Method of controlling airflow through a water recovery device
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01D-053/02
B01D-053/28
F25B-043/00
B01D-053/18
B01D-053/26
F25D-021/14
B01D-053/04
F25B-017/02
F24F-003/14
출원번호
US-0660602
(2012-10-25)
등록번호
US-8882895
(2014-11-11)
발명자
/ 주소
Ball, James
Becze, Charles
Flynn, Michael J.
Lam, Kean Wing Kin
Teltz, Richard
출원인 / 주소
Z124
대리인 / 주소
Sheridan Ross P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
28
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 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 dynamically 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 tray and absorbed
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 tray and absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;a plurality of air transport lines, the air transport lines at least enabling communication between the chamber and the desiccant stack;a plurality of at least one of valves, fans and manifolds communicating with the chamber for controlling airflow within the water recovery device;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 provide an amount of water condensate. 2. A water recovery device, 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. 3. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the media cartridge includes media material placed in a configuration having a plurality of folds and a plurality of gaps between the folds, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to the folds of the media material. 4. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, further including: an intake manifold for directing an airstream into the chamber; andan exhaust manifold for directing the airstream away from the chamber. 5. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the plurality of valves and fans include an intake fan and an intake valve, an exhaust fan and an exhaust valve, said intake and exhaust fans and valves communicating with the chamber, a re-circulating fan and a re-circulating valve for the circulating air from the condenser back to the chamber, and a condenser fan and a condenser valve for delivering air from the chamber to the condenser. 6. 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. 7. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 6 wherein: the plurality of sensors includes temperature sensors and humidity sensors. 8. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 6, further including: an intake manifold for directing an airstream into the chamber; andan exhaust manifold for directing the airstream away from the chamber. 9. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the plurality of valves and fans include an intake fan and an intake valve, an exhaust fan and an exhaust valve, said intake and exhaust fans and valves communicating with the chamber, a re-circulating fan and a re-circulating valve for the circulating air from the condenser back to the chamber, and a condenser fan and a condenser valve for delivering air from the chamber to the condenser. 10. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 6, 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. 11. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the media cartridge includes media material placed in a configuration having a plurality of folds and a plurality of gaps between the folds, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to the folds of the media material. 12. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 11, 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. 13. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller utilizes control algorithms comprising at least one of on/off control, proportional control, differential control, integral control, state estimation, adaptive control and stochastic signal processing. 14. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a programmable logic controller and a microcontroller. 15. A water recovery system comprising: (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;(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;(5) a plurality of at least one of valves, fans and manifolds communicating with the chamber for controlling airflow within the water recovery device;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, the plurality of at least one of valves, fans and manifolds serving as outputs of the controller, the at least one of valves, fans and manifolds being located within air transport lines of the water recovery device; and(c) said water recovery device further including a communications node incorporated within a communications system enabling the water recovery device to communicate within the communications system. 16. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 15, 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. 17. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 16, wherein: the media cartridge includes media material placed in a configuration having a plurality of folds and a plurality of gaps between the folds, the media material being oriented such that an airstream flowing through the chamber flows substantially parallel to the folds of the media material. 18. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 15, further including: an intake manifold for directing an airstream into the chamber; andan exhaust manifold for directing the airstream away from the chamber. 19. A method of recovering water vapor from ambient air, said 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; (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 plurality of at least one of valves, fans and manifolds communicating with the chamber for controlling airflow within the water recovery device;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. 20. A method, as claimed in claim 19, 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, the valves and fans being located within the air transport lines of the device.
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