中英對照讀新聞》Spanish engineers extract drinking water from thin air 西班牙工程師從稀薄空氣中取水

◎陳成良

A Spanish company has devised a system to extract drinking water from thin air to supply arid regions where people are in desperate need.

一家西班牙公司設計出一套系統，可從稀薄空氣中提取出飲用水，供應乾旱地區民眾急需的用水。

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"The goal is to help people," said Enrique Veiga, the 82-year-old engineer who invented the machine during a harsh drought in southern Spain in the 1990s. "The goal is to get to places like refugee camps that don’t have drinking water."

82歲工程師安立奎‧韋加表示：「我的目標就是幫助別人。」他在1990年代西班牙南部大旱期間，發明這部機器，「目標就是供水給難民營這類缺乏飲用水的地方。」

The devices made by his company, Aquaer, are already delivering clean, safe water to communities in Namibia and a Lebanese refugee camp.

他的公司生產名為「Aquaer」的設備，已在納米比亞和黎巴嫩的難民營投入使用，提供潔淨、安全的飲用水。

The machines use electricity to cool air until it condenses into water, harnessing the same effect that causes condensation in air-conditioning units.

這種裝置的運作原理類似冷氣機的冷凝作用，利用電力將空氣降溫，直到凝結成水。

新聞辭典

devise：動詞，設計、發明。例句：The coach devises excellent wellness program for the players.（教練為選手設計出色的健身計畫。）

arid：形容詞，乾燥的、乾旱的。例句：The settlers irrigated the arid land.（移民灌溉乾燥的土地。）

harness︰動詞，利用、控制、駕馭。也可用為名詞，in harness指在工作中。例句︰Both his sons are in harness.（他的2個兒子都在工作。）