Innovative wind turbine creates fresh, potable water from thin air

[Dead_Parrot]

This is rather cool...

Abu Dhabi A revolutionary new wind turbine that converts humidity from thin desert air into 1,000 litres of drinkable fresh water daily could help the UAE stave off severe water shortages in years to come, Gulf News has learnt.

Eole Water — based in Sainte Tulle in the south of France — is already laying the groundwork to introduce the radical new turbines across the emirates pending the outcome of field trials now under way near Abu Dhabi.

“Test results show the turbine producing on average, 62 litres of water per hour with an average humidity rate of 45 per cent and an average temperature of 24C”
--Thibault Janin, marketing and communications director of Eole Water

Thibault Janin, marketing and communications director of Eole Water, said in an exclusive interview that after initial meetings with senior federal officials, it is subjecting its wind turbine model WMS1000 to gruelling desert conditions.

More: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/innovative-wind-turbine-creates-fresh-potable-water-from-thin-air-1.1011350

[robinlynne]

1. wow!

[joshcryer]

2. Ahah, it uses condensation. Yeah, I had this idea, too.

But I was thinking a solar powered sterling cooler would be the best way to achieve it.

[XemaSab]

3. I wonder if there's a price

where it would make more sense to use wind power to collect water than use wind power to pump water in California.

[joshcryer]

4. The water is far more distributed in the air than in its liquid state.

It'd undoubtedly use more energy to derive it from air than to pump it from somewhere else. Water wars are really about energy.

[XemaSab]

5. I would still like to see the numbers

Some obscene percent of energy in the state of California is used to pump water.

If getting water from the air (as opposed to desalination) makes sense in the arid Middle East, why wouldn't it make sense in the fog and humidity of coastal California?

[joshcryer]

6. Assuming it's rated at 100 kW...

...it produces around 62 liters of water an hour, you're looking at around 1.6 kWh per liter.

Just assuming a 17 diameter rotor in 1985 is comparable to a 13 diameter rotor now a days: http://archive.awea.org/faq/wwt_basics.html which I think is being generous.

Contrast that to how much energy is required to move water: http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/save-energy-shutting-faucet

3,200 kWh to move 326,000 gallons (1234044.24 liters)... 3200 kWh / 1234044.24 liter = 0.0025 kWh per liter.

It makes sense there because there's no fuel cost and they really need water. When you have the rockies providing you with lots of easy to transport water, well, you go the easy way.

[Dead_Parrot]

7. I'd guess yes

If the electricity produced makes the thing pay for itsself with 20 years (which I'd assume it does) the water is basically free. The question would be how many you need to replace the existing water system...

Spec sheets are at http://www.eolewater.com/gb/our-products/range.html, btw.

[joshcryer]

8. I think solar thermal desalination is better for the middle east, to be honest.

Something like this: http://www.mage-watermanagement.com/uploads/media/MWM_Flyer_solar_desalination_EN.pdf

The wind approach would probably be better for a windy area without a lot of sunlight or if you're landlocked.

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Could be...

I see Eole Water also do a 30kw solar system with what looks like the same components, but it's only specced to 250l/day in the desert: the difference in capacity explains some of it, but maybe there's conversion losses from not having a direct driveshaft?

The wind approach may work better on the coast, if you get good sea/land breezes (And I think that's where the population of the UAE hang out .

Edit: Being stuck up in the air on a long pole might help, also

[joshcryer]

10. Fair enough. :)