ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR

• US 20130047655A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ambient Water Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AWG International, Inc. (Dr. Foods, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Keith
• Application Number:
  US13/510,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/264
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0006 Coils or serpentines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0051 Regulation processes; Control systems, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0054 General arrangements, e.g. flow sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/18 Removal of treatment agents after treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/1446 by condensing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/228 Treatment of condensate, e.g. sterilising
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/1405 in which the humidity of the air is exclusively affected by contact with the evaporator of a closed-circuit cooling system or heat pump circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/001 Compression cycle type

Abstract

An atmospheric water generator and system for condensing and collecting moisture contained in the air serves to cool and dehumidify the air. The collected water is purified and can be dispensed at hot or cold temperatures, on demand. In alternative embodiments, the system can be used in a multi-zone application or to provide cooled air and water to a building. An embodiment primarily for use as an air conditioning unit is also described.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a water condensation unit having a fan and an evaporator coil assembly mounted in an interior of a tank, the evaporator unit structured to draw ambient air into the tank and across the evaporator coil and to generate condensate water on the evaporator coil assembly that falls and collects in the tank;

a purification unit in liquid communication with the interior of the tank, the purification unit having an ozone injector structured to inject ozone into water drawn from the tank, and an ozone filter positioned immediately after the ozone injector and structured to remove ozone from the water exiting the ozone injector, a return line exiting the ozone filter and in liquid communication with the interior of the tank to return the filtered water to the tank, and a distribution system mounted inside the tank and in fluid communication with the return line, the distribution system structured to move the water in the tank to prevent stagnation and to scrub interior surfaces in the tank that are in contact with the water; and

a dispensing unit in liquid communication with the interior of the tank and structured to dispense water outside the tank, the dispensing unit comprising a heating-cooling assembly that is structured to heat or cool the water at the time the water is dispensed from the dispensing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water condensation unit comprises at least one diverter mounted in the interior of the tank and adjacent the evaporator coil assembly, the at least one diverter structured to force the air to return over the evaporator coil assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the diverter has a plurality of openings formed therein to allow a portion of the air passing over the evaporator coil assembly to pass there through without returning over the evaporator coil assembly.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the purification unit is located outside the tank.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the purification system comprises an LED light assembly structured to treat the water and convert O₃ in the water into O₂.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the LED light assembly is mounted inside the tank to reside in the water collected in the tank.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating-cooling assembly is mounted in the interior of the tank.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit is coupled to the return line to dispense filtered water from the return line.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cleansing assembly having a conduit in liquid communication with the return line and structured to dispense filtered water over the evaporator coil assembly in the interior of the tank.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a housing containing the tank, a condenser coil, and a vent system having first and second openings in the housing with respective first and second flaps operatively controllable to be selectively opened and closed whereby when both flaps are in an opened position, cool air from the tank exits the first opening and warm air passing over the condenser coil exits the housing through the second opening and when only the first flap is open the cool air exits the housing.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second fan mounted in the housing and structured to direct air across the condenser coil, and when only the first flap is open, the second fan is turned off.

12. The system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of tanks, each tank having an evaporator coil assembly and a fan, each tank mounted in a respective room, and further comprising a single compressor and condenser coil that are coupled to the evaporator coil assembly in each tank.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the water condensation unit comprises at least one diverter mounted in the interior of the tank and adjacent the evaporator coil assembly, the at least one diverter structured to force the air to return over the evaporator coil assembly, and further comprising a cleansing assembly having a conduit in liquid communication with the return line and structured to dispense filtered water over the evaporator coil assembly in the interior of the tank.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the distribution system comprises at least one stand pipe mounted in the tank and in fluid communication with the return line to direct water in the tank and cause movement of the water in the tank.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the stand pipe comprises at least one nozzle.

16. An ozone-free water generation system, comprising:

a water condensation unit having a fan and an evaporator coil assembly mounted in an interior of a tank, the evaporator unit structured to draw ambient air into the tank and across the evaporator coil and to generate condensate water on the evaporator coil assembly that falls and collects in the tank;

a purification unit in liquid communication with the interior of the tank, the purification unit having an LED light structured to purify the water in the tank, and a distribution system mounted inside the tank and structured to move the water in the tank to prevent stagnation and to scrub interior surfaces in the tank that are in contact with the water; and

a dispensing unit in liquid communication with the interior of the tank and structured to dispense water outside the tank, the dispensing unit comprising a heating-cooling assembly that is structured to heat or cool the water at the time the water is dispensed from the dispensing unit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the heating-cooling assembly is mounted in the interior of the tank and the LED is structured to purify water in the heating-cooling assembly.

18. The system of claim 16 comprising at least one filter mounted on a wall of the tank and replaceable from outside the tank.