System to collect a small amount of water from the air

[jamesson]

Is there a well-known system that can collect small quantities of water from air, like maybe 6 oz/day? Should take up at most a cubic foot

 

[DaveC426913]

There are lots. Everything from Silicone gel packets* to small dehumidifiers.

What are your criteria?

Access to sunlight?
Is power allowed?
Maintenance-free?

*OK, technically it collects water, but not really in a usable form.

 

[jamesson]

Power is allowed, sure. Maintenance should be minimal, access to sunlight not guaranteed

 

[jamesson]

And, I am looking to use the water for plants. Doesn't need to be potable, but shouldn't be super-toxic either.

 

[russ_watters]

Yeah, that's the literal/exact purpose of a dehumidifier.

 

[anorlunda]

Water harvesting devices like those in the picture are used in Chile where it is very dry most of the time. Morning dew is often the source.

But success depends critically on the atmosphere conditions in your location. Here's a clue. How often are the leaves and grass in your area covered by dew in the morning?

 

[DaveC426913]

Water harvesting devices like those in the picture are used in Chile...

View attachment 253067

Not sure how effective those nets would be if stuffed into a one cubic foot volume.

 

[DaveC426913]

If power is allowed, your best bet is probably an active collector, rather than a passive one. They can collect 9oz. or more per day (but YMMV, since it will be dependent on the moisture content of the space).

A quick Google shows a bunch of small dehumidifiers that should fit.

You can bypass the collection tank and run tubing straight to your plants.Come to think of it, this is a brilliant idea for those of us with black thumbs who can't keep a plant alive.

 

[Baluncore]

An air cooler will generate condensed water from the atmosphere. It can be powered by solar PV or a wind turbine.
Direct extraction turbines have become available recently.
https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/em3165/

 

[theycallmevirgo]

A quick Google shows a bunch of small dehumidifiers that should fit

But how do these things work, exactly? Surely they do something other than forced cooling/heating, or do forced/cooling/heating in some special way? I mean, of course I can buy one and disassemble it but I'd really rather not.

 

[russ_watters]

A quick Google shows a bunch of small dehumidifiers that should fit

But how do these things work, exactly? Surely they do something other than forced cooling/heating, or do forced/cooling/heating in some special way? I mean, of course I can buy one and disassemble it but I'd really rather not.

A dehumidifier is just an air conditioner with no ductwork or other physical separation between the hot and cold sides.

 

[theycallmevirgo]

Youtube is your frieeend



Thanks for all the hints everybody! After I discarded peltiers as electronics coolers I never thought I'd use them for anything else, but here we go!