Water shortage is going to be next global crisis in a few years and unless we find a method to deal with that, this could be the end for us all.
However, a group of students from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has come up with the idea of a gadget that can extract water from the air. This device, called AQUAIR, could be helpful for rural areas in Central America who don’t have access to clean water.
How does it work?
It’s simple. The water is collected by AQUAIR in a waterproof mesh which stretches across a bamboo structure that is pre-fabricated. AQUAIR uses a fan and small centrifuge that lures water vapor via gravity through a tube into a bucket underneath. The whole structure is easy to disassemble and reassemble by hand. The bamboo is added to the design to add weight and flexibility.
“We also want the project to be easy to build and assemble, so the local people can easily access the parts or create their own versions of AQUAIR,” said Marco Villela, “We do not want the parts to be 3D printed because the material is not strong enough, so the best and cheapest option would be to create a mold and use plastic or ABS injection techniques.
In regards to the gears, we want to get more sturdy and durable gears, so while the cheaper parts of the system can be replaced, the gearbox can last for as long as possible. The project is designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble, also if any part is defective, it is easy and cheap to replace.”
The students were awarded with prestigious Golden Pin Concept Design Award for their innovative work. Watch the video for more details about their work:
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There was already such kind of a device in existence which could grab water from air. Had seen it working some 12 years before in front of akbar allays, fountain area, Mumbai.