Performance evaluation of atmospheric water generators under suboptimal humidity conditions in Orangeburg, SC

Two commercial atmospheric water generators (AWGs) were studied to compare their performance under varying environmental conditions. The efficiency of water harvesting depends on factors such as the instrument’s design, power consumption, ambient temperature, and relative humidity (RH). AWGs operate optimally at humidity levels above 80% at room temperatures but also serve as efficient dehumidifiers in high-humidity regions. To ensure high-quality drinking water, AWGs use food-grade materials for condenser coatings and employ advanced filtration systems, including reverse osmosis and UV sterilization. This study presents the water harvesting performance of these devices during the summer in Orangeburg, SC, where the average laboratory temperature ranged from 25–29 °C, and RH was between 59–69%. Results highlight the potential and limitations of AWGs in moderate-humidity environments. Under these conditions, the AWG1, harvested 1.56 mLW⁻¹, which means $0.077 per liter of water at the electricity rate of $0.12kW⁻¹. The AWG2 harvested 0.42 mLW⁻¹, or $0.29 per liter of water at the same electricity rate.