MULTIPURPOSE ADIABATIC POTABLE WATER PRODUCTION APPARATUS AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for extracting potable water from air comprising:
- an air passage duct;
air movement apparatus disposed within said air passage duct for collecting ambient air and circulating said air in a predetermined direction through said duct, thereby creating a flow of air within said air passage duct;
a first cooling element having a surface area disposed within said duct, said first cooling element operating at a temperature at or below the dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said surface area of said first cooling element as said flow of air passes over said surface of said first cooling element;
a primary water collection vessel associated with at least said first cooling element for collecting said collectible liquid water;
said first cooling element is included with a refrigerant compressor in a closed loop refrigerant cycle in which said first cooling element is a first evaporator and said loop further comprises a condenser of said refrigerant, and further comprisinga second cooling element including a second evaporator and a secondary water storage vessel coupled for receiving at least a portion of said collected liquid water from said primary water collection vessel, said first and second cooling elements being supplied with refrigerant by said compressor, said first cooling element for collecting liquid water from the air, and said second cooling element for further cooling said collected liquid water.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for transforming water vapor into potable water by using a vapor compression refrigeration system which includes first and second cooling elements disposed in an air passage duct that provides an air circulation pattern driven by a fan or similar device. The circulating air undergoes cooling to a temperature below the dew point to collect water from the air. The collected water is stored in a principal storage vessel where ozone is injected to eliminate bacteria and contaminants. At least a portion of the recovered water is transferred to a secondary storage vessel where it is further cooled by refrigerant from the same compressor.
25 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for extracting potable water from air comprising:
-
an air passage duct; air movement apparatus disposed within said air passage duct for collecting ambient air and circulating said air in a predetermined direction through said duct, thereby creating a flow of air within said air passage duct; a first cooling element having a surface area disposed within said duct, said first cooling element operating at a temperature at or below the dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said surface area of said first cooling element as said flow of air passes over said surface of said first cooling element; a primary water collection vessel associated with at least said first cooling element for collecting said collectible liquid water; said first cooling element is included with a refrigerant compressor in a closed loop refrigerant cycle in which said first cooling element is a first evaporator and said loop further comprises a condenser of said refrigerant, and further comprising a second cooling element including a second evaporator and a secondary water storage vessel coupled for receiving at least a portion of said collected liquid water from said primary water collection vessel, said first and second cooling elements being supplied with refrigerant by said compressor, said first cooling element for collecting liquid water from the air, and said second cooling element for further cooling said collected liquid water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19)
-
-
6. (canceled)
-
7. (canceled)
-
14. (canceled)
-
15. (canceled)
-
16. An apparatus for extracting potable water from air comprising:
-
an air passage duct; an air movement apparatus disposed within said air passage duct for collecting ambient air and circulating said air in a predetermined direction through said duct; a first cooling element having a surface area disposed within said duct, said first cooling element operating at a temperature at or below the dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said surface area of said first cooling element as said flow of air passes over said surface of said first cooling element; a primary water collection vessel including; a unitary molded plastic container enclosing a generally rectangular storage volume for collecting water; an integral condensate collection tray forming a top of at least a portion of said container and having an upstanding lip and a downward sloping floor from said lip to a central water collection opening; at least one opening for insertion of water treatment and water handling devices; and a sealable access opening at one end thereof for providing access to the interior of said volume to permit insertion and assembly of said water treatment and handling devices and cleaning and emptying of liquid from said volume. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A method of extracting potable water from air comprising:
-
circulating air in a predetermined direction along a flow path thereby creating a flow of air along said path; providing at least a first cooling surface element along said flow path and operating said cooling surface element at a temperature at or below a dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said cooling surface as said flow of air passes over said surface; collecting said collectible water in a primary water collection vessel associated with at least said first cooling element; including said first cooling element with a refrigerant compressor in a closed loop refrigerant cycle in which said first cooling element is a first evaporator and said loop further comprises a condenser of said refrigerant; transferring at least a portion of said collected water from said primary water collection vessel to a secondary water storage vessel; and cooling said secondary water storage vessel by a second cooling element comprising a second evaporator, said first and second cooling elements being supplied with refrigerant by said compressor for respectively collecting liquid water from the air and for further cooling said collected liquid water.
-
-
20. An apparatus for extracting potable water from air comprising:
-
an air passage duct; air movement apparatus disposed within said air passage duct for collecting ambient air and circulating said air in a predetermined direction through said duct, thereby creating a flow of air within said air passage duct; a first cooling element having a surface area disposed within said duct, said first cooling element operating at a temperature at or below the dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said surface area of said first cooling element as said flow of air passes over said surface of said first cooling element; a primary water collection vessel associated with at least said first cooling element for collecting said collectible liquid water, said primary water collection vessel including; a unitary container enclosing a storage volume; a plurality of openings for insertion of water treatment and water handling devices; and a sealable access opening at one end thereof for providing access to the interior of said volume to permit insertion and assembly of said water treatment and handling devices and cleaning and emptying of liquid from said volume; said a water treatment device including; an ozone supply tube mounted in one of openings; a pair of spaced apart ozone dispensers coupled to said ozone supply tube and extending into said volume; and an ozone diffuser coupled to each of said ozone dispensers for supplying ozone into water collected in said volume; and a water pickup tube for extracting said collected liquid water in primary water collection vessel, said water pickup tube located adjacent to at least one of said ozone dispensers.
-
-
21. An apparatus for extracting potable water from air comprising:
-
an air passage duct; air movement apparatus disposed within said air passage duct for collecting ambient air and circulating said air in a predetermined direction through said duct, thereby creating a flow of air within said air passage duct; a first cooling element having a surface area disposed within said duct, said first cooling element operating at a temperature at or below the dew point of said air flow, thereby causing collectible liquid water to form on said surface area of said first cooling element as said flow of air passes over said surface of said first cooling element, said first cooling element including a plurality of elongated, serpentine coils connected together by hairpins and ends, said hairpins and ends having surface area outside said air flow, said hairpins and ends surrounded by thermal insulating material; said first cooling element is included with a refrigerant compressor in a closed loop refrigerant cycle in which said first cooling element is a first evaporator and said loop further comprises a condenser of said refrigerant; and a primary water collection vessel associated with at least said first cooling element for collecting said collectible liquid water. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
Specification