Water producing method and apparatus

• US 7,272,947 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dmpg, LLC
• Original Assignee: Everest Water Ltd.
• Inventors: White, Keith R., Anderson, Rae (Ray) T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US11/221,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 62/93, 622/72, 622/85, 623/17, 623/89, 62/92, 622/83, 623/24
• US Class Current: 62/272
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0039 Recuperation of heat, e.g. use of heat pump(s), compression
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0072 with filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0084 Feeding or collecting the cooling medium B01D5/0087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/009 Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/04 by distillation or evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/52 Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A water producing system adapted to condense water from the air and collected in a storage tank were the water is purified and bacteria is killed. One form of killing the bacteria is utilizing an ozone injection system with a filter system to remove the ozone before the water is dispensed. In one form, a dual fluid circuit is utilized where an operating fluid dumps heat to a second circuit such as a refrigeration cycle and the cooled operating fluid lowers the temperature of a water condensation member.

Claims

1. A water producing device adapted to remove moisture from the air in a surrounding environment, the water producing device comprising:

a. a water condensation member positioned above a collection tray, the water collection tray having a conduit for communication with a main tank operatively configured to have water contained therein,

b. an ozone generator producing ozone gas that is in communication with the main tank,

c. a first filter in communication with the main tank that is operatively configured to have ozone pass therethrough and is in communication with the ambient air,

d. a fluid dispensing portion adapted to provide fluid through a dispensing nozzle,

e. a second filter positioned between the main tank and the dispensing nozzle for removal of ozone gas.

f. whereas ozone produced by the ozone generator that entered the main tank remains in the main tank or passes through an ozone removing filter while exiting the main tank so the ozone does not to exit to the surrounding environment from the main tank.

2. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the first filter further is in communication with the collection tray to allow water to pass through to the main tank.

3. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the first and second filters are carbon filters.

4. The water producing device as recited in claim 2 whereby the first and second filters are carbon filters.

5. The water producing device as recited in claim 2 an ultraviolet filter is either the first or second filter and the ultraviolet light is in the C-band range.

6. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the main tank is in communication with a hot water member and a cold water member whereby the hot water member is adapted to heat water therein to a hot dispensing nozzle and the cold water member is adapted to cool cold water therein and disburse water to a cold dispensing nozzle.

7. The water producing device as recited in claim 6 whereby the second filter is positioned interposed in the fluid circuit between the hot water member and the hot dispensing nozzle and another second filter is positioned between the cold water member and the cold dispensing nozzle.

8. The water producing device as recited in claim 6 whereby the hot water member is an instantaneous heater and the cold water member is a rapid cold water producing device.

9. The water producing device as recited in claim 7 where the cold water member is a plate heat exchanger for removing heat from the water of the cold holding tank.

10. The water producing device as recited in claim 6 whereby the second filter is positioned in the fluid circuit between the main tank and the hot water member and the cold water member.

11. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the ozone generator has a first end and a second end and is comprised of a first electrically conducting cylinder and a second electrically conducting cylinder positioned substantially concentric therein where the first electrically conducting cylinder has an interior coating of an acid resistant material and the second electrical conducting cylinder has an outer coating of an acid resistant material whereby air is adapted to flow between the inner coating and the outer coating where a spark from a voltage differential between the first and second electrically conducting cylinders creates ozone therein where air enters from the first end and exits to the second end where it is directed to the main tank.

12. The water producing device as recited in claim 11 where a safety mechanism is attached to the hot water dispensing nozzle to prevent scalding.

13. The water producing device as recited in claim 11 where a diffuser distributes the ozone in the maintain and the ozone bubbles travels radially outwardly to the perimeter region of the main tank to mitigate the growth of biofilm thereon.

14. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the water condensation member is an evaporator coil in communication with a heat pump cycle having a pump and expander and a condenser coil where the evaporator coil is cooler than the condenser coil.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 where the water condensation member has baked phenolic coating thereon.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 whereby the compressor is a linear compressor.

17. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby an air biasing member is adapted to blow ambient air across the water condensation member.

18. The apparatus as recited in same claim 17 where a control system controls the amount of air based upon a temperature gauge downstream of the air flow of the water condensation member.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 17 where the air biasing member is a squirrel cage fan.

20. The water producing device as recited in claim 14 whereby an air biasing member is adapted to blow ambient air across the evaporator coil.

21. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the water condensation member has a conduit therein that is in communication with the water from the main tank.

