ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR(AWG)

A SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

UNAIS P.P

20020226

In partial fulfilment for the award of the

DIPLOMA IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ORPHANAGE POLYTECHNIC COLLAGE EDAVANNA

MALAPPURAM KERALA, INDIA-676541

2022-2023
 BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that the Seminar Report ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR

is the bonafide work presented by UNAIS P.P Reg No :20020226 carried out
of the work my supervision in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Board of Technical
Education at Orphanage Polytechnic College Edavanna for year 2023.

Mr.RASHID MP Mr. MOHAMED SHAFI K

Head of the department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Engineering
Orphanage polytechnic college ,
Edavanna , Kerala – 676541
Lecturer
Department of mechanical
Orphanage polytechnic college ,
Edavanna , Kerala – 676541

Submitted for the seminar viva voce held on……………………….

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

 ABSTRACT

An Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) is a technology that extracts water from the air
by condensing moisture through a cooling system. This paper presents an overview of AWG
technology, including its working principles, design parameters, and potential applications.
The review focuses on the advantages and limitations of AWGs, such as their energy
efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, as well as their suitability for different
environments and water quality requirements. The paper also discusses the challenges and
opportunities for further research and development of AWGs, such as improving their
performance, reducing their environmental impact, and increasing their affordability. Overall,
AWGs offer a promising solution for addressing water scarcity and sustainability challenges,
particularly in regions with high humidity and low rainfall, or in emergency situations where
access to safe drinking water is limited.

This Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) project aimed to design, construct and evaluate a
device that extracts water from the atmosphere by condensing humidity. The design includes a series
of filters to remove impurities and a compressor to cool the air, which passes through the filters and is
cooled below the dew point, causing the water vapor in the air to condense. The resulting water is
collected and stored for use. The construction involved the assembly of the filters, compressor, and
water collection tank, all connected with food-grade tubing. The performance of the AWG was tested
under varying humidity and temperature conditions, with laboratory testing confirming that the water
produced was clean and safe for consumption. The project successfully produced 2-5 liters of water
per day, depending on the humidity and temperature, and provides a promising solution for areas with
limited access to clean water.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We express our sincere thanks to Mr. MANSOOR ALI PP principle of Orphanage

Polytechnic College Edavanna for the support and constant encouragement.

We express our gratitude to Mr.RASHID MP Head of the Department in Mechanical

Engineering for the support and constant encouragement

We extend our deep sense gratitude to our seminar guide by Mr. MOHAMED
SHAFI lecturer in Mechanical Engineering to give as valuable guidance and whole hearted
encouragement throughout this seminar

We thank all our teaching and non - teaching staffs and friends for sharing their
knowledge and valuable suggestions.

Last but not least we thank the almighty for the blessing showered on us to present this
seminar report.

UNAIS P.P

Reg No : 20020226
 ACRONYMS

AWG - Atmospheric Water Generator

HEPA - High-Efficiency Particulate Air
UV - Ultraviolet
RO - Reverse Osmosis
TDS - Total Dissolved Solids
PPM - Parts Per Million
GPD - Gallons Per Day
PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch
CFM - Cubic Feet Per Minute
VOC - Volatile Organic Compound
1.
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION:
Access to clean drinking water is a critical issue around the world, particularly in areas
affected by drought, contamination, or limited access to water sources. Atmospheric Water
Generators (AWGs) have emerged as a promising solution to this challenge. AWGs are
devices that extract water from the atmosphere by condensing humidity. These devices work
by passing air through a series of filters to remove impurities and then cooling the air until
the water vapor in it condenses. The resulting water is then collected and stored for use.
AWGs provide an alternative source of clean water in areas with limited access to clean
drinking water. This project aims to design, construct, and evaluate the performance of an
AWG, including testing the device under varying humidity and temperature conditions to
determine its effectiveness in producing clean drinking water. The project could help
provide a sustainable and reliable source of clean water, particularly in areas affected by
water scarcity or contamination.

1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE PRESENT RESEARCH WORK:

The motivation for the present research work on Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG)
project is the critical issue of access to clean drinking water in many parts of the world.
Millions of people around the globe suffer from water scarcity, poor water quality, or limited
access to safe drinking water sources. AWGs have emerged as a promising solution to this
problem, offering an alternative source of clean water by extracting water from the
atmosphere.
 
The AWG technology has been around for several years, but it is only recently gaining more
attention due to its potential for providing a sustainable and reliable source of clean water,
particularly in areas affected by water scarcity or contamination. The present research work
aims to design, construct, and evaluate the performance of an AWG, including testing the
device under varying humidity and temperature conditions to determine its effectiveness in
producing clean drinking water.
 
The goal of the present research work is to contribute to the development of affordable and
efficient AWGs that can help alleviate the global water crisis. The project's success could
provide an alternative source of clean water in areas with limited access to clean drinking
water, improving the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
 1.3 OBJECTIVE:

 Designing an efficient AWG system that can extract water from the atmosphere and
produce a sufficient amount of clean drinking water.
 Constructing the AWG system, including assembling the filters, compressor, and water
collection tank.
 Testing the performance of the AWG system under varying humidity and temperature
conditions to determine its effectiveness in producing clean drinking water.
 Evaluating the quality of the water produced by the AWG system through laboratory
testing to ensure it is safe for consumption.
 Developing a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable AWG system that can
provide an alternative source of clean drinking water in areas affected by water scarcity,
poor water quality, or limited access to safe drinking water sources.

