Development and Evaluation of an Atmospheric Water Generation System Utilizing Seawater as a Cooling Source

Artisanal fishing operations often encounter emergency situations at sea, resulting from problems such as boat breakdowns. It is crucial to ensure a stable supply of drinking water to safeguard the lives of the boat's crew in such scenarios. This research is dedicated to addressing this challenge by developing a prototype capable of generating water from atmospheric humidity. The prototype, comprising water generation and storage modules, aims to utilize seawater as a cooling source to condense atmospheric humidity. The performance of the prototype was evaluated through experimental tests conducted in the city of Arequipa, Peru, and via simulations under the environmental conditions of the coastal city of Camana, Peru. The results indicate that water production reached 3.83 mL/4h in Arequipa, with a relative humidity of 32.09% and a temperature of 20.95 °C. In Camana, it reached 11.56 mL/h, with a relative humidity of 89.15% and a temperature of 15.33 °C. The direct influence of relative humidity on the prototype's performance was clear. It was observed that in Camana, approximately three times more water is produced within the same time frame, thanks to its high relative humidity, as compared to the lower relative humidity experienced in Arequipa.