22. The water producing device as recited in claim 21 whereby a main tank line is in communication with the main tank and passes through a first heat exchanger that cools the water in the main tank line before passing to the water condensation member.

23. The water producing device as recited in claim 22 whereby the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger extracting heat from the main tank line using a heat pump cycle.

24. The water producing device as recited in claim 22 where a cooling coil is positioned in the main tank to cool the water therein to aid in condensation as it travels through the water condensation member.

25. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby a casing is provided having an air inlet positioned at an upper portion of the casing and an air exit positioned at a lower portion of the casing.

26. The water producing device as recited in claim 25 whereby an air biasing member is positioned near the air exit of the casing where a condenser coil of a heat pump cycle is positioned along the path of the moving air in the lower portion of the casing.

27. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby an air inlet is positioned at a first longitudinal portion of a casing of the water producing device and an air exit is positioned at a second longitudinal portion of the casing where an air biasing member is adapted to move air from the air inlet to the air outlet passing the water condensing member.

28. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 where a casing is provided that houses the other components of the water producing device where an air outlet downstream of the water condensation member is channeled to in an area for air conditioning purposes.

29. The water producing device as recited in claim 27 where the water producing device further comprises a refrigeration cycle where an evaporator is thermal communication with the water condensation member.

30. The water producing device as recited in claim 29 where a second air inlet and a second air outlet are provided in their adapted to direct air across a condenser coil of the refrigeration cycle.

31. The water producing device as recited in claim 29 where the evaporator provides cool air for air conditioning purposes.

32. The water producing device as recited in claim 30 where the second air outlet is directed to an area that requires heated air.

33. The water producing device as recited in claim 27 where the air biasing member is an electro-kinetic air transporter.

34. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 where the condensed water is delivered to the dispensing nozzle by way of hydrostatic pressure.

35. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 where the water is biased from condensate on the water condensation member to the dispensing nozzle by way of only hydrostatic pressure.

36. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the water condensation member is cooled by a thermoacoustic device.

37. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby the water condensation member is cooled by a continuous absorption device.

38. The water producing device as recited in claim 1 whereby an operating fluid passing through the water condensation member passes through a cooling grid to lower the temperature of the operating fluid before reinserting it through the water condensation member.

39. The water producing device as recited in claim 38 whereby the cooling grid is positioned in the earth.

40. The water producing device as recited in claim 39 whereby a pump compresses the operating fluid before entry of the cooling grid and an expander downstream of the cooling grid reduces the temperature of the operating fluid for the water condensation member.

41. A water producing device adapted to condense water from air as water condensate, the water producing device comprising:

a. a water collection portion comprising;

i. a water condensation member positioned above a water collection tray where water condensate is adapted to drip downwardly from the water condensation member to an upper surface of the water collection tray,

ii. a conduit in communication to a lower opening of the collection tray and adapted to take water therefrom,

b. a purification portion comprising;

i. an iodine filter adapted to expose iodine to the water,

ii. a water delivery portion comprising an iodine removing filter positioned downstream from the iodine filter adapted to remove iodine from the water,

iii. a dispensing nozzle downstream of the iodine removing filter.

42. The water producing device as recited in claim 41 where a hot tank and a cold tank are provided downstream of the main tank and are in communication with a hot dispensing nozzle and a cold dispensing nozzle respectively.

43. The water producing device as recited in claim 41 whereby the iodine removing filter is positioned upstream of the hot water tank and the cold water tank.

44. The water producing device as recited in claim 43 where the iodine removing filter is a carbon filter.

45. The water producing device as recited in claim 41 where the iodine filter is comprised of a first and second carbon filters that are respectively positioned downstream of the hot water tank and cold water tank.

46. The water producing device as recited in claim 41 whereby a main tank line is in communication with the main tank and passes through a first heat exchanger that cools the water in the main tank line before passing to the water condensation member.

47. The water producing device as recited in 46 where the main tank line is in communication with a cold dispensing line in communication with a cold dispensing nozzle downstream of the heat exchanger where a pressure sensor detecting low pressure in the cold dispensing line activates a pump of a rapid cooling circuit.