1.4.APPLICATION OF ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR:

Overall, the AWG project has the potential to provide an alternative source of clean
drinking water in areas affected by water scarcity, poor water quality, or limited access to
safe drinking water sources.

1.4.1 DISASTER RELIEF:

AWGs can be used in disaster-stricken areas where the existing water infrastructure has
been damaged or destroyed, providing an alternative source of clean drinking water.

1.4.2 RURAL AREAS

In rural areas where access to clean drinking water is limited, AWGs can provide a
sustainable and reliable source of water.

1.4.3 MILITARY OPERATIONS:

AWGs can be used in military operations to provide clean drinking water in areas where it
is not readily available

1.4.4 RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS:

AWGs can be installed in residential and commercial buildings to supplement or replace

the existing water supply

1.4.5 AGRICULTURE:

AWGs can be used in agriculture to provide water for irrigation, particularly in areas
where the water supply is limited.
1.4.6 TOURISM: AWGs can be installed in tourist resorts and remote vacation homes to
provide a reliable source of clean drinking water.
1.4.7 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES:

AWGs can be used in healthcare facilities to provide a reliable source of clean water for
medical procedures and patient consumption.

1.4.8 HUMANITARIAN AID:

AWGs can be used in humanitarian aid programs to provide clean water to displaced
communities and refugees.

1.5 PROCESS OF AWG:

The Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) project involves the following basic process

1.5.1 AIR INTAKE:

The AWG device pulls in air from the surrounding environment through a filter to remove
dust, debris, and other contaminants.
 
1.5.2 COOLING:

The air is then cooled using a compressor and a heat exchanger, which lowers the
temperature of the air to the dew point, causing water vapor to condense into droplets.
 
1.5.3 CONDENSATION:

The condensed water droplets are collected on a surface, such as a chilled metal plate or a
hydrophobic material, and then channeled into a collection tank.
 
1.5.4 FILTRATION:
The collected water is then passed through a filtration system, including activated carbon
filters and reverse osmosis membranes, to remove any remaining impurities and ensure that
the water is safe for consumption.
 
1.5.5 STORAGE:

The purified water is stored in a holding tank, ready for use.

 
1.5.6 MONITORING:

The performance of the AWG system is continually monitored, including temperature,

humidity, and water quality, to ensure that the device is operating efficiently and effectively.
1.6 LAYOUT OF THESIS:
CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Vapour compression refrigeration system, can be utilised to generate fresh drinking

water by extracting water from humid ambient air by using Cooling Condensation process. In
a cooling condensation based atmospheric water generator, a compressor circulates
refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator coil which cools the air surrounding it,
lowering the air’s temperature to that of dew point and causing water to condense. A
controlled-speed fan pushes filtered air over the coil. The resulting water is then passed into a
holding tank with purification and filtration system to keep the water pure. Atmospheric
water generating technology offers 99.9% pure drinking water 365 days a year.
The atmospheric water generator is an environmentally safe source of sustainable water.
The water generator, made from air-conditioning and dehumidifier parts, can generate
enough amount of water to meet the drinking water requirements of a regular household. It
also addresses the need for safe drinking water in remote areas and responds to the impending
scarcity of potable water in certain areas due to the effects of global warming and natural
disasters. It can also replace or supplement the currently available water devices in the market
to reach the more remote areas (Anbarasu and Pavithra, 2011).
Asenior design project was aimed at designing and creating a prototype of an
atmospheric water generator (Niewenhuis et.al. 2012). They have tried to incorporate Liquid
Desiccant method to extract humidity from air and convert it into drinking water. Wet
desiccation is a process where a brine solution is exposed to humid air in order to absorb
water vapour from that air. The solution is then sent into a regenerator where the water
vapour is extracted from the solution. This method has grown in popularity because of its
efficiency and the ease with which it can be adapted to renewable energy, particularly solar.
In their paper (Niewenhuis et.al. 2012) and others have also described a novel and unique
method to extract water from air. They have said that it is possible to compress humid air so
much that it will start condensing at the ambient temperature itself.
As pressure increases the dew point rises; thus, enough compression will force the dew
point above the ambient temperature resulting in spontaneous condensation. 10 But
compressing air to extract water could potentially require pressures up to five times the
ambient pressure. This will require a very sturdy tank that can handle high amounts of stress
in its walls. This method has great potential for low energy demands, especially if one was
able to recapture some of the energy in the compressed air using a turbine or piston. The
energy efficiency of this design option has great promise but it is heavily dependent on
compressor and decompressor efficiency and humidity. The primary advantage of pressure
dehumidification is the low energy requirement; the only unavoidable loss is the pressure
applied to the water vapour.
However, any inefficiency in the compression/decompression cycle is amplified by the
large volume of air processed per unit water produced. Additionally, the rate of production
when driven by natural convection cooling to the atmosphere is too slow for significant
production; some mechanism to speed up this heat transfer needs to be implemented,
increasing the energy cost. (Kabeela et.al. 2014) In his paper “Solar-based atmospheric water
generator utilisation of a fresh water recovery: A numerical study” has done thermodynamic
analysis for a Peltier device which is used to develop a device that uses the principle of latent
heat to convert molecules of water vapour into water droplets called the Atmospheric Water
Generator. It has been introduced a bit before, though it is not very common in India and
some other countries. It has a great application standing on such age of technology where we
all are running behind renewable sources. Here, the goal is to obtain that specific
temperature, called the dew point temperature, practically or experimentally to condense
water from atmospheric humid air with the help of thermoelectric Peltier (TEC) couple
CHAPTER 3