Experimental analysis of a portable thermoelectric atmospheric water generator using conical condensers

• Portable TEC-AWG operated below 50 W input power • Water yield reached 0.375 L/kWh • Relative humidity increased output by up to 138% • Air velocity enhanced condensation by 50–70% • 15 cm cone produced 20–30% more water Freshwater scarcity has intensified the need for compact, low-power, and decentralized atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technologies. In this study, a portable thermoelectric atmospheric water generator (AWG) equipped with conical aluminum condensers is experimentally investigated to evaluate geometry-driven performance enhancement under constant electrical input. The system was tested under controlled variations of relative humidity (66–93%), inlet-air temperature (24–32°C), airflow velocity (0.69–1.08 m/s), and condenser height (10 and 15 cm). Under the most favorable condition (93% RH, 32°C, 1.08 m/s), the system achieved a maximum water production of 19 mL/h and 16 mL/h using the 15-cm and 10-cm condenser, respectively. Increasing airflow velocity improved water yield by 50–70%, while condenser height optimization enhanced performance by 20–30%, without increasing electrical power input. The total measured power consumption was approximately 50.6 W, corresponding to 1.215 kWh/day, resulting in a specific water yield of 0.375 L/kWh and an apparent coefficient of performance (COP) of ∼0.25. Unlike many TEC-based AWG systems that rely on increased power input or additional modules to improve output, this study demonstrates that measurable performance gains can be achieved through thermofluidic and geometric optimization under strict energy constraints. The findings provide quantitative benchmarking data and advance TEC-based atmospheric water harvesting research by highlighting energy-constrained design strategies for low-power, off-grid, and renewable-supported applications.