A surface tension-driven pumping system for atmospheric moisture harvesting

大气集水使降雨量少或地下水资源不可持续/昂贵的干旱地区能够从空气中收集淡水以满足其需求。典型的集水方法依赖于一个简单的原理：湿空气被迫通过网状网，水在网状网中冷凝，水滴通过重力排出。然而，这些传统的方法面临着水凝结和从表面排出的速度的限制（从而释放它以形成下一个水滴）。Qube-4D开发了一种替代的水收集配置，依赖于多孔纳米材料，它将主动“泵”冷凝水从表面收集。由于该系统依赖于毛细作用，Qube-4D需要蒙特利尔理工大学在表面工程和界面科学方面的专业知识来为其新配置设置关键设计参数。合作的第一步将允许开发一种新的加拿大水收集系统，能够彻底改变淡水供应方式。到2020年，全球市场估计将接近10亿美元，更不用说加拿大淡水资源的减少，该项目的成功结果将为加拿大经济带来巨大利益。

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.