48. An apparatus to condense water from the air, the apparatus comprising:

a. a water producing circuit comprising a water condensation member in fluid communication with a fluid line adapted to have an operating fluid pass therethrough,

b. a pump in fluid communication with the water communication circuit adapted to bias the operating fluid therethrough,

c. a refrigeration cycle comprising;

i. a evaporator coil member in thermal communication with the operating fluid that is adapted to transfer heat from the operating fluid,

ii. an expander upstream of the condensor coil and downstream from a evaporator coil,

iii. a compressor interposed in the fluid circuit between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil,

d. whereby the refrigeration cycle and the water producing circuit are fluidly discrete circuits.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 48 where the water producing circuit comprises an operating fluid having a freezing level below that of water to pass through the water condensation member.

50. The apparatus as recited in claim 49 where the operating fluid is propylene glycol.

51. The apparatus as recited in claim 48 were the operating fluid is withdrawn from condensate from the water condensation member.

52. A water producing apparatus having:

a first fluid circuit with an operating fluid traveling therethrough, the first fluid circuit passing through a water condensation member that is positioned in an airstream where ambient air passes thereby and water is adapted to condense on the water condensation member,

a second fluid circuit having a heat pump cycle having a condenser, evaporator, expander and a compressor where the evaporator coil is in thermal communication with a portion of the first fluid circuit to draw heat therefrom,

a compressor operates to maintain the temperature in the first fluid circuit sufficiently below the dewpoint of the ambient air and a control system monitors the temperature of the air stream to adjust the rate of the flow of air base upon the temperature of the air stream.

53. The water producing apparatus water producing apparatus as recited in claim 52 where the sensor is downstream of the water condensation member in the air flow.

54. The water producing apparatus as recited in claim 53 where surface area of the water condensation member is greater than the surface area of the evaporator whereby a control system maintains the exit temperature in at a dry temperature below the dew point of ambient air and the air biasing member is adapted to maintain an optimum downstream temperature to produce a greater amount of water condensate to form than if to just the evaporator coil was utilized to condense water.

55. The water producing apparatus as recited in claim 52 where the thermal communication between the evaporator and the first fluid circuit is by way of a plate heat exchanger.

56. A system for producing water from air having evaporated water therein by forming condensation droplets, the system comprising:

a. a water condensation member adapted to be positioned in an air stream having the evaporated water and further have the condensation droplets formed thereon,

b. a collection tray adapted to collect condensation droplets from the water condensation member,

c. a first collection tank in communication with the collection tray,

d. a fluid line in communication with the first collection tank that is adapted to bias the water through the filter assembly,

e. a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator coil in thermal communication with a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having an inlet port and an outlet port adapted to allow water to pass therethrough downstream from the filter assembly,

f. a valve system adapted to direct refrigerant to either the heat exchanger or to the water condensation member,

g. whereby the heat exchanger outlet port is in communication with a dispenser nozzle for distributing cold water.

57. The system for producing water as recited in claim 56 where the valve system to direct refrigerant to the water condensation member directly passes refrigerant through the water condensation member.

58. The system as recited in claim 56 where the valve system to direct refrigerant to the water condensation member directs refrigerant to be in thermal communication with the water condensation member for reducing the temperature of the water condensation member.

59. The system for producing water as recited in claim 56 where the first collection tank passes water to the dispenser nozzle by way of hydrostatic pressure.

60. The system for producing water as recited in claim 59 where the water passes through the filter assembly by way of gravity.

61. The system for producing water as recited in claim 59 where the filter assembly includes an ozone generator that is in communication with the first tank.

62. The system for producing water as recited in claim 56 where the water downstream of the first collection tank is pumped through the filter assembly.

63. A method of producing water by way of condensing water vapor from the air, the method comprising:

a. directing an air stream across a water condensation member,

b. collecting water condensation from the surface of the water condensation member and directing the water through first filter to a tank,

c. providing communication of the water within the tank to an ozone source to kill bacteria,

d. providing access from the tank to the surrounding atmosphere where gas developed in the tank is directed to a first filter for removal of ozone,

e. providing an outlet from the tank to water dispensing area and removing the ozone upstream of the water dispensing area by way of a second filter where the water from the whereas water condensation from the water condensation member to the water dispensing area is by hydrostatic pressure of the water.

64. The method as recited in claim 63 where the first filter has water condensation from the water condensation member flowing in a downward direction therethrough and gas in the main tank is passed in an upward direction through the first filter to the surrounding atmosphere.

65. The method of producing water as recited in claim 63 where the first and second filters are carbon filters.

66. The method of producing water as recited in claim 64 where the first filter is a single filter.

67. The method of producing water as recited in claim 64 where the first filter is comprised one filter for the water condensation and a separate filter for the gas in the tank.