Start-up’s innovative tech aims to end country’s water woes
The machine has been developed keeping in mind lack of power sources; does not run on fuel, electricity
During PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel, one of the top concerns in his agenda was getting abundant and safe water for India. The statement was possibly a reflection of the angst PM Modi is going through in tackling one of the country’s biggest challenges — water shortage and the resultant farmer suicides. The answer to PM Modi’s problems could well lie back in his home country, where a new start-up named Kindle Ventures is planning to use a technology that can make up to 20,000 litres of water a day out of thin air!
This game-changing, commercially viable Dutch technology being brought to India by Kindle Ventures uses the concept of condensation to turn air into fresh water. The technology can be used in any terrain — however back of beyond like many parts of rural India — provided the minimum temperature of the area is more than 15 degrees centigrade all time.
The company’s Chief Innovation Officer Gaurav Goenka has signed an MOU with Canadian owned Dutch company Rainmaker World Wide Inc, which holds the patent for this innovation. The core machine is expected to arrive in India by mid-August. The air to water unit uses a turbine that forces air through a heat exchanger where the air is cooled and condensation takes place. Lowering the temperature of air requires minimal energy. When the temperature falls below its dew point, water droplets will form which are then collected in the water storage compartment. The actual amount of the water than can be produced depends on the average wind speed, the ambient temperature and the relative humidity.
This ‘highly efficient’ conversion process is applied via a patented ‘direct-drive’ turbine which uses compressors that generate heat. This heat is then used to cool down large amounts of incoming air, which is displaced by using vents.
Goenka says the technology has already garnered massive interest from state governments which are fighting drought and lack of clean water. Once the technology arrives in August, he will travel to states which are facing the most acute shortage of water to demonstrate the technology.
So will the technology require electricity to run?
Goenka says no. “It doesn't need electricity. The technology has been developed keeping in mind lack of power sources. Hence it can run with solar and wind energy.” The company is planning to mount the technology and take it to states like Maharashtra, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat for demos to state governments.
Rainmaker was recently awarded as a Top 10 Green Solution in Slovenia recently. The Air to Water solution is 100 per cent sustainable and leaves no damaging footprint where it is placed; running completely on renewable energy. This cost-effective solution, that comes between the range of `20L and 3 crores, has the potential to change the world, especially in dry areas with no rain.