Nearly half of the world’s population experiences water scarcity, and this number is projected to grow in coming years due to population growth and global warming. To combat this issue, the EHD VCC MQP team designed and constructed a tabletop vapor compression cycle (VCC) capable of collecting water from humid air. The system was simulated, designed, and fabricated to emulate a greenhouse-style environment due to the large amount of humid air expelled by these buildings that could be used as a source of potable water for populations affected by water scarcity. This VCC demonstrated the ability to produce a considerable amount of water. In addition, through the novel process of applying electrohydrodynamics (EHD) at the system level, the team explored the feasibility of improving a VCC’s coefficient of performance. The system built in this MQP will serve as a basis for future EHD experimentation on a system level.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Verdesi, Benjamin
• Olaya, Grace
• Desjardins, Brian

Subject

• Water
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Energy
• Learning
• Project-Based Learning
• Computing

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 64271
• E-project-042722-121147

Keyword

• Vapor Compression Cycle
• Water Scarcity
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Collection
• Sustainability
• Electrohydrodynamics

Advisor

• Yagoobi, Jamal
• Gnanaskandan, Aswin

Year

• 2022

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
• 13 - Climate Action

Date created

• 2022-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved