WATER PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH AUXILIARY REFRIGERATION CYCLE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for extracting water from air, the apparatus comprising:
- a refrigeration system defining a closed-loop refrigerant path, the refrigeration system including;
a main portion;
a first branch portion; and
a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion each having an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion;
the first branch portion including a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator;
the second branch portion including a second evaporator;
a first water vessel positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator;
a second water vessel positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator; and
a conduit for transporting water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for condensing water vapor in air to extract liquid water in which a refrigeration system defines a closed-loop refrigerant path. The refrigeration system includes a main portion, a first branch portion and a second branch portion. The first branch portion and the second branch portion each have an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion. The first branch portion includes a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator. The second branch portion includes a second evaporator. A first water vessel is positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator. A second water vessel is positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator. A conduit transports water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for extracting water from air, the apparatus comprising:
-
a refrigeration system defining a closed-loop refrigerant path, the refrigeration system including; a main portion; a first branch portion; and a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion each having an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion; the first branch portion including a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator; the second branch portion including a second evaporator; a first water vessel positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator; a second water vessel positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator; and a conduit for transporting water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of extracting water from air using a water production system, the water production system including an air movement device, a first water vessel, a second water vessel and a refrigeration system having a first cooling element and a second cooling element, the method comprising:
-
operating the air movement device to cause air to flow and contact the first cooling element; operating the refrigeration system to; cause the first cooling element to have a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first cooling element during operation; and cause the second cooling element to have a temperature less than the temperature of a fluid contacting the second cooling element during operation; condensing liquid water from the air on an exterior surface of the first cooling element; collecting the water in the first water vessel; moving a portion of the water from the first water vessel into the second water vessel; cooling the water in the second water vessel using the second cooling element; and shutting off the air movement device if an amount of water in the first water vessel exceeds a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of extracting water from air using a water production system, the water production system including an air movement device, a first water vessel, a second water vessel and a refrigeration system having a first cooling element and a second cooling element, the method comprising:
-
monitoring an amount of water in the first water vessel; monitoring a temperature of water in the second water vessel; and operating the air movement device to cause air to flow and contact the first cooling element when the amount of water in at least one of the first water vessel and the second water vessel is below a predetermined amount; operating the refrigeration system to; cause the first cooling element to operate at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first cooling element; cause the second cooling element to refrigerate the second water vessel; condensing liquid water from the air on an exterior surface of the first cooling element; collecting the water in the first water vessel; moving a portion of the water from the first water vessel into the second water vessel when the amount of water in the first water vessel exceeds a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification