The first question anyone asks about an atmospheric water generator is how much water it actually makes. The second is whether that is enough for their house, their villa or their team. Both have straightforward answers, provided the figures are read the right way: as a daily average, under stated conditions, against a known number of people.
This article gives the figures for Minairal's three Air models, explains what affects them, and shows how to work out how many litres a day you need and which model covers it.
In short: a Minairal atmospheric water generator produces 13 litres a day (Air Top), 16 litres (Air Stand) or 22 litres (Air Stand Pro, up to 30 litres) on average, for relative humidity between 30% and 80% and an average temperature of 25°C. At two litres of drinking water per person per day, that covers 6, 8 or 11 people respectively.
How many litres a day does an atmospheric water generator make?
It depends on the size of the machine. A countertop unit for a kitchen and a floor-standing unit for a hotel lobby are built around condensers of different capacity, so their outputs differ. The Minairal Air range spans three sizes.
| Model | Average daily output* | Delivery | Storage tank | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Top | Average 13 L | Hot and cold | 7 L | Countertop |
| Air Stand | Average 16 L | Hot and cold | 11 L | Floor-standing |
| Air Stand Pro | Average 22 L (up to 30 L) | Cold | 13.5 L | Floor-standing |
*Average daily output, for relative humidity between 30% and 80% and an average temperature of 25°C.
These are averages over a day, not peak figures, and we do not publish them as maximums. For how the condensation itself works, see our guide on how atmospheric water generators work.
What conditions do the figures assume?
An atmospheric water generator cools air below its dew point so that the water vapour in it condenses. The amount of vapour available depends on the air, which is why every serious manufacturer states the conditions behind its figures. Minairal's are stated once, for the whole range: relative humidity between 30% and 80%, and an average temperature of 25°C.
Relative humidity
The systems operate across the 30% to 80% range. Thailand's coastal and island climate sits within it for most of the year, which is one reason the technology has found its place here rather than in dry regions. More than 700 Minairal systems are in service across the country.
Temperature
Warm air carries more water vapour than cold air at the same relative humidity. The reference figure of 25°C is an average indoor temperature, and it is the point against which the daily outputs are quoted.
The room the unit stands in
This is the factor people overlook. An air-conditioned room is drier than an open terrace or a kitchen with a window, because the air conditioner has already removed moisture. A unit in a sealed, heavily cooled office will see less humid air than one in a lobby with open doors. That is why the site assessment checks the actual room, not just the climate of the town.
How do I work out how much water I need?
Use the method published across this site: two litres of drinking water per person per day. It is the figure we use in the impact calculator and on every sector page, and it is deliberately generous for adults who also drink tea, coffee and other beverages, while being close to the mark for a household or a team that drinks mainly water.
- Count the people who drink from the unit on a typical day.
- Multiply by 2 litres.
- Compare with the average daily output of each model.
| People | Drinking water a day | Model that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | 2 to 12 L | Air Top (13 L a day on average) |
| 7 to 8 | 14 to 16 L | Air Stand (16 L a day on average) |
| 9 to 11 | 18 to 22 L | Air Stand Pro (22 L a day on average, up to 30 L) |
| 12 or more | 24 L and above | Two or more units, placed where people drink |
A family of four needs about 8 litres a day, well within an Air Top. A managed villa sleeping eight needs 16 litres, which is an Air Stand, or an Air Stand Pro if guests also fill bottles for the beach. A team of twelve in a small office needs 24 litres, which is slightly above one Air Stand Pro, so the practical answer is two units, for example an Air Stand Pro for cold water and an Air Top for hot and cold. Beyond eleven people, the question becomes where the units stand rather than how large one unit is, and that is covered in our article on sizing a commercial atmospheric water generator.
Does the tank size matter as much as the daily output?
Yes, for how the water is used during the day. The daily output is produced over 24 hours and stored in the tank, 7 litres on the Air Top, 11 on the Air Stand and 13.5 on the Air Stand Pro. The unit keeps condensing while the tank has room, so a household that draws water steadily through the day uses the full average output. A site where everyone fills a bottle at the same moment, such as a school at break time, needs a tank that can absorb that peak, and sometimes two smaller units instead of one larger one. Whether that stored water is safe to drink is answered in our article on the safety of water from air.
Hot and cold, or cold only?
The Air Top and Air Stand deliver hot and cold water, which suits a home, a villa or an office pantry where tea and coffee are made from the same unit. The Air Stand Pro delivers cold water only, with more output than the other two models, and is the model for places where many people serve themselves: hotel pool decks, corridors in schools, staff areas. The full specification of each model is on the Air range page.
What else is in the water?
Output is only half the question. The condensed water is filtered, protected with UV and remineralised with calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, for an alkaline pH of 8.5 or above and 40 to 80 ppm of total dissolved solids. On the Air Stand Pro the treatment runs to seven stages. The pre-filter is replaced every six months on Air systems and the other cartridges every twelve months. The detail is on our water quality page, and the broader facts about the technology are in atmospheric water generation facts.
Frequently asked questions
How much water can an atmospheric water generator make per day?
Minairal's models make 13, 16 or 22 litres a day on average, with the Air Stand Pro reaching up to 30 litres, for relative humidity between 30% and 80% and an average temperature of 25°C. Larger industrial machines exist, but for a home, a villa, an office or a hotel point of use, these three sizes cover the range.
What humidity does an atmospheric water generator need?
Minairal Air systems operate between 30% and 80% relative humidity. Thailand's climate is within that range for most of the year. An air-conditioned room is drier than an open one, so the room the unit stands in is checked at the site assessment.
Is 13 litres a day enough for a family?
At two litres per person per day, 13 litres covers a household of six. A family of four uses about 8 litres, leaving a margin for guests and cooking.
How many people can one Air Stand Pro serve?
About eleven, at two litres each, from a single unit producing 22 litres a day on average, up to 30 litres. For more people, units are added at the points where people actually drink.
Where can I buy one for my home?
Air-to-water machines for home use are available on our online shop. For a villa, an office or a hotel, request a site assessment and we come back with a configuration, a capacity and a maintenance plan.
