Apparatus for the production of freshwater from extremely hot and humid air
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the production of freshwater and drinking water by condensation of water vapor from high temperature, high humidity ambient air comprising:
- a housing;
condensation means for condensing water vapor entrained in humid and high temperature ambient air;
initial transportation means for transporting by gravity the condensate from said water condensation means;
vent means for facilitating water flow in said apparatus by gravity under ambient pressure;
water preparation means for preparing the water for drinking;
water distribution means for distributing drinking water from said water preparation means by gravity;
first control means for controlling the operation of said condensation means; and
electric means for supplying electric power to operate said condensation means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for extraction of freshwater from ambient air in regions of extremely hot and humid climates, for supply of drinking water and freshwater for small to large groups of people in remote and isolated areas or wherever freshwater resources are not conveniently accessible. Compact mobile units are disclosed to provide freshwater and drinking water for resort areas, to passengers on land and sea vehicles, in situations of emergency, and to areas of water shortage. The art of adaptation of commercial dehumidification units is taught in design and construction of apparatus for production of freshwater and drinking water. Preparation of drinking water included ultraviolet disinfection, ozone treatment, and/or chlorine addition; activated carbon and ion exchange filters; and adding of fluorine, air/oxygen to refresh the water storage units, and minerals for taste and health provisions. For energy economy and use of independent electric power supply, the produced water may flow under gravitational forces entirely or with the assistance of small boasting pumps. Lukewarm, hot, cold, and/or cold carbonated drinking water are provided as well as freshwater for other usage.
118 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the production of freshwater and drinking water by condensation of water vapor from high temperature, high humidity ambient air comprising:
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a housing;
condensation means for condensing water vapor entrained in humid and high temperature ambient air;
initial transportation means for transporting by gravity the condensate from said water condensation means;
vent means for facilitating water flow in said apparatus by gravity under ambient pressure;
water preparation means for preparing the water for drinking;
water distribution means for distributing drinking water from said water preparation means by gravity;
first control means for controlling the operation of said condensation means; and
electric means for supplying electric power to operate said condensation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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15. A method of extracting a limited quantity of freshwater from natural high temperature, high humidity ambient air inside or outside a structure, such that water flows by gravity only without the use of other methods to drive the water flow, said method comprising the steps of:
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drawing high temperature and high humidity air by an air suction unit from the surrounding atmosphere through an air drying unit;
directing the air drawn through said air drying unit in one direction by said air suction unit to pass over a cold surface at a temperature lower than the dew point;
cooling said cold surface;
maintaining the low temperature of said cold surface below dew point;
reducing the temperature of said high temperature, high humidity ambient air by heat transfer with said cold surface;
condensing water vapor entrained in said high temperature, high humidity ambient air on said cold surface;
directing dry air by said air suction unit to the outside of said air drying unit;
collecting droplets of condensate formed on said cold surface;
allowing condensate to fall freely by gravity under ambient pressure;
directing free falling condensate by gravity;
collecting said free falling condensate as freshwater;
allowing freshwater to flow by gravity;
storing flowing freshwater in a holding tank;
supplying users with freshwater;
directing freshwater for preparation of potable water;
supplying users with potable water; and
preventing overflow of potable water.
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17. An apparatus for producing freshwater and drinking water from high temperature, high humidity atmospheric air flowing by natural air convection inside an area comprising:
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condensation means, contained within a box with inlet air ducts and outlet air ducts for passage of a directed draft of high temperature, high humidity ambient air; and
including a cold condensation surface for producing water condensate from water vapor contained in said high temperature, high humidity ambient air when said high temperature, high humidity ambient air is in contact with said cold condensation surface, said water condensate falling by gravity to a condensate collection means;
an air blowing means for creating a turbulent flow of high temperature, high humidity ambient air through said inlet air ducts of said condensation means;
an air directing means for drawing high temperature, high humidity ambient air blown by said air blowing means through said inlet ducts after filtering by an air filter means, and for directing said high temperature, high humidity ambient air to flow inside said condensation means to cool and dry in contact with said cold condensation surface and exit as dry air out of said outlet air ducts;
a control means to automatically shut off and turn on said condensation means;
said air blowing means; and
said air directing means;
a freshwater directing means for directing the flow of freshwater from said condensate collection means to two streams, a first stream for supply of freshwater and a second stream for processing of potable water;
a freshwater supply means to supply said first freshwater stream to users;
a potable water processing means to process said second potable water stream;
a potable water dispensing means to supply potable water to users on demand;
a pressure balance means to allow water to flow by gravity throughout said apparatus; and
an electric means to supply of electric power to operate said apparatus.
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56. A method of collecting water from the condensation of atmospheric humidity to supply a large group of people in extremely high temperature and high humidity regions with freshwater and potable water, said water collecting method comprising the following steps:
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directing a stream of high temperature and high humidity ambient air to a closed space containing inlet ducts for admitting air and outlet ducts for exhausting dry air after the condensation of water vapor entrained in said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream;
measuring the temperature of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream at said inlet air ducts of said closed space;
measuring the relative humidity of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream at said inlet air ducts of said closed space;
determining the absolute humidity of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream at said inlet air ducts of said closed space from measurements of temperature and relative humidity;
filtering said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream as it enters from said inlet ducts of said closed space;
condensating water vapor entrained in said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream inside said closed space and after filtration over an extended substantially cold surface maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature at the dew point;
collecting the condensate from said extended cold surface to form a product water stream;
controlling the procession of condensating process according to determining the absolute humidity of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air stream at said inlet ducts using a predetermined limit of absolute humidity at which the condensating process must desist until the said predetermined limit is exceeded;
splitting said product water stream into a first stream for supplying untreated freshwater and a second stream for supplying potable water;
supplying freshwater from said first stream to at least one consumer on demand;
preparing freshwater from said second stream for supplying potable water; and
supplying potable water from said second stream to at least one consumer on demand.
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62. An apparatus for condensing atmospheric humidity of high temperature and high humidity air to provide potable water to a small group of people, said condensing apparatus comprising:
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a modified dehumidifier unit for drying of indoor air, said modified dehumidifier unit is complete with inlet air ducts, outlet air ducts, a fan to draw humid air in through said inlet air ducts and exhaust dry air out through said outlet air ducts to the atmosphere, a water vapor condensing surface, an air filter on said inlet air ducts to filter oncoming ambient air, and a drain for draining water condensate at the bottom of said modified dehumidifier unit;
an air blower to direct a strong stream of hot humid ambient air inside said modified dehumidifier unit through said inlet air ducts, said air blower having a controller for automatically cutting off power to said air blower according to conditions determined by the absolute humidity of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air;
a condensate collection means for collecting the condensate drained from said drain of said modified dehumidifier unit;
a pump for moving the water in said condensate collection means, said pump having a pump controller means for automatically shutting off power to said pump when the water level in said condensate collection means is below a predetermined limit and turning on the power to said pump when the water level in said condensate collection means is above said predetermined limit;
a disinfection means to disinfect the water flowing from said pump;
a filtration means for cleaning disinfected water from suspended;
a water holding tank for storing disinfected and filtrated potable water;
an aeration means for freshening the potable water stored in said water holding tank;
a dispensing means for dispensing the potable water stored in said water holding tank;
a drain means for directing potable water in excess of the capacity of said water holding tank; and
an electric supply means for supplying electric power to said apparatus.
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63. A method for harvesting water vapor entrained in ambient air in regions of extremely high temperature and high humidity climates to provide drinking water to a small group of people, said method comprising the steps of:
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blowing within an substantially closed compartment an air draft of high temperature and high humidity air at a controlled speed of air flow, said substantially closed compartment including walls with front inlet air ducts for the entry of said high temperature and high humidity air, and back outlet air ducts for removing dry air, and water drain at the bottom for drainage of condensate, said inlet air ducts are covered with air filters to clean the incoming air from dust, sand and volatile organic particulates;
condensating of water vapor from said high temperature and high humidity air flowing in contact with cold condensating surfaces inside said compartment;
collecting condensate from said water drain in a pan;
lifting the water from said pan by a water pump controlled by a float in said pan for turning off said pump when said float goes below a predetermined level and turning said pump back on when said float moves above said predetermined level;
disinfecting water to remove microorganisms;
filtering the disinfected water to remove suspended particulates;
storing potable water in an elevated tank;
aerating the potable water for freshness;
dispensing the potable water on demand; and
directing the access potable water for use at a later time.
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64. A system of condensing atmospheric humidity of very hot and very humid ambient air to provide freshwater to a large group of people, said system to be placed on a trailer for transport to another location wherever the water supply is needed, said system comprising:
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a modified commercial, large capacity dehumidifier unit for drying indoor air, said modified large capacity dehumidifier unit being complete with inlet air ducts, outlet air ducts, a set of fans to draw high temperature and high humidity ambient air in and exhaust dry air out to the atmosphere, several substantially large water vapor condensing surfaces capable of condensing large amounts of water from high temperature and high humidity ambient air, air filters on said inlet air ducts for filtering said high temperature and high humidity ambient air, and a drain for draining water condensate at the bottom of said unit;
an air blower for directing a strong stream of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air inside said inlet air ducts, said air blower having a controller for automatically turning said air blower off and said air blower on according to conditions determined by the absolute humidity of said high temperature and high humidity ambient air;
a condensate collection tank for collecting the condensate drainage from said drain of said modified dehumidifier unit;
a pump for moving the water from said condensate collection tank, said pump having a pump controller means for automatically turning said pump off when the water level in said condensate collection means is below a preset limit and turning said pump on when the water level in said condensate collection means is above said preset limit, a thermally insulated water tank for storing a freshwater product, said thermally insulated water tank being placed on an elevated level of said trailer and receiving product water by said pump;
a dispensing wide mouth means for accessing the freshwater stored in said thermally insulated water tank;
a hose for transporting freshwater in excess of the capacity of said thermally insulated water tank to centers of use; and
a diesel generator for supplying electric power to said system.
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65. A method for harvesting water vapor entrained in ambient air in regions of extremely high temperature and high humidity for providing freshwater to large group of people, said harvesting method comprising the steps of:
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blowing an air draft of high temperature and high humidity ambient air at a controlled speed of air flow into a substantially large enclosed compartment with solid walls, said walls having at least one front inlet air duct for receiving high temperature and high humidity air, at least one outlet air duct for exhausting dry air and an open trough at the bottom of said compartment for draining condensate, said inlet air ducts being covered with air filters for removing dust, sand and volatile organic particulates from the high temperature and high humidity ambient air;
condensing water vapor from said high temperature and high humidity ambient air flowing into said compartment by a plurality of cold condensating surfaces;
collecting in a tank the water condensate from said open trough;
lifting water from said tank by a water pump controlled by a float in said tank for turning off said pump when said float goes under a set level and turning on said water pump when said float moves above said set point;
storing freshwater in an elevated large capacity tank;
dispensing the freshwater on demand;
directing the access of the freshwater for use away from said storing tank; and
supplying electrical power from a diesel generator to said pump;
said cooling device and said blowing fans.
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Specification