No edit summary
(Undo revision 119953 by Krystal (Talk))
(46 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:OPURDew Roof.jpg|thumb|left|Fig 1: Dew collection off of a roof in Croatia]]
== Abstract ==
 
The problem of obtaining clean drinking water is very wide spread among developing nations. The atmosphere contains an abundant amount of water in the form of vapor, however it can be difficult and costly to harvest. Atmospheric water vapor processing (AWVP), is a new field of research that is developing ways to obtain that vapor. One such method is known as radiative cooling. A surface radiates heat away until it drops below the dewpoint, causing moisture to condense on the surface. This is a process that occurs naturally, producing dew. The proposal is to harvest the dew that naturally forms on rooftops as a source of potable water. Rooftops made out of galvinized iron, plastic, or glass, in reagions that experience the right weather conditions will naturally produce a significant amount of dew. Simply by collecting this dew, a family can gather up to 2L of dew water per dew night. This work offers a primer to the topic of AWVPs, and a description of how to build a dew collection rig. Unfortunately, dewfall is not currently recorded in most standard meteorological archives; so the next step for this project is to offer a reliable means of regional assessment that is accessible to a layman.
 
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==


As the world’s population increases, fresh water supplies are being tapped out. Desalinization has become a necessary means of acquiring water; however current methods are usually quite costly and use fossil fuels. This is inappropriate for the developing world, where there is a serious need for increased fresh water availability. Atmospheric or atmospheric water vapor processing (AWVP) is an emerging technology in which the atmospheric water vapor is condensed and collected [1, 2, 9]. AWVP is a relatively new technology.  
As the world’s population increases, fresh water supplies are being tapped out. Desalinization has become a necessary means of acquiring water; however current methods are usually quite costly and use fossil fuels. This is inappropriate for the developing world, where there is a serious need for increased fresh water availability. Atmospheric water vapor processing (AWVP) is a new and emerging technology in which the atmospheric water vapor is condensed and collected.<ref name = "Sharan, 2006"> Sharan, G., 2006, "Dew harvest: to supplement drinking water sources in arid coastal belt of Kutch," Foundation Books, .</ref><ref name = "Rajvanshi et. al., 1981"> Rajvanshi, A. K., 1981, "Large Scale Dew Collection as a Source of Fresh Water Supply," Desalination, 36(3) pp. 299-306. </ref><ref name = "Habeebullah, 2009">Habeebullah, B. A., 2009, "Potential use of Evaporator Coils for Water Extraction in Hot and Humid Areas," Desalination, 237(1-3) pp. 330-345.</ref>
<br>
 
=== Operating Principle ===
There is approximately 4 g of water vapor per cubic metre of air in the earths atmosphere. This source of potable water is available virtually worldwide. AWVPs harvest this water, by condensing it from vapor to liquid.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 1993"> Wahlgren, R., 1993, "Atmospheric Water Vapour Processing," Waterlines, 12(2) pp. 20-22. </ref><ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"> Wahlgren, R. V., 2001, "Atmospheric Water Vapour Processor Designs for Potable Water Production: A Review," Water Research, 35(1) pp. 1-22. </ref>


