A surface tension-driven pumping system for atmospheric moisture harvesting

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Atmospheric water harvesting allows arid regions with low rainfall or unsustainable/expensive groundwaterresources to collect fresh water from the air to meet their needs. Typical water harvesting methods rely on asimple principle: humid air is forced through a mesh net, where water condenses and droplets drain awaythrough gravity. However, these traditional approaches face limitations with respect to the rate at which watercan condense and drain away from the surface (thereby freeing it up for the next water droplet to form).Qube-4D has developed an alternative configuration for water harvesting, relying on porous nanomaterials thatwill actively "pump" the condensed water away from the surface for collection. Because this system relies oncapillary action, Qube-4D requires the expertise developed at Polytechnique Montreal in surface engineeringand interface science to set key design parameters for their new configuration. This first step in collaborationwill allow the development of a new, Canadian water harvesting system capable of revolutionizing how freshwater is supplied. With a worldwide market estimated at nearly 1 billion USD by 2020, not to mention thedecreasing levels of Canadian fresh water sources, the successful outcome of this project will yield substantialbenefits to the Canadian economy.