Portable, potable water recovery and dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. A portable, potable-water recovery system for producing and dispensing water, comprising:
- (a) a portable enclosure comprising;
an inlet port; and
an outlet port;
(b) an air-circulation means for circulating ambient air from said inlet port to said outlet port, said air-circulation means comprising an internal, ducted, electric, rotary, controllable, variable air-volume air-movement device; and
a filtration means adapted to trap airborne particulates of a maximum dimension of 100 micrometers or larger sealingly connected upstream to said filtration means;
(c) a water-condensing means sealingly connected downstream from said air-circulation means, said water-condensing means comprising;
a condensate collector;
a first refrigerant and first refrigerant lines;
a first evaporator having dew-forming surfaces wherein said dew-forming surfaces are adapted to cool adjacent air to a temperature of at least 1 degree Celsius below the equilibrium dew point of said ambient air, thereby forming liquid water on said dew-forming surfaces, said dew-forming surfaces are formed and positioned so as to enable gravity flow of said liquid water into said condensate collector;
a first condenser; and
a first compressor;
(d) an ultraviolet light (UV) canister receiving a direct gravity flow of said liquid water from said condensate collector;
(e) a water filtration means sealingly connected to said UV canister and meeting NSF 53 standards so as to receive said liquid water into said water filtration means by extra-gravitational pressure;
(f) a storage tank sealingly connected to said water filtration means so as to receive said liquid water into said storage tank;
wherein said outlet port is sealingly connected to said storage tank so as to permit external dispensation of said liquid water from said storage tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, potable-water generator for producing high-purity liquid water by condensation of water vapor from ambient air. The generator (125) employs an air filter (119) to remove particulates and aerosols from the incoming air. An enclosed heat absorber cools the filtered air to its dew point and collects droplets of condensate into a condensate collector (5). Before discharge, the collected dew is treated in a bacteriostat loop to destroy adventitious living organisms and to filter out undesirable and dangerous contaminants. A recirculation loop provides the ability to recirculate stored condensate, including during periods of inactivity. Further, quick disconnect fittings (55b) and variable length flexible tubing allows use of the invention to serve remote dispensers and/or appliances and allow use of municipal water treated through the apparatus in low condensate situations.
82 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A portable, potable-water recovery system for producing and dispensing water, comprising:
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(a) a portable enclosure comprising;
an inlet port; and
an outlet port;
(b) an air-circulation means for circulating ambient air from said inlet port to said outlet port, said air-circulation means comprising an internal, ducted, electric, rotary, controllable, variable air-volume air-movement device; and
a filtration means adapted to trap airborne particulates of a maximum dimension of 100 micrometers or larger sealingly connected upstream to said filtration means;
(c) a water-condensing means sealingly connected downstream from said air-circulation means, said water-condensing means comprising;
a condensate collector;
a first refrigerant and first refrigerant lines;
a first evaporator having dew-forming surfaces wherein said dew-forming surfaces are adapted to cool adjacent air to a temperature of at least 1 degree Celsius below the equilibrium dew point of said ambient air, thereby forming liquid water on said dew-forming surfaces, said dew-forming surfaces are formed and positioned so as to enable gravity flow of said liquid water into said condensate collector;
a first condenser; and
a first compressor;
(d) an ultraviolet light (UV) canister receiving a direct gravity flow of said liquid water from said condensate collector;
(e) a water filtration means sealingly connected to said UV canister and meeting NSF 53 standards so as to receive said liquid water into said water filtration means by extra-gravitational pressure;
(f) a storage tank sealingly connected to said water filtration means so as to receive said liquid water into said storage tank;
wherein said outlet port is sealingly connected to said storage tank so as to permit external dispensation of said liquid water from said storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification