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The present invention is a gas separator for separating a gas mixture into a product gas. The gas separator has an adsorbent bed including a separation chamber with first and second ports and a molecular sieve material contained in the separation chamber. A first pumping chamber is connected to the

The present invention is a gas separator for separating a gas mixture into a product gas. The gas separator has an adsorbent bed including a separation chamber with first and second ports and a molecular sieve material contained in the separation chamber. A first pumping chamber is connected to the first port. A first valve regulates a flow of the gas mixture between the first port and the first pumping chamber. A first piston is located in the first pumping chamber. A second pumping chamber is connected to the second port. A second valve regulates a flow of the product gas between the second port and the second pumping chamber. A second piston is located in the second pumping chamber. A drive system coordinates operation of the first and second pistons and the first and second valves in a cycle including a pressurization stage, a gas shift stage, and a depressurization stage.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention is a gas separator for separating a gas mixture into a product gas. The gas separator has an adsorbent bed including a separation chamber with first and second ports and a molecular sieve material contained in the separation chamber. A first pumping chamber is connected to the

The present invention is a gas separator for separating a gas mixture into a product gas. The gas separator has an adsorbent bed including a separation chamber with first and second ports and a molecular sieve material contained in the separation chamber. A first pumping chamber is connected to the first port. A first valve regulates a flow of the gas mixture between the first port and the first pumping chamber. A first piston is located in the first pumping chamber. A second pumping chamber is connected to the second port. A second valve regulates a flow of the product gas between the second port and the second pumping chamber. A second piston is located in the second pumping chamber. A drive system coordinates operation of the first and second pistons and the first and second valves in a cycle including a pressurization stage, a gas shift stage, and a depressurization stage. of water vapor from the moisture-laden desiccant, producing desorbed water vapor and a dried desiccant; d) collecting a portion of the desorbed water vapor in a condensation chamber and isolating the condensation chamber from the dried desiccant; e) increasing the pressure in the condensation chamber to a pressure that encourages condensation of liquid water from the desorbed water vapor; f) collecting a portion of the condensation from the condensation chamber. 2. A method of extracting water from a quantity of moist air, comprising: a) exposing a desiccant to moist air under substantially atmospheric temperature and pressure, producing a moisture-laden desiccant and dried air; b) isolating the moisture-laden desiccant from a portion of the dried air; c) reducing the pressure surrounding the moisture-laden desiccant to a pressure that encourages desorption of water vapor from the moisture-laden desiccant, producing water vapor and a dried desiccant; d) collecting a portion of the desorbed water vapor in a condensation chamber and isolating the condensation chamber from the dried desiccant; e) increasing the pressure in the condensation chamber to a pressure that encourages condensation of liquid water from the desorbed water vapor; f) collecting water from the condensation in the condensation chamber. 3. A method of extracting water from a quantity of moist air, comprising: a) configuring a first chamber containing moisture-adsorbing desiccant in fluid communication with a source of moist air; b) after the desiccant has adsorbed water from the moist air, exhausting dried air from the first chamber; c) configuring a second chamber in fluid communication with the desiccant; d) reducing the pressure in the second chamber, encouraging water vapor from the desiccant into the second chamber; e) configuring a third chamber containing water vapor and substantially not in fluid communication with the desiccant; f) increasing the pressure in the third chamber sufficient to cause water vapor to condense to liquid water; g) collecting liquid water from the third chamber. 4. A method of extracting water from moist air using an apparatus comprising a first chamber defined by first walls and a first piston, a second chamber defined by second walls and a second piston, and a desiccant, where the first and second chambers are configurable to be in either fluid communication or fluid isolation relative to the desiccant, said method comprising: a) configuring the first chamber to be in fluid communication with the desiccant, and introducing a quantity of moist air; b) after the desiccant has adsorbed water from the moist air, exhausting air from the first chamber; c) configuring the second chamber to be in fluid communication with the desiccant; d) expanding the second chamber to desorb water from the desiccant into water vapor in the second chamber; e) configuring the second chamber to be in fluid isolation relative to the desiccant; f) compressing the water vapor in the second chamber to form liquid condensate. 5. An apparatus for the extraction of water from air, comprising: a) a desiccant; b) a first chamber defining an air path from an air intake port over the desiccant to an air exhaust port; c) an intake valve mounted with the first chamber to control flow through the intake port; d) an exhaust valve mounted with the first chamber to control flow through the exhaust port; e) a second chamber f) an interchamber valve mounted between the first and second chambers to control flow between the desiccant and the second chamber and to isolate the desiccant from the second chamber; g) means for varying the pressure in the second chamber; and h) means for removing condensate from the second chamber. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for varying the pressure in the second chamber comprises a piston moveable within the second chamber to vary the volume of the second chamber. 7. The appara