Apparatus for water recovery including stackable desiccant trays
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01D-053/02
B01D-053/26
F25B-017/02
F25D-021/14
F24F-003/14
F25B-043/00
B01D-053/18
B01D-053/04
B01D-053/28
F25B-037/00
출원번호
US-0714006
(2012-12-13)
등록번호
US-9017456
(2015-04-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Becze, Charles
Ball, James
Blatt, David
Flynn, Michael J.
Teltz, Richard
출원인 / 주소
Z124
대리인 / 주소
Sheridan Ross P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
33
초록▼
A device recovers water from an ambient airstream. The device includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant. A foam media element in each tray absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are use
A device recovers water from an ambient airstream. The device includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant. A foam media element in each tray 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 control device operation. The desiccant trays may be selectively configurable in an array to best suit the intended installation. The trays may be arranged in column and row configurations, along with adjustable airflow patterns between each of the trays.
대표청구항▼
1. A water recovery device comprising: a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the 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 being ab
1. A water recovery device comprising: a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the 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 being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;the plurality of desiccant trays being configured in an array comprising at least one column of vertically stacked desiccant trays and a row of laterally adjacent desiccant trays.a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. A water recovery device, 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. 6. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the plurality of desiccant trays include trays that are stacked vertically upon one another, and the ambient air being capable of flowing through each of said stacked trays. 7. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the array includes at least one column of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial or parallel flow path. 8. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the array includes at least one row of two laterally adjacent desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through said trays flows horizontally between each of said desiccant trays. 9. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the array includes at least two columns of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial or parallel flow path, and further wherein the flow path flows horizontally between two laterally adjacent desiccant trays. 10. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the array is provided in an irregular configuration, the array includes at least two columns of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial or parallel flow path, and further wherein the flow path flows horizontally between two laterally adjacent desiccant trays. 11. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: at least two of the trays include connection means for connecting two laterally adjacent trays. 12. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: one tray of the at least two trays includes a connecting flange, and the other tray of the at least two trays includes a connecting extension connected to the connecting flange, thereby facilitating attachment between the at least two trays. 13. A water recovery device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: at least two of the trays each include a sidewall track assembly and a removable panel secured in the sidewall track assembly, the panels being removed enabling laterally adjacent trays connected to one another to facilitate airflow horizontally between the laterally adjacent trays. 14. A water recovery system comprising: (a) water recovery device including: (1) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the 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 being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;(2) the plurality of desiccant trays being configured in an array comprising at least one column of vertically stacked desiccant trays and a row of laterally adjacent desiccant trays;(3) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;(4) 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;(b) a controller incorporated in the 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;(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. 15. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the plurality of desiccant trays include trays that are stacked vertically upon one another, and the ambient air being capable of flowing through each of said stacked trays. 16. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the array includes at least one column of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial flow path or parallel flow path. 17. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the array includes at least one row of two laterally adjacent desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through said trays flows horizontally between each of said desiccant trays. 18. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the array includes at least two columns of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial or parallel flow path, and further wherein the flow path flows horizontally between two laterally adjacent desiccant trays. 19. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the array is provided in an irregular configuration, the array includes at least two columns of vertically stacked desiccant trays, and the ambient air flowing through each of said trays in one of a serial or parallel flow path, and further wherein the flow path flows horizontally between two laterally adjacent desiccant trays. 20. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: at least two of the trays include connection means for connecting two laterally adjacent trays. 21. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: one tray of the at least two trays includes a connecting flange, and the other tray of the at least two trays includes a connecting extension connected to the connecting flange, thereby facilitating attachment between the at least two trays. 22. A water recovery system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: at least two of the trays each include a sidewall track assembly and a removable panel secured in the sidewall track assembly, the panels being removed enabling laterally adjacent trays connected to one another to facilitate airflow between the laterally adjacent trays. 23. A method of configuring an array of desiccant trays for use in a water recovery device, said method comprising: providing a plurality of desiccant trays;determining installation specific requirements for the water recovery device;configuring the desiccant trays in an array having a plurality of the desiccant trays arranged in a vertical column or a horizontal row, each column and row having a plurality of desiccant trays taking into consideration the requirement;determining an optimal airflow arrangement for the chosen array configuration; andadjusting sidewalls of the desiccant trays to facilitate the optimum airflow, said adjusting step including manipulating at least one removable panel for airflow between two laterally adjacent desiccant trays or manipulating a size of the slots of said sidewalls for airflow between two vertically stacked desiccant trays in a vertical column. 24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein: the requirements including at least one of a water recovery output requirement, site specific size and mounting constraints, an available number of desiccant trays, condensation capabilities, and heating capabilities. 25. A method, as claimed in claim 23, further including: providing sealed connections between laterally adjacent desiccant trays, said sealed connections being achieved by a friction fit of connecting components. 26. A method, as claimed in claim 23, further including: providing sealed connections between vertically stacked desiccant trays, said sealed connections being achieved by sealing gaskets placed between said desiccant trays.
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