=== Advantages ===
=== Advantages ===
* It is at an early stage in development, but has the potential to provide environmentally acceptable alternatives [12, 13] to standard water supplies.
* It is at an early stage in development, but has the potential to provide environmentally acceptable alternatives to standard water supplies.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 1993"/><ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
* Many AWVP designs favor decentralization of water distribution and avoidance of huge capital costs for infrastructure [13].
* Many AWVP designs favor decentralization of water distribution and avoidance of huge capital costs for infrastructure.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
* AWVP can be made appropriate, community-managed and community-maintained for developing countries [review].  
* AWVP can be made appropriate, community-managed and community-maintained for developing countries.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
* AWVP methods are competitive with desalination plants and simpler and less expensive to operate and maintain.  
* AWVP methods are competitive with desalination plants and simpler and less expensive to operate and maintain.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
* The amount of water produced would vary according to installation size, and be suitable to provide potable water to individuals or even thousands of people.  
* The amount of water produced would vary according to installation size, and be suitable to provide potable water to individuals or even thousands of people.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
* AWVP production can take place in a wide variety of locations. Thus, expensive water distribution infrastructure can be reduced or avoided.
* AWVP production can take place in a wide variety of locations. Thus, expensive water distribution infrastructure can be reduced or avoided.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>
<br>
* Chemically, water vapor in the atmosphere is as clean as the air around it. Naturally occuring dew is a potable source of soft water, generally low on any mineral content.<ref name = "Beysens et. al., 2004"> Beysens, D., Muselli, M., Mileta, M., 2004, "Is dew water potable? Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Dew on Atlantic Coast (Bordeaux, France), Mediterranean Coast (Zadar, Croatia) and Mediterranean Island (Ajaccio, Corsica Island, France)," Proceedings: Third International Conference on Fog, Fog Collection and Dew, Cape Town, South Africa, October, Anonymous pp. 11-15.</ref>
=== Disadvantages ===


== Background ==


== Background information ==
Currently, this article only considers AWVP approaches that use a cooled surface to condense water. The other common methods are using a controlled forced convection to concentrate the amount of vapor in the air, and chemical dessiants to cause it to condense.<ref name = "Wahlgren, 2001"/>


=== Dew Formation ===
==== Radiative Cooling ====
[[Image:Dew on a flower.jpg|thumb|left|Fig 2: Dew on a flower]]  
[[Image:Dew on a flower.jpg|thumb|left|Fig 2: Dew on a flower]]  
Interestingly, many desert and costal plants and animals depend on this source [4]. Naturally, the phenomenon of dew formation takes place due to night sky radiation cooling. On a clear night, heat energy is radiated away from the earth’s surface into the sky. As the surface temperature drops below the dew point, water vapor will condense into droplets. Dew is formed both from water vapor in the atmosphere in the form of dewfall, as well as from water in the soil in the form of dewrise.  
Interestingly, many desert and costal plants and animals depend on this source.<ref name = "Uwe, 1979">Uwe G., 1979, “In the Deserts of this Earth”,  Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. </ref> Naturally, the phenomenon of dew formation takes place due to night sky radiation cooling. On a clear night, heat energy is radiated away from the earth’s surface into the sky. As the surface temperature drops below the dew point, water vapor will condense into droplets. Dew is formed both from water vapor in the atmosphere in the form of dewfall, as well as from water in the soil in the form of dewrise. <ref name = "Jacobs et. al., 1996"> Jacobs, A. F. G., Van Boxel, J. H., and Nieveen, J., 1996, "Nighttime Exchange Processes Near the Soil Surface of a Maize Canopy," Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 82(1-4) pp. 155-169.</ref><ref name = "Monteith, 2007"> Monteith, J. L., 2007, "Dew," Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 83(357) pp. 322-341. </ref>
<br>
<br><br><br><br><br>
The amount of dewfall can be approximated from a complex turbulent fluid analysis; however it is far simpler to consider it as an energy balance problem [5]. The process of condensation releases heat, and thus raises the surface temperature.
The amount of dewfall can be approximated from a complex turbulent fluid analysis; however it is far simpler to consider it as an energy balance problem.<ref name = "Monteith, 2007"/> Note that the process of condensation releases energy.
<br>
<br>


<center><math> R + G + C + λF + M = Q \frac{\partial T}{\partial t} </math> [5]</center><br>
<center><math> R + G + C + λF + M = Q \frac{\partial T}{\partial t} </math> <ref name = "Monteith, 2007"/> </center><br>


