Apparatus and method for the recovery and purification of water from the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines
First Claim
1. A method for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- (a) cooling said exhaust gases so as to cause water to condense from said exhaust gases;
followed by (b) passing said water through one or more particulate filters having a maximum pore size of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns;
(c) passing said water through one or more activated carbon filter beds; and
(d) passing said water through one or more ion exchange resin filter beds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for the recovery and purification of water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. An apparatus for carrying out that method is also disclosed. In this method, the water is condensed out from the vehicle'"'"'s exhaust (for example, by using a countercurrent flow heat exchanger in combination with a chiller), and the condensed water is then purified. The purification typically includes passing the water through one or more particulate filters; passing the water through one or more activated carbon filter beds, and passing the water through one or more ion exchange resin filter beds.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
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(a) cooling said exhaust gases so as to cause water to condense from said exhaust gases;
followed by(b) passing said water through one or more particulate filters having a maximum pore size of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns;
(c) passing said water through one or more activated carbon filter beds; and
(d) passing said water through one or more ion exchange resin filter beds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine comprising a means for connecting said apparatus to the exhaust portal of said engine;
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
a means for collecting said water and channeling it to a purification system which comprises one or more particulate filters having an average pore size of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns, one or more activated carbon filter beds, and one or more ion exchange resin beds; and
means for collecting the water which has passed through said purification system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
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26. A method for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
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(a) cooling said exhaust gases so as to cause water to condense from said exhaust gases;
followed by(b) passing said water through one or more particulate filters having a maximum pore size of from about 0.1 to about 10 μ
m;
(c) passing said water through one or more activated carbon filter beds comprising a mixture of two carbons, one having an average pore size of from about 6 to about 20 Å
, and the other having an average pore size of from about 17 to about 40 Å
; and
(d) passing said water through one or more ion exchange resin filter beds.
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27. An apparatus for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine comprising a means for connecting said apparatus to the exhaust portal of said engine;
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
a means for collecting said water and channeling it to a purification system which comprises one or more particulate filters having an average pore size of from about 0.1 to about 10 μ
m, one or more activated carbon filter beds comprising a mixture of two carbons, one having an average pore size of from about 6 to about 20 Å
, and the other having an average pore size of from about 17 to about 40 Å
, and one or more ion exchange resin beds; and
means for collecting the water which has passed through said purification system.
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
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28. An apparatus for recovering potable water from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine comprising a means for connecting said apparatus to the exhaust portal of said engine, wherein said connection is via a catalytic converter, said connection including a valve which allows the exhaust gas to bypass the apparatus if the temperature of the catalytic converter is below a predefined level;
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
a means for collecting said water and channeling it to a purification system which comprises one or more particulate filters having an average pore size of from 0.1 to about 10 μ
m, one or more activated carbon filter beds, and one or more ion exchange resin beds; and
a means for collecting the water which has passed through said purification system.
- a means for cooling the exhaust gases so as to cause the water in said gases to condense;
Specification