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INNOVATION

Producing water
from air TONI AXFORD

A irdrop, a device that extracts water


from even the driest air for delivery
direct to plant roots, has won Melbourne
Concept
Even in the driest regions of Australia,
water is present in the form of moisture
design student Edward Linnacre the 2011
in the air. The challenge has been finding
James Dyson Award.
a robust, low-tech and cost-effective way
This international award, which is open to extract it.
to student design engineers from 18
Most established atmospheric water
countries, carries a cash prize of $15,400 harvesting technologies are high-tech and
for the winner and an equal amount for expensive; not ideal for the rural farmer
his or her university department. market.
The award is run by the James Dyson Airdrop uses a turbine to push hot air
Foundation to encourage the next into an underground network of tubing
generation of design engineers to be filled with copper wool to maximise
creative, challenge and invent. The brief surface area. The air rapidly cools to the
for the award is Design something that temperature of the surrounding soil,
ABOVE LEFT: A SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF A
solves a problem. SELF-CONTAINED AIRDROP SYSTEM. HOT AIR
causing moisture it contains to condense DRIVEN INTO THE VERTICAL TUBES BY THE
The recent 12-year drought in much of in the piping, from where it gravitates TURBINE ON THE STEM IS COOLED AND
south eastern Australia, including the into a tank. RELEASES MOISTURE, WHICH DROPS INTO THE
RESERVOIR BELOW, FROM WHERE IT IS PUMPED
Murray Darling basin, prompted Edward, Water from the tank is supplied to plants TO NEARBY PLANTS.
who studies at Melbournes Swinburne via a sub-surface drip irrigation system, ABOVE RIGHT: AN IMAGE OF THE ABOVE-
University of Technology, to turn his which makes the system very GROUND SECTION OF AN AIRDROP CONDENSER
mind to finding a low-tech method of efficient because there is no evaporation
IN A CROP PADDOCK.
providing water for agriculture in arid loss between the tank and the crop.
environments. ment and refinement of the design are
After passing through the condenser, expected to increase the yield substantially.
The result is the Airdrop water harvester, which was developed based on
a simple, low-tech device driven by wind investigations into the principles of air Although the initial concept for Airdrop
power and solar panels and and designed flow, the dry air returns to the atmosphere. was to provide a secondary source of
so it could be installed and maintained by water for conventional cropping systems
farmers. The latest version of the Airdrop system there are many other potential
includes an LCD screen that displays tank applications.
Rather than tapping into underground water levels, pressure within the system,
water sources or using complex, energy- solar battery life and general system health. These include provision of:
intensive methods such as desalination,
Airdrop sources water from the air. The wind-powered turbine that drives the drinking water for human consumption
system is designed to maximise air intake water for remote stock troughs,
The design means it can be used and to switch to electricity from a battery
anywhere in the world. opening the way for more intensive
when there is not enough wind to drive it. livestock production in such areas
Airdrop was created to be used by anybody, The battery, which is charged by a small
anywhere, Edward explains. A low-tech diversification or expansion of
solar panel, also powers the low-pressure viticulture, horticulture and aqua-ponics
solution is perfect for remote areas and submersible pump that supplies the
rural farmers; something they can install into previously unsuitable regions
irrigation system with water from the
and maintain themselves. condensate tank. The pump is fitted with water for plant nurseries and domestic
With global temperatures continuing to a float switch to cut power to the pump gardens and animals.
rise and droughts set to become more when water levels are low.
The Airdrop irrigation system was bred
severe, a device capable of literally pulling Edward Linnacre says his Airdrop device of comprehensive investigations into rural
water out of thin air is likely to have can harvest 11.5 mL of water for each agricultural environments, developed in
significant global applications. Its potential cubic metre of air that passes through it; consultation with irrigation manufacturers
is increased by projections that humidity even in the driest deserts such as the and local farmers and refined through
is forecast to increase as part of the climate Negev in Israel, where the average relative extensive prototyping, Edward says.
changes driven by global warming. humidity is 64%.
Based on his research for the project he
Edward is keen for his invention to be The initial prototype, which was much believes it fills a gap in Australian water-
developed in Australia and, after building smaller than the current unit, was able to harvesting technology by providing an
a large-scale working prototype, plans to produce a litre of water a day, but efficient, cost-effective means of harvesting
seek support from local investors. increasing the scale and further develop- atmospheric water for irrigation.

226 SANTFA The Cutting Edge AUTUMN 2012

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