Hi folks,

Does anyone know where I can get plans for an airwell? By this I mean a full-size (probably 6' or bigger) stone or cement condensation airwell of the type that the French use for irrigation and the Saudis use for just about everything. I used to have plans laying aroud back when I was a city dweller in my past life and now that I'm out in the boonies I can't find 'em anywhere. Even better info on airwells would help! Nobody seems to know much about 'em, even the alternative energy gurus.

Thanks,

Raven

-- Raven Kaldera (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com), December 24, 2000

Answers

Raven, is this the same thing they use in the deserts of Africa? A large mound of stones is used to collect the morning dew. After it condenses and runs to the bottom it is collected as usable water.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), December 25, 2000.

Yeah, but there's a more high-tech way to do it too....uses cinder blocks stacked in a certain way, with drainage pipes. I'm cursing myself for losing the plans. Supposedly they could irrigate your whole field for free on a gravity-feed system....

Raven

-- Raven Kaldera (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com), December 26, 2000.

Hi,

Did a little searching & found this link -

http://www.egroups.com/message/dowse/15

It mentions a US Patent # on a design, which would imply the construction plans should be available.

Best of Luck. If I find more I'll pass it along.

J

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), December 26, 2000.

Did a search at the US Patent office. Their search-thingy found it but couldn't perform a display on the document.. :(

There seems to be lots of references in French (which would make sense).

j

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), December 26, 2000.

Could we possibly get an article on this subject in the mag? Seems really interesting, but I know nothing whatsoever about this subject and would like to read more about it.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), December 29, 2000.

A further comment, These "air wells" work by condensing the HEAVY moisture out of the air. Foggy conditions I believe are required. They are generally use near a large body of water with morning fog,

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), December 30, 2000.

I live in North Central Florida and except when its really cold, about 2 months of the year (excepting this year, it looks like) we have VERY heavy dew. I would think that this could be gathered and drained off and caught in a similiar manner. I sure would like to see some info on this. I had never heard of it before. Judith

-- Judith (JHaral2197@aol.com), December 30, 2000.

I have an old article from a popular science article using pvc pipes and a small fan. If you need more info email me.

-- chad (rea_01@msn.com), February 13, 2001.