To understand how the device worked, it’s helpful to go back to how condensation works in nature. When warm, humid air meets cooler air, or hits a cooler surface, the molecules in it slow down and cool into liquid. This is how clouds are formed in the atmosphere, or beads of water collect on a cold can of soda on a hot summer day. HE’s prototype basically replicated the natural process of condensation, but on a much smaller scale. This was made possible through a variety of processes and components — namely, constantly recirculating air, solar energy, and a desiccant (a material that absorbs moisture, like the silica gel packets you find in a new pair of shoes). The below illustration describes the process in more detail:

After various iterations and user research studies, the team eventually built their most recent prototype model. This prototype ran on solar heat and was made from vacuum-formed parts — a manufacturing technique typically used to make small, disposable items, like takeaway food containers. Light and low cost, the team realized vacuum-forming also had the potential to form many of the larger parts of their device too.

After three years of work, the team felt confident they could build a device that would produce water for $. per liter; however, it would have taken significant development work and iteration to prove feasibility at $. per liter. Additionally, the next phase of work for the project looked to be heavily focused on hardware integration and mass production expertise — not X’s sweet spot. During the course of the project, the team also saw many new organizations — including research groups, startups, and NGOs — springing up to work on ways to harvest drinking water from the air.

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Given these factors, it became clear that X wasn’t best suited to take the work forward, and one of the best ways X could have an impact now on the problem of access to safe drinking water was to share what we’ve learned.  We believe this technology, even at $. a liter, has the potential for positive impact in many communities and could form the basis for many viable businesses — just not the size and shape of businesses we’re working to produce at X.