A system and method recover water from an ambient airstream. Dehumidification of the airstream is also achieved by removal of the water. A device of the system includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant in each tray. A foam media absorbs the desiccant
A system and method recover water from an ambient airstream. Dehumidification of the airstream is also achieved by removal of the water. A device of the system includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant in each tray. A foam media absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. An integral heat exchanger adds heat to the chamber during the extraction cycle. A controller is used to integrate and manage all system functions and input variables to achieve a high efficiency of operational energy use for water collection.
대표청구항▼
1. A water recovery system comprising: (a) a plurality of water recovery devices, each water recovery device including: (i) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant
1. A water recovery system comprising: (a) a plurality of water recovery devices, each water recovery device including: (i) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant within the desiccant tray, the liquid desiccant being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;(ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;(iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack, wherein the water recovery device is operated in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber, the water recovery device being further operated in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate;(iv) a controller incorporated in the water recovery device for controlling functioning of the water recovery device to include the charge cycle and the extraction cycle;(v) a first software application associated with said controller for generating commands for operation of said water recovery device based on operating parameters measured by a plurality of sensors as inputs to the controller, and a plurality of valves and fans as outputs of the controller to achieve optimal operation, the valves and fans being located within air transport lines of the water recovery device;(b) at least one remote computer communicating with the plurality of water recovery devices through a communications network;(c) at least one second software application associated with said at least one remote computer for monitoring operation of said plurality of water recovery devices, and for transmitting instructions to the water recovery devices for optimal operation of said water recovery devices based upon data received from said water recovery devices that measure the operating parameters, said instructions including software commands applied to said first software application. 2. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the plurality of sensors includes temperature sensors and humidity sensors. 3. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the first software application controls output commands to control the plurality of valves and fans, and the plurality of valves and fans include (i) an intake fan and an intake valve, (ii) an exhaust fan and an exhaust valve, said intake and exhaust fans and valves communicating with the chamber, (iii) a condenser fan and a condenser valve for delivering air from the chamber to the condenser, and (iv) a re-circulating fan and a re-circulating valve for the circulating air from the condenser back to the chamber. 4. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the heat exchanger includes a heating line carrying a heating fluid therein, a heat source for heating the fluid within the heating line, and a pump for re-circulating the heating fluid through the heating line, the heat source includes at least one of a solar collector, a photovoltaic cell, an electric heater, a gas heater, and heat collected from a waste heat source. 5. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the condenser comprises a cooling coil for cooling air received from the chamber and to condense water vapor in the air, the water vapor being collected on interior surfaces of the cooling coil, and an ambient air cooling line communicating with the cooling coil, the ambient air cooling line receiving and passing a stream of ambient air through the ambient air cooling line to cool the cooling coil, and to thereby cause condensing of the water vapor. 6. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the ambient air circulated through the chamber is an airstream in which the airstream takes a directed flow path through the chamber, the directed flow path including at least one of a serial flow path, a parallel flow path, or a combination thereof. 7. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each tray has a plurality of sidewalls and a base containing an amount of the liquid desiccant therein, at least one of the sidewalls or base having a plurality of air circulating slots formed therein to enable the ambient air to be circulated through the slots. 8. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said controller is a programmable logic controller or a microcontroller. 9. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 1, further including: a user interface associated with said controller and said first software application for displaying operating parameters and for displaying commands generated by a user for monitoring and controlling said water recovery device, said operating parameters including (i) temperature within said device and ambient temperature conditions, (ii) pressure within said water recovery device and ambient pressure conditions, and (iii) humidity with said water recovery device and ambient humidity conditions. 