Desiccant cartridge for water recovery device
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01D-053/02
B01D-053/18
B01D-053/26
F24F-003/14
F25D-021/14
B01D-053/28
F25B-043/00
F25B-017/02
B01D-053/04
출원번호
US-0693398
(2012-12-04)
등록번호
US-8845795
(2014-09-30)
발명자
/ 주소
Becze, Charles
Ball, James
Blatt, David
Flynn, Michael J.
Lam, Kean Wing Kin
Teltz, Richard
출원인 / 주소
Z124
대리인 / 주소
Sheridan Ross P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
30
초록▼
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 media material absorbs the desic
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 media material absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. The configuration of the media material enables maximal water extraction and is dynamically configurable. 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 device comprising: 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 an
1. A water recovery device comprising: 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 and absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge, the desiccant media cartridge having a media material, the media material being placed in a configuration having a plurality of folded sections and a plurality of gaps between the folded sections, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the folded sections of the media material;a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; anda 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 produce an amount of water condensate. 2. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of folded sections is spaced apart at a substantially uniform distance. 3. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of folded sections is formed of a plurality of semi-circular portions. 4. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of folded sections is configured in an accordion arrangement. 5. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of folded sections do not present a substantially linear profile to the airflow path. 6. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of folded sections is interconnected by a support structure. 7. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, 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. 8. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a media regulator for regulating the functioning of the media material, the media regulator interconnected to at least one of the plurality of folded sections. 9. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the media regulator is controlled by a user. 10. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the media regulator is controlled automatically by a media regulator controller. 11. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a controller incorporated in the device for controlling functioning of the device to include the charge cycle and the extraction cycle, the 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 device. 12. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the plurality of sensors includes temperature sensors and humidity sensors. 13. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: an intake manifold for directing an airstream into the chamber; and an exhaust manifold for directing the airstream away from the chamber. 14. A water recovery system comprising: (a) a water recovery device including: (1) 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 tray and absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge, the media material being placed in a configuration having a plurality of folded sections and a plurality of gaps between the folded sections, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to the folded sections of the media material;(2) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;(3) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;(4) a plurality of air transport lines, the air transport lines at least enabling communication between the chamber and 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 produce an amount of water condensate;(b) 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(c) a media regulator for regulating the functioning of the media material, the media regulator interconnected to at least one of the plurality of folded sections. 15. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, 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. 16. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the plurality of folded sections is spaced apart at a substantially uniform distance. 17. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the media regulator is controlled by at least one of a user and a media regulator controller. 18. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, said method comprising: providing 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 tray and absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge, the media material placed in a configuration having a plurality of folded sections and a plurality of gaps between the folded sections, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to the folded sections of the media material; (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 plurality of air transport lines, the air transport lines at least enabling communication between the chamber and the desiccant stack; (v) a media regulator for regulating the functioning of the media material, the media regulator interconnected to at least one of the plurality of folded sections;operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle, wherein the ambient air is circulated through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber;further operating the water recovery device in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber; andcondensing the water vapor by a cooling source within the condenser, thereby producing an amount of water condensate. 19. The method, as claimed in claim 18, further including: controlling functioning of the water recovery device by a controller, the device further including a plurality of sensors as inputs to the controller, wherein valves and fans are located within the air transport lines of the device. 20. The method, as claimed in claim 18, 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. 21. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, said method comprising: providing 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 tray and absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge, a larger percentage of the desiccant being stored in the desiccant tray and a smaller percentage of the desiccant being absorbed by the media material; (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 plurality of air transport lines, the air transport lines for enabling communication between the chamber and the desiccant stack;operating the device in a charge cycle, wherein the ambient air is circulated through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retain water vapor in the chamber, wherein at least some of the water vapor condenses and is held in the desiccant trays, thereby increasing a water storage capacity of the chamber during the charge cycle;further operating the water recovery device in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber; andcondensing the water vapor by a cooling source within the condenser, thereby producing an amount of water condensate. 22. A method, as claimed in claim 21, further wherein: the water vapor condensed and held in the trays is collected by water travelling from the media material into the trays. 23. A method, as claimed in claim 21, further including: subsequently balancing a concentration of the liquid desiccant thereby enabling further charge and extraction cycles by maintaining an amount of water in the trays, wherein a wicking action of the desiccant media in combination with the available water in the tray contributes to said balancing. 24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, further including: increasing an operating range of the device in terms of measured humidity by maintaining balancing of the concentration of the liquid desiccant. 25. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air in a manner to prevent over-drying and excessive shrinkage of media material used in the method, said method comprising: providing 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 and absorbed by a media material housed within the media cartridge and, the media material being in contact with the liquid desiccant; (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 plurality of air transport lines, the air transport lines for enabling communication between the chamber and the desiccant stack;configuring a mounting of the media material in the media cartridge such that the media material is supported by the media cartridge and isolated from being a structural support member, therefore preventing the media material from being in contact with external stresses and strains;operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle, wherein the ambient air is circulated through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant;further operating the water recovery device in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber by adding heat to the chamber, wherein the media material will undergo some amount of shrinkage but will not over-dry by maintaining an amount of water in the corresponding desiccant trays such that the media material may continually wick a necessary amount of water into the media material to prevent said over-drying; andcondensing the water vapor by a cooling source within the condenser thereby producing an amount of water condensate. 26. A method, as claimed in claim 25, further including: reducing airflow disruption upon shrinkage of the media material by orienting the media material in a substantially vertical orientation, wherein shrinkage of a first side of the media material along a first air channel defined as a space between the first side and an adjacent side of the media material is compensated by expansion of a second side of the media material positioned opposite the first side, the expansion exposing the second side to double the first side shrinkage, thereby not impeding the airflow.
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