Tanyeli Rocket Team, consisting of students from Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) and Samsun University (SAMU), made an important design with a machine that produces water from the humidity in the air.
Having won first place in the previous TEKNOFEST Rocket Competitions 2 years in a row and showing a remarkable performance, Tanyeli Rocket Team once again proved its competence with the machine "Nem2su" [Humidity2water] that produces water from the humidity in the air. Nem2su is manufactured with the support of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Support Administration (KOSGEB).
Tanyeli Rocket Team is established under the leadership of OMU Engineering Faculty Electrical and Electronics Department faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz. The team consists of students from OMU and SAMÜ studying in different engineering departments. The team is also preparing ambitiously for TEKNOFEST, the world's largest Aviation, Space, and Technology Festival, to be held in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir in 2023.
Kurnaz, who gave details about the machine called "Nem2su", which they produced with the students to offer an alternative option to the 'water scarcity' expected to be experienced in the world in the near future, said KOSGEB granted them research and development support for this project they prepared 1.5 years ago to produce water from the humidity in the air. He also noted that the process started in 2021.
Pointing out that they produced three different prototypes (the first example, the first and most typical example that collects all the features of a type) within the scope of the project, Kurnaz noted the following regarding these examples:
"These are prototypes with different water production capacities in different technologies. First, we started to work with a system that can produce 20-25 liters of water per day. Then we made a smaller prototype of this, producing between 2 and 2.5 liters of water in an average of 24 hours. Afterward, we completely changed the technology and made it more efficient, and we obtained a prototype that could produce an average of 5 to 6 liters of water per day. We currently have three prototypes with different water production capacities and technologies. Our technology is entirely based on imitating nature. As it is known, the water in nature evaporates and rises to the sky. Later, this water condenses through the clouds and returns to the earth as water after condensation. Our philosophy is based on this cycle."
Reminding that humidity is water vapor in the air, Kurnaz said, "We take the moisture into our system with different fan models and condense it, then we use different heat and condense it into water. The electricity consumption of our device, which can produce an average of 5 liters of water, is 120 watts. The cost of 1 liter of water is around 1 lira for us. It cost us an average of 200 dollars to build the device. We plan to market our device after field tests. People in all countries with water shortages can use our device easily."
Drawing attention to the possible future water scarcity in the world in his speech, Kurnaz continued, "You know, although most of the world is covered with water, the amount of potable water is limited. The population in Turkey is predicted to be 100 million in 2050 and 2060, and the average water consumption is estimated to be 1,100 cubic meters per person. Therefore, Turkey will become a country that will suffer from water scarcity. Water is an important parameter in our lives. Considering that the average temperature will increase between 2.5 and 3 degrees in the 2060s and 2070s with climate change, it is clear that water will be precious in the upcoming period."
Muhammet Rıza Karadavut, a graduate student in the Department of Electrical and Electronics at OMÜ Engineering Faculty, also stated that they use two different methods to convert the moisture in the atmosphere into water thanks to "Nem2su":
"To convert moisture into water, it is necessary to create either a temperature or a pressure difference. The machine we produce uses the temperature difference and creates a pressure difference with different aerodynamic properties. Thus, it efficiently converts the moisture in the atmosphere into water with low energy consumption. Our machine produces 5 liters of water daily, costing 1 lira per liter. Suitable for domestic, horticulture, and military uses."
Recep Karaer, a senior student at SAMÜ Özdemir Bayraktar Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Aerospace Engineering, stated that they could increase the production efficiency of the KOSGEB-supported machine as they wish.
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