서식지 관리를 위한 대기수분 응축장치의 물 생산 효율 평가

이재강1, 김종환1, 박찬열2, 송동하1

(1㈜아시안파이시스, 2국립산림과학원 생활권도시숲연구센터)

Evaluation of Efficiency in Atmospheric Water Harvesting
for Habitat Management

Water is essential to fauna and flora in diverse forest ecosystems. However, as the climate crisis worsens, available water becomes scarcer, especially during the dry period of the year. In this study, an atmospheric water harvester was developed based on a vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS) to address water shortages in forest ecosystems. The efficiency of the water harvester in water production was assessed from October to December 2023 in the exotic forest located at the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS), Seoul. The amount of extracted water, atmospheric temperature, and relative humidity were monitored by sensors and an IoT system installed within the harvester. The amount of extracted water was significantly related to atmospheric temperature and relative humidity. It seems likely that the water harvester did not work well under extremely dry, cold and hot conditions. Comparisons between seasons and areas using a linear regression equation and interpolation revealed that the efficiency of harvester varied depending on space and time. The results indicate that the water harvester could provide essential water to wild animals and plants. The water harvester would address water shortages under the climate crisis.

Key words: Atmospheric water harvesting, Vapor compression refrigeration system, Water harvester, Water shortages

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the Korea Innovation Foundation under Grant (2024-IT-RD-0147).