University Centre for Energy Efficient Building CTU in Prague finished the development of a mobile autonomous device for water extraction from air humidity, which will fit onto the bed of a conventional van and which will serve as emergency water source in desert environment. Its functional sample successfully completed the laboratory tests and obtained two Czech national patents with the perspective of their broadening for abroad.
The MAGDA (Mobile Autonomous water Generator from Desert Air) device completed tests in the laboratory of CTU UCEEB, where high temperatures and low specific humidity of air were maintained. A real-world test directly in the desert was also planned, but it was postponed due to anti-epidemic measures. Its conducting is still planned, if a suitable occasion occurs. Water production for temperature and humidity conditions of a desert was measured in the range of 0.6 to 1.5 l/hour with energy consumption 2.3 to 2.9 kWh.
MAGDA consists of two boxes (total dimension of 1 x 1 x 1.4 m) and a 35 m2 photovoltaic array. The device is projected to average water production of 10 l/day. One box is meant for the production of drinking water, the other produces electric energy for driving the whole device.
