High-Tech Exhaust Could Produce Water

Borla Water Extraction
You might recognize the Borla name from more performance-oriented exhaust systems, but the company has been working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop new technology that could lead to some cool upgrades in the turbo-diesel and gas trucks we drive in decades to come.

Imagine if you had an on-board tank in your truck where you could get clean water whenever you needed it. It would be great for camping and remote fleet operations, and it would be especially helpful for military use. 

The technology uses the heating and cooling done by an exhaust system to condense water vapor, then collects it in a usable containment system. Other benefits of pulling the water from the exhaust gases include cleaner emissions. 

The video below is a bit of a Borla commercial, but it has some great info about the possible uses of the existing technology. 

 



Comments

wow this would be EXTREMELY cool if they can make it work right.

Isn't the goal of the exhaust system and specifically the catalytic converter to turn all the emissions into water vapor and CO2?

I get that this system condenses it but can this really get you more than a couple of ounces of water at a time?

I think I'd rather use the waste heat in some simple sterling engine to charge batteries or capacitors to produce extra power.

resonator?

Sounds promising. The video says a 25 gallon Humvee diesel tank provide 21 gallons of water. Makes me thing the water is coming from air more than the fuel tank.

@ johnny doe. Stick it up yours and there would be no more droughts anywhere. The ocean would overflow!!!!!

Keith The ocean would overflow!!!!! if you jump off a boat

What if Frank drinks from this and get carbon monoxide poisoning?

@GMC Bob

Won't happen...Frank drives a quailty vehicle with a quailty emission control system on it...A FORD.

Ford - 1
GM - 0

Let the pissing match begain!


Anyway, now that I've trolled Bob for the evening, I think this sounds pretty cool...I look forward to further devlopments on it.

Their best bet would be to adapt this system to generators. Do you have any idea how many generators are used by the military? And they basically run 24/7. I'm a little skeptical about the volume of water they claim to produce, but the fact remains that this system on a generator would provide a steady source of water.

(quailty emission control system on it...A FORD) lmao yeah so much quailty that their EGR's leak coolant in them then blow up the whole motor haha

GM 2

Ford 0

let the girly ford men start starting

@ johnny doe,, shove it punk!

Keith whats wrong can't handle the truth? bahaha

Sounds like the War industry is alive and well. I'm sure they'll be able to sell billions worth in these devices to the US government.

But since it's becoming clear that diesel isn't going to become mainstream in the US, I don't see this technology ever ending up in cars or trucks that any of us drive and if it does, it will surely be mandated and tack on another couple grand to the already insanely expensive (~$7k additional) emissions control system.

@Jonny doe

Learn to count dude...1 comes before 2. :)

Ken,
Water is mostly coming from the humidity contained in the air used for combustion inside the cylinders. Not from the fuel.
Dry desert climates wouldn't seem like a good area for this system to work. But of course any amount of water produced would be a huge benefit.

Luke.
I agree. Generators would be a great use for this system. But you have to remember that the hardest project is to supply the fighting troops. And they are on the move. In most cases without a generator. They also have limited space for storing reserve fuel and water. It may be more important to carry the water while on the move than to carry a generator. And the fuel necessary to run the generator.
Many of the mobile generators are the Aura generator systems. http://www.aurasystems.com/, that are powered by the vehicles motivation engine.

...Wouldn't it be easier just to use the condensation off the air conditioner...?

@ johnny troll,, yeah I can handle the truth.We all can. We know a troll when we see one and its you pecker h@#d!!

Nate.M chevy and gmc thats two. There for GM 2 Ford 000000 LOL Keith yawn

Great, now the roads will be constantly wet with exhaust discharge. Your new wax job/detail will last as long as you can wait to drive down one road.

Water is a byproduct of combustion, combining hydrogen in fuel (they call them "hydro"carbons for a reason) and oxygen in air. Humidity in the air is a negligable part of that. When you first fire up your car, watch the exhaust, you should see water droplets coming out. Thats the water vapor condensing on the (relatively) cold pipes, and being blown out the tailpipe. I actually had to do the chemical "math" in a chem class in college, and it does come very close to a gallon of water for every gallon of fuel burned. We are all already discharging this water into the air as steam, once your exhaust warms and stops condensing the water. This system simply collects the steam.

It is a great idea for the military, and for people in arid climates. Dry US states could probably use this to solve some water shortage issues, IF it were adopted in enough vehicles and generators. It would also be a good product for outdoor enthusiasts. And for the military, operating in the desert (and it seems like we're gonna be there often!), having a source of water that replenishes itself will save a lot of water transport costs, and possibly save some lives.

@ buddy

I was thinking more about on base where you could have multiple generators running 24/7 and kill two birds with one stone, producing power and a significant amount of water. I understand the rationale of putting it on a vehicle to provide an mobile, emergency water source for troops. I just tend to look more at the big picture, and I think this system would be more useful on a generator. Mostly, this is because on a generator the application expands far beyond military. It could be used to provide power and water anywhere in the world, in developing countries with poor infrastructure, or after a natural disaster.

hello im reza .im student engineer environment in field water and waste water treatment .im willing receive more about this mater .pdf.
i cant speak english very well.



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