Experimental and Numerical Analysis of an Atmospheric Water Harvester Using a Thermoelectric Cooler

Abstract

An atmospheric water harvester with a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) can extract water vapour from air. This study tested a prototype atmospheric water harvester with a TEC and evaluated the condensation flow parameters affecting the amount of water produced using experimental and numerical methods. This experiment was performed under controlled conditions (a temperature of 313 K and relative humidity of 85%) in a climate chamber for 8 h and under actual weather conditions in Kuwait for 8 h. The humid air condensed when the cooling surface temperature was less than the dew point temperature, and the produced water was collected. The experimental findings indicated that the dew point temperature increased with increasing relative humidity and the cooling surface temperature increased with increasing atmospheric air temperature. The numerical analysis involved modelling and simulation (for 8 h, similar to the experiment) under the boundary conditions of inlet air temperature, relative humidity, cooling surface temperature, and inlet air velocity. The temperature decreased from the inlet to the outlet because of condensation. A comparison of the results showed that the calculated amount of produced water was close to the experimental value. The results of this study will help enhance the efficiency of producing clean and safe drinking water.