Autonomous water source

• US 7,467,523 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aqwest LLC
• Original Assignee: Aqwest LLC
• Inventors: Vetrovec, Katerina, Vetrovec, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E
• Application Number:
  US10/839,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 622/72, 951/20, 951/25, 951/26, 961/08, 202/234, 202/185.3
• US Class Current: 62/272
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 5/0066 Dome shaped condensation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/261 by adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/265 by refrigeration (condensation)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/14 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 3/28 from humid air condensing of vapours in general B01D5/00; dehumidification of air for air-conditioning F24F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

An autonomous water source (AWS) for extracting water from ambient air and delivering it to a plant to support growth. The system is based on an adsorption-desorption-condensation (ADC) cycle using a sorption material to extract moisture from ambient air and condensing the water vapor driven off from the sorption material by subsequent heating and followed by condensation. Liquid condensate produced in this process on the condenser is collected and delivered by gravity to a plant to reduce thermal stress and to support growth. The invention provides a sustainable source of irrigation water for agriculture and forestry, including areas where no water resources exist or are not economically viable. It can be tailored in size, and therefore, output capacity, reflecting the desired water requirements of a particular application, and can be used to replace most agricultural situations now reliant on surface water drip feed systems. The device is simple, rugged, invulnerable to rain, snow, and freezing conditions, and can be designed to last for many years without service as there are few moving parts and power required for operation is provided by sunlight.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air to produce liquid water comprising;

a housing having an upper wall and a lower wall;

a closure to selectively open said housing to communicate with outside atmosphere or restrict said housing from said outside atmosphere;

a sorption medium in the interior of said housing;

said sorption medium absorbing water vapor from atmospheric air at about ambient temperature, and releasing absorbed water vapor at above-ambient temperature;

a condenser rejecting heat to ambient air for condensing water vapor released by said sorption medium to produce liquid water, said condenser forming said lower wall of said housing;

a transparent face sheet for transporting solar radiation into said housing for heating of said sorption medium;

said face sheet forming said upper wall of said housing; and

a passageway for delivering of condensed liquid water to the exterior of said housing;

said sorption material being located under said face sheet; and

said sorption medium and said condenser constructed and arranged for thermal communication there between by a closed-loop convective flow of air inside said housing.

2. An apparatus for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air to produce liquid water comprising;

a housing having an upper wall and a lower wall;

a closure to selectively open said housing to communicate with outside atmosphere or restrict said housing from said outside atmosphere;

a sorption medium in the interior of said housing;

said sorption medium for absorbing water vapor from atmospheric air at about ambient temperature, and releasing absorbed water vapor at above-ambient temperature;

a condenser rejecting heat to ambient air for condensing water vapor released by said sorption medium to produce liquid water, said condenser forming said lower wall of said housing;

a heat transfer element forming an upper wall of said housing for absorption of solar radiation, said heat transfer element being in a good thermal communication with said sorption medium;

a passageway for-delivering condensed liquid water to the exterior of said housing; and

said sorption medium and said condenser constructed and arranged for thermal communication there between by a closed-loop convective flow of air inside said housing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said heat transfer element further includes a dark color coating for improved absorption of solar radiation.

4. An apparatus for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air to produce liquid water comprising;

a housing having an upper wall and a lower wall;

a closure to selectively open said housing to communicate with outside atmosphere or restrict said housing from said outside atmosphere;

a sorption medium in said housing;

a condenser cooled by rejecting heat to the environment outside of said housing for condensing water vapor released by said sorption medium to produce liquid water, said condenser forming said lower wall of said housing;

a transparent face sheet forming an upper wall of said housing for transporting solar radiation into said housing for heating of said sorption medium, said face sheet forming said upper wall of said housing;

a heat transfer element for absorption of solar radiation;

said heat transfer element being in good thermal communication with said sorption medium;

a passageway for delivering condensed liquid water to the exterior of said housing;

said sorption material being located under said transparent face sheet with said heat transfer element there between; and

said sorption medium and said condenser constructed and arranged for thermal communication there between by a closed-loop convective flow of air inside said housing.

5. Apparatus for extracting water vapor from atmospheric air to produce liquid water comprising;

a housing having an upper wall and a lower wall;

a closure to selectively open said housing to communicate with outside atmosphere or restrict said housing from said outside atmosphere;

a sorption medium in said housing;

a transparent face sheet for transporting solar radiation into said housing for heating of said sorption medium, said face sheet forming said upper wall of said housing, said face sheet constructed to condense said water vapor released by said sorption medium to produce liquid water, said transparent face sheet being cooled by rejecting heat to ambient outside of said housing;

a flow separator located under said face sheet and separated by a gap having a width in the range of about 5 to about 50 millimeters;

a passageway for delivering condensed liquid to the exterior of said housing;

said sorption material being located under said flow separator; and

said sorption medium and said face sheet constructed and arranged for thermal communication there between by a closed-loop convective flow of air inside said housing.