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Water from the air

29.06.2021

In regions of the planet with a shortage of drinking water, sea water has to be desalinated. This takes a lot of energy, and in areas more remote from the ocean, there is no such possibility. The solution to the problem may be the condensation of water vapor from the atmosphere. The idea is not new, but the "passive" technologies that existed before, taking into account natural temperature changes, cannot be used during daylight hours. To collect dew, for example, foil is used, which heats up during the day.

Scientists from ETH Zurich have developed a technology that allows you to extract water around the clock, even under the scorching sun. In addition, it does not require energy at all.

The device consists of a cone-shaped shield and a glass panel with a special coating that reflects the sun's rays and removes heat. Thus, the device is cooled down to 15 degrees Celsius below the ambient temperature. Inside the funnel, the water vapor turns into water. The process is similar to how condensation appears on poorly insulated windows in winter.

Other technologies usually require the condensed water to be wiped off the surface - that is, another energy cost. Without this step, a significant portion of the condensed water would stick to the surface and remain unusable. Researchers at ETH Zurich applied a super-water-repellent coating of a specially developed polymer to the underside of the glass, and the condensed water began to collect into balls and flow (or rather, “jump off”) on its own.

The device is at least twice as superior to "passive" foil technologies in terms of the amount of water produced. A pilot apparatus with a funnel 10 centimeters in diameter produced 4,6 milliliters of water per day. Larger glass means more water. Under ideal conditions, scientists could collect up to 0,53 deciliters of water per square meter of glass surface per hour.

"This is close to the theoretical maximum value of 0,6 deciliters per hour, which is physically impossible to exceed," said Ivan Hechler, a doctoral student in the group of Dimos Poulikakos, professor of thermodynamics at the University of Zurich.

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Canon cameras will be assembled by robots 23.05.2012

By 2015, Canon plans to completely eliminate manual operations in its camera assembly plants. The company announced its intention to completely get rid of manual labor on its assembly lines, reports Associated Press.

It is planned to fully robotize the assembly of cameras, according to a spokesman for the company, Jun Misumi, within a few years. He refused to name the exact date, but called 2015 likely.

The purpose of this project is to reduce operating costs. Canon did not say how much savings they intend to achieve. The representative of the company added that they are not going to reduce staff - employees who will be exempted from manual operations will perform other duties in the company. Canon has already partially automated production, but people are still an integral part of it. The company is convinced that over time, robots will be able to independently produce some types of products, without human participation. The company did not indicate which products are in question.

Another Japanese company, Toyota Motor, is also working on fully automating assembly lines, not only to save money but also to produce higher quality vehicles, AP adds. The agency notes that new technologies, in particular, are used to assemble Lexus cars.

Canon is the largest camera manufacturer in the world. According to IDC, in 2010 the vendor owned 19% of the global market. In second place is Sony with a share of 16,9%, in third place is Nikon with a share of 12%. At the end of 2010 the volume of world deliveries reached 141 million devices, 10% more in comparison with 2009. Results of a research for 2011 the IDC company in open did not publish.

Revenue of Canon at the end of 2011 financial year which came to the end on December 31, 2011 decreased by 4% in comparison with the previous year to 3,56 trillion yens ($46,4 billion). Net profit remained virtually unchanged at 248,6 billion ($3,2 billion) yen compared to 246,6 billion yen in 2010. Like other manufacturers, including Nikon, the company suffered losses as a result of last year's floods in Thailand. The results were also influenced by the earthquake in Japan. According to the annual report, both disasters resulted in a decline in revenue of approximately 230 billion yen and operating income of approximately 120 billion yen.

In 2012, Canon does not expect a significant improvement in financial performance. Revenue growth is projected at 5,4%. Profit is expected to be at the same level as last year. Own forecast for the current year turned out to be lower than the forecast of independent analysts.

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