or emergency response scenarios. In this study, the operating constraints of three existing commercially available AWG devices are investigated, compared to historical weather data from across the continental United States. Utilizing linear regression modeling and weather station data for the years of 1985–2019, the monthly and spatial trends of energy demand to produce water from these devices are estimated. Energy and water production efficiencies for the devices are highly dependent on environmental conditions with relative humidity (RH) and temperature as the two driving factors. Publicly available manufacturer specifications for each AWG system were modeled to predict yield and specific energy consumption (SEC). A spatial analysis depicts the change in SEC in kilowatt-hours per liter (kWh l ^−1 ) across the country at a monthly scale. SEC for refrigeration AWG ranged between 0.02 and 3.64 kWh l ^−1 and solar driven sorption was between 3.19 and 5.29 kWh l ^−1 , significantly larger than conventional water treatment energy demands. Additionally, the results are synthesized based on the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system, to approximate projected water production and energy demand for each environment, with arid climates demanding larger energy consumption per unit volume of water produced. Excluding arid and cold climate classes, solar powered refrigeration devices have the potential to operate more efficiently than solar driven sorption due to advances in photovoltaic solar panel technology, but still require more energy than alternatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:27:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7badc384ecc4df28d820a65488d4ec7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2634-4505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:27:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7badc384ecc4df28d820a65488d4ec72023-04-28T17:18:39ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability2634-45052023-01-013202500410.1088/2634-4505/accec9Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generatorsAnthony T Brenes0Christopher M Chini1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1208-3646Air Force Institute of Technology, Department of Systems Engineering and Management , 2950 Hobson Way, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433, United States of AmericaAir Force Institute of Technology, Department of Systems Engineering and Management , 2950 Hobson Way, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433, United States of AmericaAtmospheric water generators (AWGs) produce potable water from the moisture in the air, providing a potentially viable water source in austere locations or emergency response scenarios. In this study, the operating constraints of three existing commercially available AWG devices are investigated, compared to historical weather data from across the continental United States. Utilizing linear regression modeling and weather station data for the years of 1985–2019, the monthly and spatial trends of energy demand to produce water from these devices are estimated. Energy and water production efficiencies for the devices are highly dependent on environmental conditions with relative humidity (RH) and temperature as the two driving factors. Publicly available manufacturer specifications for each AWG system were modeled to predict yield and specific energy consumption (SEC). A spatial analysis depicts the change in SEC in kilowatt-hours per liter (kWh l ^−1 ) across the country at a monthly scale. SEC for refrigeration AWG ranged between 0.02 and 3.64 kWh l ^−1 and solar driven sorption was between 3.19 and 5.29 kWh l ^−1 , significantly larger than conventional water treatment energy demands. Additionally, the results are synthesized based on the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system, to approximate projected water production and energy demand for each environment, with arid climates demanding larger energy consumption per unit volume of water produced. Excluding arid and cold climate classes, solar powered refrigeration devices have the potential to operate more efficiently than solar driven sorption due to advances in photovoltaic solar panel technology, but still require more energy than alternatives.https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/accec9atmospheric water generatoratmospheric water harvesterspecific energy consumptionwater energy nexusalternative water sources |
| spellingShingle | Anthony T Brenes Christopher M Chini Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability atmospheric water generator atmospheric water harvester specific energy consumption water energy nexus alternative water sources |
| title | Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| title_full | Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| title_short | Temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial variability of energy intensity for atmospheric water generators |
| topic | atmospheric water generator atmospheric water harvester specific energy consumption water energy nexus alternative water sources |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/accec9 |
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