Production of Water from the Air: The Environmental Sustainability of Air-conditioning Systems through a More Intelligent Use of Resources. The Advantages of an Integrated System. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Magrini, A.; Cattani, L.; Cartesegna, M.; Magnani, L.
• Is Part Of: Energy procedia. Volume 78(2015)
• Page Start: 1153
• Page End: 1158
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: water from air -- HVAC system -- drinking water production -- moist air condensation; Power resources -- Congresses; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power resources; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1876-6102

Abstract

Abstract: The possibility of extracting water from air is an activity that has been studied recently, especially with the purpose of producing it for emergencies or exceptional events, when drinking water is not temporarily available. Several mobile/transportable equipment have been designed in order to producing water from the air: they can be placed, if necessary, in appropriate locations where water is needed. Water extraction can be done with different technologies, one of which is represented by cooling water below the dew point, to cause condensation of the vapour content of the air. The system efficiency, normally calculated in standard conditions, should be tested in the climatic conditions in which it will be used, because water production varies significantly with temperature and air water vapour content. An interesting solution may be an equipment for water extraction that contemporarily uses the cooled air for refrigeration, which consists in a combined HVAC system for the dual purpose of water production and air-conditioning. A case study represented by this kind of HVAC system, for a hotel in a sub-tropical arid climate, is proposed in this paper, to demonstrate the advantages of this solution. To this aim, the comparison is made between a typical HVAC system and an integrated air conditioning system, optimized for water production from air, in order to highlight advantages and capabilities of the second one.