Exploring the Water Potential of an Atmospheric Water Generator System Using R22 Refrigerant

Abstract

The availability of clean water remains a challenge in various regions of Indonesia, creating a need for alternative sources besides groundwater and surface water. The Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) offers a solution by condensing water vapor from the ambient air into water through the vapor compression cycle principle, as used in refrigeration systems. This study aims to design and test a refrigeration system for an AWG using a 1.5 PK R22 hermetic rotary compressor. The method used was an experimental design, beginning with the creation of a block diagram, the design of the refrigeration cycle using CoolPack software, simulation of the condensation process using DWSIM, determination of component specifications, assembly of the apparatus, and finally testing and collection of actual data over a 24-hour period. The results of the cycle design using CoolPack yielded a Coefficient of Performance (COP) value of 5.18 with a design water flow rate of 1.346 L/h. Actual testing showed that the calculated COP values ranged from 5.58 to 8.50 (average 6.97) and the COP values from the software simulation ranged from 6.43 to 8.77 (average 7.95), both of which were above the design values. However, the average actual water production was only 0.90 L/h (21.58 L/day), lower than the design values (1.029–1.340 L/h), although it briefly reached a peak of 1.450 L/h in the early morning. These results indicate that the efficiency of the AWG refrigeration cycle consistently exceeded the design target, but the volume of water produced.