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Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

Posted July 12, 2007 4:27 PM

From SCI FI Tech:

Getting people potable water in underdeveloped nations is a difficult and important problem. There are far too many places where people don't have access to clean drinking water, and it's a serious global health crisis. That's why this new Max Water concept is so exciting. Basically, it's a wind-powered device that pulls water out of the air and turns it into regular old drinking water. It's pretty darned efficient, too, as the inventor claims it can bring in 10,000 liters of H20 per day of use. It's not cheap, with the price expected to be $43,000 when it's ready for use, but installing just one of these in a village or poor area could help hundreds if not thousands of people get the clean water they so desperately need. Here's hoping this thing comes to fruition.

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Guru
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#1

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 3:58 AM

Hmmm, if the water is coming out of the air then it won't be available as rain, dew or available for plants?

Or is this such a small % of the water in the air as to be insignificant...?

I just worry a bit about things that smack of positive feedback...

It's too dry here ...so lets extract what water there is???

Mind it just looks like an artists impression at the minute....anyone want to buy a jet pack...I have a great pic!

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#2

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 4:24 AM

It's a bit over the top.

http://www.wateraid.org/ has been working in this area for some time. Low-tech installations in the Himalayas, consisting of little more than a large nylon mesh net and a gutter pipe, glean drinking water from hill fog quite successfully. $43,000? There would be considerable surprise if each installation cost more then $43 in materials...

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#3

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 4:42 AM

Depends on humidity usually where there is no ready source of water the humidity index is fairly low (dry).. not humid therefore lots of effort for little return, it also needs to be windy. Have you checked out how many 'wind farms' have off days?

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#4

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 4:50 AM

GOOD ONE FOR THE 13TH EH!

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 5:31 AM

?? Fri 13th...isn't April 1st

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#6

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 10:24 AM

Same product is made by a Canadian company. If interested, check this out:


http://www.wataireinternational.com/products.html

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#7

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/13/2007 3:05 PM

Sort of like uh...

Squeezing blood out of a turnip!

And where you need water, the worst way, there is none in the air to squeeze!

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Max Water pulls potable water out of thin air

07/15/2007 9:01 PM

Have to agree with that. As someone who actually works at a company that tried to develop the small scale commercial version (basically a water cooler that provides its own water supply), there is only so much water you can pull out of the air (think big dehumidifier).

Oh well at least it isn't a free energy scam, but 10,000L/day is not even close to a realistic figure (even under absolutely ideal conditions achievable on earth).

A bit more info - http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/Whisson-windmill.html

Patent - http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO2006017888&F=0&QPN=WO2006017888

Apparently the designer is Dr Max Whisson (Australian). "The Whisson windmill essentially is a wind turbine, connected to a refrigeration compressor. A compressed refrigerant cools the blades of the wind turbine, after which it is returned to a compressor"

And finally Max's website: waterunlimited.com

Shows promise, but the broad claims do not really inspire confidence. Does show some potential where humidity is high and local water quality sources are low, but I just cannot help thinking there are simpler and better ways (even ignoring the hopelessly unsustainable resource usage in making the wind turbine and gas refrigerant system required).

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