Solar powered device turns air into clean water

The SunToWater device uses solar energy to create clean, drinkable water from the air.

The SunToWater device can produce water from polluted air. Photo: Mark Kolbe.

SunToWater Company in California, USA, successfully manufactured the SunToWater device that can produce clean water from the air, Nature World News reported.

The device operates in three steps: absorption, dewatering, and mineralization. In the first step, humid air from the outside is introduced into the salt-containing device. The salt absorbs the moisture in the air, retaining 6 times its weight in water, equivalent to 150 - 400 liters.

In the second step, the hydrated salt is heated using solar energy and hot air, causing water vapor to separate from the salt. The vapor is then condensed and piped to a storage tank, ready to be used for watering gardens or in swimming pools. Alternatively, this water can be remineralized to make it safe to drink.

SunToWater said that the water produced by their device meets the drinking water standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), because the salt in the device only absorbs water vapor, not pollutants in the air.

SunToWater can be used in homes without access to electricity, as it uses photovoltaic panels to provide power. The device is estimated to require around 0.51 kWh to produce nearly 4 liters of water, depending on the heat and humidity in the environment. The SunToWater device, which resembles an air conditioner, is expected to be available in the next 12-18 months with a 10-year warranty.

According to VNE