China has introduced the technology of obtaining drinking water from the air: a new era of water supply
Chinese researchers have presented an innovative technology that can radically change the approach to providing drinking water to regions experiencing a shortage of fresh resources. A team from Shanghai Jiaotong University has developed a system for extracting water from atmospheric moisture that can work in almost any climate, from hot and humid climates to arid areas with low humidity.
The problem of extracting water from the air has long attracted the attention of scientists, but traditional installations are extremely sensitive to the environment and often show low efficiency when weather conditions change. The new Chinese technology combines three key processes at once: condensation, the use of absorbents or adsorbents, and the use of heat pumps to maintain optimal operating conditions. This combination allows the system to adapt to daytime and seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
One of the central achievements of the project was an autonomous station powered by solar energy. It is capable of delivering up to 50 liters of purified drinking water daily. The installation is designed to operate at temperatures from 15 to 40 degrees Celsius and humidity from 35 to 99 percent, which makes it suitable for both coastal and desert regions. The station is comparable in size to a bus shelter, which greatly facilitates its mobility and installation in hard-to-reach places.
The second device, created by Chinese engineers, is an industrial-level platform capable of producing up to 1,600 liters of water per day. This solution is designed to provide resources for remote settlements, island infrastructure, as well as to promptly cover the needs for disaster relief. The possibility of autonomous operation without connection to traditional water sources makes such an installation in demand in conditions of climatic instability.
According to the research group, the combination of versatility, scalability and energy efficiency will allow China to take a leading position in the global market of atmospheric water supply technologies. Analysts predict that the market for water extraction equipment from the air will exceed 420 million dollars by 2031, reflecting the growing demand for innovative methods of ensuring water safety.
Other BRICS countries are also showing interest in atmospheric drainage technologies. India is already preparing to launch the production of bottled water made from atmospheric moisture, with mandatory multi-stage filtration and mineralization. In the coming years, such solutions may become part of national strategies to provide clean water to the population, especially in regions where traditional sources can no longer cope with the load due to population growth and climate change.
Thus, the Chinese development demonstrates that the technology of obtaining water from the air is no longer an experimental approach and is gradually turning into a scalable tool capable of providing water resources for millions of people.