Where  
Where  
Line 37: Line 42:
:M = heat released by vegetable metablism per cm2<br>
:M = heat released by vegetable metablism per cm2<br>
<br>
<br>
Furthermore, it follows that the maximum possible condensation rate for combined dewfall and dew-rise during nighttime is [10, 11, 7, 8]:
Furthermore, it follows that the maximum possible condensation rate for combined dewfall and dew-rise during nighttime is:<ref name = "Monteith, 1981">Monteith, J. L., 1981, "Evaporation and Surface Temperature," Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 107pp. 1-27. </ref><ref name = "Jacobs et. al., 2002">Jacobs, A. F. G., Heusinkveld, B. G., and Berkowicz, S. M., 2002, "A Simple Model for Potential Dewfall in an Arid Region," Atmospheric Research, 64(1-4) pp. 285-295. </ref><ref name = "Garrett et. al., 1988">Garratt, J. R., and Segal, M., 1988, "On the Contribution of Atmospheric Moisture to Dew Formation," Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 45(3) pp. 209-236. </ref><ref name = "Jacobs et. al., 1996"/>
<br>
<br>
<math> D_f + D_r = \frac{s}{s+\gamma}\frac{Q^*}{\lambda}</math>
<center><math> D_f + D_r = \frac{s}{s+\gamma}\frac{Q^*}{\lambda}</math></center>


Where
Where
:Df = rate of dewfall (kg m−2 s−1)
:Df = rate of dewfall in <math>\frac{kg}{m^2s}</math>
:Dr = rate of dew rise (kg m−2 s−1)
:Dr = rate of dew rise in <math>\frac{kg}{m^2s}</math>
:s = slope saturation curve (Pa K−1)
:s = slope saturation curve in <math>\frac{Pa}{K}</math>
:Q<sup>*</sup> = net radiation (W m−2)
:Q<sup>*</sup> = net radiation in <math>\frac{W}{m^2}</math>
:γ = psychrometric constant (66 Pa K−1)
:γ = psychrometric constant <math>66\frac{Pa}{K}</math>
:λ = latent energy for vaporization (J kg−1)
:λ = latent energy for vaporization in <math>\frac{J}{kg}</math>
<br>
<br>
Studies have demonstrated that the above modle can accurately and reliably predict dew rates [11].
Studies have demonstrated that the above modle can accurately and reliably predict dew rates.<ref name = "Jacobs et. al., 1996"/> Therefore, it is useful to quickly determine the seasonal dewfall of an area based on data from meteorological archives.  
<br>
<br>
The maximum amount of dewfall possible on a given night is limited by the amount of radiative cooling possible, and is estimated to be approximately 1mm [6, 7]. In actuality, this number is usually much lower, ranging from 0.17 – 0.45 mm per night [8].  
The maximum amount of dewfall possible on a given night is limited by the amount of radiative cooling possible, and is estimated to be approximately 1 mm. <ref name = "Jacobs et. al., 2002"/><ref name = "Jacobs et. al.,1990">Jacobs, A. F. G., Van Pul, W. A. J., and Van Dijken, A., 1990, "Similarity Moisture Dew Profiles within a Corn Canopy," J.Appl.Meteorol, 29pp. 1300–1306.</ref> In actuality, this number is usually much lower, ranging from 0.17 – 0.45 mm per night.<ref name = "Garrett et. al., 1988"/>
<br>
<br>
Recent research has found materials that produce a higher dew yield. Materials that exhibit a large amount of radiative cooling will condense more dew, and hydrophylic materials will make dew collection easier. Specifically, TiO2 and BaSO4 microspheres embedded polyethlene resulted in a 20% increase of dew yield compared to Plexiglas.<ref name = "Beysens et. al., 2003">Beysens, D., Milimouk, I., Nikolayev, V., 2003, "Using Radiative Cooling to Condense Atmospheric Vapor: A Study to Improve Water Yield," Journal of Hydrology, 276(1-4) pp. 1-11. </ref>
<br>
The angle of the surface is also important. The optimal angle has been determined through numerical models and experimental testing to be 30<sup>o</sup> from horizontal. A flatter surface will radiate more energy, however a steeper surface has improved dew collection characteristics.<ref name = "Beysens et. al., 2003"/>
<br>
Unfortunately, bacterial concentrations in Dew water have been seen to exceed World Health Organization limits on various occasions. Therefore, it will require disinfectant to be considered potable.


