The present work suggests a non-conventional method of water production from atmospheric air, on a 24-h basis using a compact system. The operation of the system is described and its efficiency is defined. The system performs under forced convection absorption and regeneration through a packed tower. The packed tower consists of two identical columns, each of c them is packed with an identical bed. Each bed consists of vertical multi-layers of cloth material impregnated with calcium chloride solution of different concentrations. A numerical model. based on the experimental results, has been developed to predict the performance of the system under various operating conditions. The system efficiency is found to have peak values at certain cycle times, desiccant final concentration, regeneration temperature and absorption air stream velocity. It is also found that the maximum efficiency increases with initial concentration and decreases with the increase of the regeneration air stream velocity and absorption temperature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.