10. A water recovery system comprising: (a) a plurality of water recovery devices, each water recovery device including: (i) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant placed within the desiccant tray, the liquid desiccant being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;(ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;(iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;(iv) a controller incorporated in the water recovery device for controlling functioning of the water recovery device to include a charge cycle and an extraction cycle;(v) a plurality of sensors as inputs to the controller;(vi) a plurality of valves and fans as outputs of the controller, the valves and fans being located within air transport lines of the water recovery device; wherein the water recovery device is operated in the charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor from the air and retain the water vapor in the chamber by contact with the liquid desiccant, the water recovery device being further operated in the extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate;(vii) a first software application associated with said controller for generating commands for operation of said water recovery device based on operating parameters measured by the plurality of sensors, and said commands controlling the operation of the plurality of valves and fans to achieve optimal operation;(b) at least one remote computer communicating with the plurality of water recovery devices through a communications network; and(c) at least one second software application associated with said at least one remote computer for monitoring operation of said plurality of water recovery devices, and for transmitting instructions to the water recovery devices for optimal operation of said water recovery devices based upon data received from said water recovery devices that measure the operating parameters, said instructions including software commands applied to said first software application. 11. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the heat exchanger includes a heating line carrying a heating fluid therein, a heat source for heating the fluid within the heating line, and a pump for re-circulating the heating fluid through the heating line, and the heat source includes at least one of a solar collector, a photovoltaic cell, an electric heater, a gas heater, and heat collected from a waste heat source. 12. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the condenser comprises a cooling coil for cooling air received from the chamber and to condense water vapor in the air, the water vapor being collected on interior surfaces of the cooling coil, and an ambient air cooling line communicating with the cooling coil, the ambient air cooling line receiving and passing a stream of ambient air through the ambient air cooling line to cool the cooling coil, and to thereby cause condensing of the water vapor. 13. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: each desiccant tray includes a plurality of sidewalls and a base, the liquid desiccant being placed in the base, and the media cartridge being partially submerged within the liquid desiccant. 14. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the ambient air circulated through the chamber is an airstream in which the airstream takes a directed flow path through the chamber, the directed flow path including at least one of a serial flow path, a parallel flow path, or combinations thereof. 15. A water recovery system comprising: (a) water recovery device including: (i) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant placed within the desiccant tray, the liquid desiccant being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;(ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;(iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; wherein the water recovery device is operated in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber, the water recovery device being further operated in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate;(iv) a controller incorporated in the water recovery device for controlling functioning of the water recovery device to include the charge cycle and the extraction cycle, the water recovery device further including a plurality of sensors as inputs to the controller, and a plurality of valves and fans as outputs of the controller, the valves and fans being located within air transport lines of the water recovery device;(v) a communications node incorporated within a communications system enabling the water recovery device to communicate within the communications system;(vi) a first software application associated with said controller for generating commands for operation of said water recovery device based on operating parameters measured by the plurality of sensors, and said commands controlling the operation of the plurality of valves and fans to achieve optimal operation;(b) at least one remote computer communicating with the water recovery device through the communications system; and(c) at least one second software application associated with said at least one remote computer for monitoring operation of said water recovery device, and for transmitting instructions to the water recovery device for optimal operation of said water recovery device based upon data received from said water recovery device that measure the operating parameters, said instructions including software commands applied to said first software application. 16. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said communications node includes a GPS receiver enabling said water recovery device to receive satellite communications. 17. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said communications node includes a wireless transceiver enabling said water recovery device to communicate within a wireless communications network of the communications system. 18. A water recovery system, as claimed in 15, wherein: the controller further includes programming code of said first software application including at least one algorithm that provides instructions for operating the water recovery device. 19. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the communications system further includes at least one remote computer communicating with the water recovery device, the remote computer having a capability to send and receive instructions from the controller for purposes of maintaining and optimizing operation of the water recovery device. 20. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 15, further including: at least one database for storing data regarding historical operating data of the water recovery device.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (28)
Molloy, Kevin; Thompson, John A.; Yonjan, Bikram; Yoppolo, Robert, Air manager system for metal air battery.
Potnis Shailesh V. ; Gurley Kevin ; McKittrick Phillip T. ; Baumann Robert ; Rao Srikant Ram ; Laurent ; Jr. Robert L., Portable liquid desiccant dehumidifier.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.