==== [[Dew collection roof retrofit]] ====
Included in my [[Mech425 AT Project]] I created the page on a [[Dew collection roof retrofit]]. <br><br>
Naturally forming dew is the most readily available way to obtain liquid water from the atmospheric vapor.
<br>
In certain climates, a significant amount of dew naturally forms on roofs. Just by collecting this dew, the average family sized roof can collect over 2L of potable water per night that dew forms.<ref name = "Sharan, 2006"/>
<br>


3). What engineering principle(s) underlie the function of the device – include equations and
= References =
explanations of variables and design features.
<references/>
8). Skills and knowledge necessary to make the device – link to relevant wikipedia or
[[Category:Mech425]]
wikiversity articles/courses
[[Category: Water]]
-literature review
[[Category: Appropriate technology]]
 
    using passive solar heating to power the ___, is used to cool the dew collection surface. Dew will form on a surface, if the temperature is below the dew point.
 
the daily dew collection time to be
 
A significant amount of research into passive dew collectors has occured, resulting in devices able to harvest as much as 0.22 L/m<sup>2</sup> of fresh water per night. The proposed device, namely a solar powered dew collector, aims to increase the usefulness of a dew collector by making it function meet this need through condensing water in the ambient atmosphere.
 
 
=== Dew collectors ===
 
=== Solar absorption refridgeration ===
 
-regional considerations
== Design ==
=== Materials and tools ===
6). Materials needed for fabrication of device and alternative materials if they are not available
7). Tools needed for fabrication of the device and alternative tools if they are not available
11). Estimated costs
 
=== Technical specifications ===
9). Technical specifications including drawings or pictures of the device at minimum. Ideally
full CAD files would be provided along with detailed fabrication instructions. You can scan
any of your own drawings or schematics and paste them in your document. If you use
pictures from other sources be sure to have proper permissions. You can upload files (e.g.
pictures, images, etc.) here: http://www.appropedia.org/Special:Upload and then link back to
them in your article
10). If it is a device design be detailed enough in your “how to” to ensure that someone
could construct the device from your description.  Consider the elegance of IKEA like
instructions.
 
== References ==
13). The sources of information (e.g. engineering handbooks, journal articles, government
documents, webpages, books, magazine articles etc.). References should use the <ref> </ref>
and <references/> tags and can be in any format but should include all the information
necessary for someone else to find the same information you did. For example:
web page: Department of Energy (DOE) Landscaping and Energy Efficiency, DOE/GO-10095 (1995) Available:
www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/landscape.html [Accessed Date]
book: Innovations and Materials for Green Engineering Vol 3, eds. A. Lakhtakia and C.E. Bakis, Department of Engineering
Science and Mechanics, PSU, June 2001.
journal article: Joshua Pearce, “Photovoltaics – A Path to Sustainable Futures”, Futures 34(7), 663-674, 2002.
 
 
5). Based on the developmental needs addressed (e.g. food, heat, electricity, clean water, health
care, etc.) be sure to label your device in the proper categories e.g. use
[[Category:Food and Agriculture]]. Be sure to categorize your device so that it will be easy to find – for
example “Low voltage connection basics” is categorized in [[Category:How tos]],
[[Category:Electricity]], [[Category:Electric lighting]].
Finally you will want to [[link]] to your article by in other Appropedia articles that mention your articles
name and you may wish to put your article in a portal (e.g.  http://www.appropedia.org/Portal:Energy )

