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 device having a configurable airflow path comprising: a desiccant stack including an air intake and an air exhaust and a chamber disposed between the air intake and the air exhaust and having an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, e
1. A water recovery device having a configurable airflow path comprising: a desiccant stack including an air intake and an air exhaust and a chamber disposed between the air intake and the air exhaust and having 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 desiccant media cartridge, wherein each desiccant tray includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls or base having a plurality of openings formed therein to enable air to be circulated through the openings, and wherein the airflow path is at least partially defined by an orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack. 2. The water recovery device of claim 1, further comprising: a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; andwherein 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 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. 3. The water recovery device of claim 2, wherein the orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack is defined by an orientation of the plurality of openings associated with each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack. 4. The water recovery device of claim 3, wherein a first desiccant tray is in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is in the first orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in the first direction. 5. The water recovery device of claim 3, wherein a first desiccant tray is in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is in a different second orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and continues through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in a different second direction. 6. The water recovery device of claim 5, wherein the different second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction. 7. The water recovery device of claim 5, wherein the different second direction is a direction opposite to the first direction. 8. The water recovery device of claim 3, further comprising: an air intake valve configured to control an amount of the ambient air entering the desiccant stack through the air intake; andan air exhaust valve configured to control an amount of air exiting the chamber of the desiccant stack through the air exhaust. 9. The water recovery device of claim 8, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are configured to close and isolate an environment within the water recovery device from the ambient air outside of the water recovery device. 10. The water recovery device of claim 9, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are closed during the extraction cycle. 11. The water recovery device of claim 9, further comprising: at least one of an air intake fan and an air exhaust fan, wherein the air intake fan is in fluid communication with the air intake and air intake valve and is configured to direct the ambient air from outside of the water recovery device into the chamber of the desiccant stack, and wherein the air exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the air exhaust and the air exhaust valve and is configured to direct air from within the chamber through the air exhaust and outside of the water recovery device. 12. The water recovery device of claim 9, wherein the air intake fan and the air exhaust fan are configured to operate independently of one another. 13. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, comprising: providing a water recovery device having a configurable airflow path having a desiccant stack including an air intake and an air exhaust and a chamber disposed between the air intake and the air exhaust and having 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 desiccant media cartridge, wherein each desiccant tray includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls or base having a plurality of openings formed therein to enable air to be circulated through the openings, and wherein the airflow path is at least partially defined by an orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack;operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle, wherein 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 in the chamber; andcondensing the water vapor by a cooling source to produce an amount of water condensate. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein prior to operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle, the method further comprises: configuring the airflow path in the chamber by arranging an orientation of at least one desiccant tray relative to another desiccant tray of the plurality of desiccant trays. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack is defined by an orientation of the plurality of openings associated with each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a first desiccant tray is arranged in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is arranged in the first orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that during the charge cycle the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in the first direction. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein a first desiccant tray is arranged in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is arranged in a different second orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that during the charge cycle the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in a different second direction. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the water recovery device further comprises: an air intake valve configured to control an amount of the ambient air entering the desiccant stack through the air intake; andan air exhaust valve configured to control an amount of air exiting the chamber of the desiccant stack through the air exhaust. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are configured to close and isolate an environment within the water recovery device from the ambient air outside of the water recovery device. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are closed during the extraction cycle. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the water recovery device further comprises: at least one of an air intake fan and an air exhaust fan, wherein the air intake fan is in fluid communication with the air intake and air intake valve and is configured to direct the ambient air from outside of the water recovery device into the chamber of the desiccant stack, and wherein the air exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the air exhaust and the air exhaust valve and is configured to direct air from within the chamber through the air exhaust and outside of the water recovery device. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein prior to operating the water recovery device in the extraction cycle, the method further comprises: closing the air intake valve;opening the air exhaust valve; andoperating the air exhaust fan to direct an amount of air from within the chamber through the air exhaust and outside of the water recovery device and lower an air pressure within the chamber when compared to an ambient air pressure outside of the water recovery device. 23. A water recovery system comprising: a water recovery device having a configurable airflow path comprising: a desiccant stack including an air intake and an air exhaust and a chamber disposed between the air intake and the air exhaust and having 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 desiccant media cartridge, wherein each desiccant tray includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls, at least one of the sidewalls or base having a plurality of openings formed therein to enable air to be circulated through the openings, and wherein the airflow path is at least partially defined by an orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack;a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; andwherein 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 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; anda controller in communication with the water recovery device for controlling functioning of the water recovery device to include the charge cycle and the extraction cycle. 24. The water recovery system of claim 23, wherein the water recovery device further comprises: a communications node incorporated within a communications system enabling the water recovery device to communicate within the communications system. 25. The water recovery system of claim 24, wherein the communications system further comprises: 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 to maintain and optimize operation of the water recovery device. 26. The water recovery system of claim 24, wherein the communications system further comprises: at least one database for storing data regarding historical operating data of the water recovery device, and historical operating data gathered from other water recovery devices operating within the communications system. 27. The water recovery system of claim 23, wherein the orientation of each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack is defined by an orientation of the plurality of openings associated with each desiccant tray within the desiccant stack. 28. The water recovery system of claim 27, wherein a first desiccant tray is in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is in the first orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in the first direction. 29. The water recovery system of claim 27, wherein a first desiccant tray is in a first orientation in a first position in the desiccant stack and a second desiccant tray is in a different second orientation in a second position in the desiccant stack, such that the ambient air is circulated through a plurality of openings associated with the first desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the first desiccant tray in a first direction and continues through a plurality of openings associated with the second desiccant tray and across a desiccant media cartridge of the second desiccant tray in a different second direction. 30. The water recovery system of claim 29, wherein the different second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction. 31. The water recovery system of claim 29, wherein the different second direction is a direction opposite to the first direction. 32. The water recovery system of claim 27, wherein the water recovery device further comprises: an air intake valve configured to control an amount of the ambient air entering the desiccant stack through the air intake; andan air exhaust valve configured to control an amount of air exiting the chamber of the desiccant stack through the air exhaust. 33. The water recovery system of claim 32, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are configured to close and isolate an environment within the water recovery device from the ambient air outside of the water recovery device. 34. The water recovery system of claim 33, wherein the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are closed during the extraction cycle. 35. The water recovery system of claim 33, wherein the water recovery device further comprises: at least one of an air intake fan and an air exhaust fan, wherein the air intake fan is in fluid communication with the air intake and air intake valve and is configured to direct the ambient air from outside of the water recovery device into the chamber of the desiccant stack, and wherein the air exhaust fan is in fluid communication with the air exhaust and the air exhaust valve and is configured to direct air from within the chamber through the air exhaust and outside of the water recovery device. 36. The water recovery system of claim 33, wherein the air intake fan and the air exhaust fan are configured to operate independently of one another.
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