A method to recover water from the atmosphere is provided. 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 t
A method to recover water from the atmosphere is provided. 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 method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, the method comprising: providing a water recovery device including (i) a desiccant stack having a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant
1. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, the method comprising: providing a water recovery device including (i) a desiccant stack having 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; (ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; and (iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;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. 2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, 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, 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. 3. A method, as claimed in claim 2, further including: providing programming code including at least one algorithm that provides instructions for operating the water recovery device, and operating the water recovery device according to the instructions. 4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: selectively choosing an amount of water condensate to collect from the ambient air by selecting a number of desiccant trays to use within the water recovery device, each of the desiccant trays having a known capacity to remove water vapor from an airstream of the ambient air flowing through the device. 5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: selectively choosing an amount of water condensate to collect from the ambient air by controlling a flow rate of the ambient air through the chamber of the device. 6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: selectively choosing an amount of water condensate to collect from the ambient air by controlling an amount of heat added by the heat exchanger to the chamber. 7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: selectively choosing an amount of water condensate to collect from the ambient air by controlling a time in which heated ambient air from the chamber is re-circulated through the chamber from the condenser and back to the condenser. 8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: providing a communications capability for the device integrated within the controller, the communications capability including at least one of a GPS receiver and a wireless transceiver. 9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including: communicating within a communications network, wherein the programming code is updated from a remote computer within the communications network. 10. A method, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: communicating within the communications network further includes sending and receiving data regarding operation of the water recovery device and other water recovery devices communicating within the communications network. 11. A method of recovering water from an ambient airstream, the method comprising: directing an ambient airstream through one or more desiccant trays and across one or more desiccant media cartridges, the one or more desiccant trays including one or more desiccant media cartridges and an amount of liquid desiccant, the liquid desiccant placed within the one or more desiccant trays and absorbed by a media material of the one or more desiccant media cartridges, the liquid desiccant absorbed by the media material further removing and retaining a water vapor from the ambient airstream;directing a circulating airstream through the one or more desiccant trays and across the one or more desiccant media cartridges, the airstream removing a water vapor retained by the liquid desiccant absorbed by the media material and circulated such that at least a portion of the circulated airstream reenters the desiccant tray;warming the circulating airstream; anddirecting the circulated airstream across a condenser, the condenser removing the water vapor from the circulated airstream thereby producing an amount of water condensate. 12. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: obtaining an indication of an amount of water vapor retained in the one or more desiccant media cartridges;comparing the measurement to a threshold; andbased on the comparison, directing the ambient airstream through the one or more desiccant trays and across the one or more desiccant media cartridges. 13. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: obtaining an indication of an amount of water condensate produced;comparing the measurement to a threshold; andbased on the comparison, directing an ambient airstream through the one or more desiccant trays and across the one or more desiccant media cartridges. 14. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: obtaining an indication of an amount of water vapor retained in the one or more desiccant media cartridges; comparing the measurement to a threshold; and based on the comparison, directing the circulated airstream across the condenser. 15. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: receiving from desiccant concentration sensors, located in one or more of the desiccant trays, an indication of a concentration of the liquid desiccant within the one or more desiccant trays; andadjusting the concentration of the liquid desiccant by adding at least one of water and desiccant solution to the desiccant tray. 16. A method of recovering water vapor from an ambient airstream, the method comprising: providing a water recovery device including (i) a desiccant stack having 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; (ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; and (iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle, wherein an ambient airstream is directed through the one or more desiccant trays and across the one or more desiccant media cartridges, the liquid desiccant absorbed by the media material further removing and retaining a water vapor from the ambient airstream;operating the water recovery device in an extraction cycle, wherein a circulating airstream is directed through the one or more desiccant trays and across the one or more desiccant media cartridges, the airstream removing a water vapor retained by the liquid desiccant absorbed by the media material and circulated such that at least a portion of the circulated airstream reenters the desiccant tray;heating the circulating airstream by passing the circulating airstream across the heat exchanger; andcondensing the water vapor by a cooling source within the condenser thereby producing an amount of water condensate. 17. The method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: receiving an indication from a temperature sensor located within the chamber; andadjusting the heat provided by the heat exchange when temperature of the circulating airstream within the chamber reaches a desired threshold. 18. The method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: receiving an indication of external environmental conditions; anddynamically configuring the airflow path within the chamber in response to the indicated environmental conditions. 19. The method, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: receiving updated algorithms corresponding to an environment in which the water recovery device is located. 20. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: directing at least one of the ambient airstream and the circulating airstream through at least two desiccant trays, the at least two desiccant trays forming a desiccant stack having a chamber defining an airflow path therein; and configuring the desiccant trays such that the at least one of the ambient airstream and the circulating airstream take one of a tortuous path and a parallel path through the chamber. 21. The method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: directing the circulating airstream through at least two desiccant trays, the at least two desiccant trays forming a desiccant stack having a chamber defining an airflow path therein; anddirecting the circulating airstream through the chamber such that at least a portion of the circulated airstream exits and reenters the chamber.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (29)
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.
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