Revision as of 03:31, 19 April 2010

Abstract

The problem of obtaining clean drinking water is very wide spread among developing nations. The atmosphere contains an abundant amount of water in the form of vapor, however it can be difficult and costly to harvest. Atmospheric water vapor processing (AWVP), is a new field of research that is developing ways to obtain that vapor. One such method is known as radiative cooling. A surface radiates heat away until it drops below the dewpoint, causing moisture to condense on the surface. This is a process that occurs naturally, producing dew. The proposal is to harvest the dew that naturally forms on rooftops as a source of potable water. Rooftops made out of galvinized iron, plastic, or glass, in reagions that experience the right weather conditions will naturally produce a significant amount of dew. Simply by collecting this dew, a family can gather up to 2L of dew water per dew night. This work offers a primer to the topic of AWVPs, and a description of how to build a dew collection rig. Unfortunately, dewfall is not currently recorded in most standard meteorological archives; so the next step for this project is to offer a reliable means of regional assessment that is accessible to a layman.

Introduction

As the world’s population increases, fresh water supplies are being tapped out. Desalinization has become a necessary means of acquiring water; however current methods are usually quite costly and use fossil fuels. This is inappropriate for the developing world, where there is a serious need for increased fresh water availability. Atmospheric water vapor processing (AWVP) is a new and emerging technology in which the atmospheric water vapor is condensed and collected.[1][2][3]

Operating Principle

There is approximately 4 g of water vapor per cubic metre of air in the earths atmosphere. This source of potable water is available virtually worldwide. AWVPs harvest this water, by condensing it from vapor to liquid.[4][5]

Advantages

  • It is at an early stage in development, but has the potential to provide environmentally acceptable alternatives to standard water supplies.[4][5]
  • Many AWVP designs favor decentralization of water distribution and avoidance of huge capital costs for infrastructure.[5]
  • AWVP can be made appropriate, community-managed and community-maintained for developing countries.[5]
  • AWVP methods are competitive with desalination plants and simpler and less expensive to operate and maintain.[5]
  • The amount of water produced would vary according to installation size, and be suitable to provide potable water to individuals or even thousands of people.[5]
  • AWVP production can take place in a wide variety of locations. Thus, expensive water distribution infrastructure can be reduced or avoided.[5]
  • Chemically, water vapor in the atmosphere is as clean as the air around it. Naturally occuring dew is a potable source of soft water, generally low on any mineral content.[6]

Background

Currently, this article only considers AWVP approaches that use a cooled surface to condense water. The other common methods are using a controlled forced convection to concentrate the amount of vapor in the air, and chemical dessiants to cause it to condense.[5]

Radiative Cooling

Fig 2: Dew on a flower

Interestingly, many desert and costal plants and animals depend on this source.[7] Naturally, the phenomenon of dew formation takes place due to night sky radiation cooling. On a clear night, heat energy is radiated away from the earth’s surface into the sky. As the surface temperature drops below the dew point, water vapor will condense into droplets. Dew is formed both from water vapor in the atmosphere in the form of dewfall, as well as from water in the soil in the form of dewrise. [8][9]




The amount of dewfall can be approximated from a complex turbulent fluid analysis; however it is far simpler to consider it as an energy balance problem.[9] Note that the process of condensation releases energy.

Failed to parse (syntax error): {\displaystyle R + G + C + λF + M = Q \frac{\partial T}{\partial t} } [9]


Where

R = net incoming radiation flux (a negative term)
G = flux of total heat from soil to surface
C = flux of sensible heat from air to surface
F = flux of water vapor from air to surface
λ = latent heat of vaporization
Q = heat capacity of the air-grass layer per cm2
T = mean temperature of layer
M = heat released by vegetable metablism per cm2


Furthermore, it follows that the maximum possible condensation rate for combined dewfall and dew-rise during nighttime is:[10][11][12][8]

Where

Df = rate of dewfall in
Dr = rate of dew rise in
s = slope saturation curve in
Q* = net radiation in
γ = psychrometric constant
λ = latent energy for vaporization in


