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Obtaining Drinking Water from Air
Humidity Not a plant to be seen，the desert ground is too dry．But the air contains water，and research scientists have found a{{U}} (51) {{/U}}of obtaining drinking water from air humidity． “The process we have developed is based exclusively on renewable energy sources{{U}} (52) {{/U}}thermal solar collectors and photovoltaic(光电的)cells，{{U}} (53) {{/U}}makes this method completely energy autonomous．It will{{U}} (54) {{/U}}function in regions where there is no electrical infrastructure(基础设施)，”says Siegfried Egner，head of the research team．The principle of the{{U}} (55) {{/U}}is as follows：hygroscopic(吸湿的)brine(盐水)，-saline(含盐的)solution which absorbs moisture-runs down a tower shaped unit and absorbs water from the air．It is then sucked{{U}} (56) {{/U}}a tank a few meters off the ground in which a vacuum prevails．Energy from solar collectors{{U}} (57) {{/U}}up the brine，which is diluted by the water it has{{U}} (58) {{/U}}． Because of the vacuum，the boiling point of the liquid is lower than it would be under{{U}} (59) {{/U}} atmospheric pressure．The evaporated(蒸发的)，non-saline water is condensed and runs down through a completely filled tube in a controlled manner．The gravity of this water column{{U}} (60) {{/U}}produces the vacuum and SO a vacuum pump is not needed．The reconcentrated brine{{U}} (61) {{/U}}down the tower surface again to absorb moisture from the air． “The concept is suitable for various water{{U}} (62) {{/U}}．Single-person units and plants supplying water to entire hotels are conceivable，”says Egner．Prototypes have been built for{{U}} (63) {{/U}}system components-air moisture absorption and vacuum evaporation-and the research scientists have already {{U}}(64) {{/U}}their interplay on a laboratory scale．In a further{{U}} (65) {{/U}}the researchers intend to develop a demonstration facility． |