Studies have demonstrated that the above modle can accurately and reliably predict dew rates.[8] Therefore, it is useful to quickly determine the seasonal dewfall of an area based on data from meteorological archives.
The maximum amount of dewfall possible on a given night is limited by the amount of radiative cooling possible, and is estimated to be approximately 1 mm. [11][13] In actuality, this number is usually much lower, ranging from 0.17 – 0.45 mm per night.[12]
Recent research has found materials that produce a higher dew yield. Materials that exhibit a large amount of radiative cooling will condense more dew, and hydrophylic materials will make dew collection easier. Specifically, TiO2 and BaSO4 microspheres embedded polyethlene resulted in a 20% increase of dew yield compared to Plexiglas.[14]
The angle of the surface is also important. The optimal angle has been determined through numerical models and experimental testing to be 30o from horizontal. A flatter surface will radiate more energy, however a steeper surface has improved dew collection characteristics.[14]
Unfortunately, bacterial concentrations in Dew water have been seen to exceed World Health Organization limits on various occasions. Therefore, it will require disinfectant to be considered potable.

Dew collection roof retrofit

Included in my Mech425 AT Project I created the page on a Dew collection roof retrofit.

Naturally forming dew is the most readily available way to obtain liquid water from the atmospheric vapor.
In certain climates, a significant amount of dew naturally forms on roofs. Just by collecting this dew, the average family sized roof can collect over 2L of potable water per night that dew forms.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sharan, G., 2006, "Dew harvest: to supplement drinking water sources in arid coastal belt of Kutch," Foundation Books, .
  2. Rajvanshi, A. K., 1981, "Large Scale Dew Collection as a Source of Fresh Water Supply," Desalination, 36(3) pp. 299-306.
  3. Habeebullah, B. A., 2009, "Potential use of Evaporator Coils for Water Extraction in Hot and Humid Areas," Desalination, 237(1-3) pp. 330-345.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Wahlgren, R., 1993, "Atmospheric Water Vapour Processing," Waterlines, 12(2) pp. 20-22.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Wahlgren, R. V., 2001, "Atmospheric Water Vapour Processor Designs for Potable Water Production: A Review," Water Research, 35(1) pp. 1-22.
  6. Beysens, D., Muselli, M., Mileta, M., 2004, "Is dew water potable? Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Dew on Atlantic Coast (Bordeaux, France), Mediterranean Coast (Zadar, Croatia) and Mediterranean Island (Ajaccio, Corsica Island, France)," Proceedings: Third International Conference on Fog, Fog Collection and Dew, Cape Town, South Africa, October, Anonymous pp. 11-15.
  7. Uwe G., 1979, “In the Deserts of this Earth”, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Jacobs, A. F. G., Van Boxel, J. H., and Nieveen, J., 1996, "Nighttime Exchange Processes Near the Soil Surface of a Maize Canopy," Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 82(1-4) pp. 155-169.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Monteith, J. L., 2007, "Dew," Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 83(357) pp. 322-341.
  10. Monteith, J. L., 1981, "Evaporation and Surface Temperature," Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 107pp. 1-27.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jacobs, A. F. G., Heusinkveld, B. G., and Berkowicz, S. M., 2002, "A Simple Model for Potential Dewfall in an Arid Region," Atmospheric Research, 64(1-4) pp. 285-295.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Garratt, J. R., and Segal, M., 1988, "On the Contribution of Atmospheric Moisture to Dew Formation," Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 45(3) pp. 209-236.
  13. Jacobs, A. F. G., Van Pul, W. A. J., and Van Dijken, A., 1990, "Similarity Moisture Dew Profiles within a Corn Canopy," J.Appl.Meteorol, 29pp. 1300–1306.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Beysens, D., Milimouk, I., Nikolayev, V., 2003, "Using Radiative Cooling to Condense Atmospheric Vapor: A Study to Improve Water Yield," Journal of Hydrology, 276(1-4) pp. 1-11.
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.