A method and apparatus for extracting water. The apparatus comprises a first and second cooling device and a controller. The first cooling device has a first and second side. The first side heats materials located at the first side and generates a water vapor. The second side cools the water vapor a
A method and apparatus for extracting water. The apparatus comprises a first and second cooling device and a controller. The first cooling device has a first and second side. The first side heats materials located at the first side and generates a water vapor. The second side cools the water vapor and fluids collected from a source. The second cooling device transfers heat from the water vapor and the fluids flowing through the second cooling device to an environment around the second cooling device. A controller controls a first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on a temperature for the fluids and the water vapor at an output. Water extracted from the fluids and the water vapor by cooling the fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output.
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1. A water extraction system comprising: a fuel cell system configured to generate power, wherein the fuel cell system generates a number of fluids in response to generating the power;a cooling device having a first side and a second side, wherein the cooling device is connected to the fuel cell sys
1. A water extraction system comprising: a fuel cell system configured to generate power, wherein the fuel cell system generates a number of fluids in response to generating the power;a cooling device having a first side and a second side, wherein the cooling device is connected to the fuel cell system and operates using the power generated by the fuel cell system, the cooling device comprising a thermoelectric cooler wherein the power is configured to warm the first side of the cooling device and the power is configured to cool the second side of the device, and wherein the first side is configured to heat a number of materials located at the first side of the cooling device in which water in the number of materials is converted into a water vapor;a first number of tubes connected to the first side of the cooling device and thermally connected to the second side of the first cooling device, and wherein the number of fluids from the fuel cell system flows through the first number of tubes, the first number of tubes also configured to heat the number of materials;a collection system configured to collect the water vapor generated by heating the number of materials, the collection system comprising an opening connected to a second number of tubes, the opening configured to receive the water vapor and the second number of tubes configured to flow the water vapor so as to join the first number of tubes;a radiator system connected to the fuel cell system and the collection system and configured to transfer heat from the water vapor and the number of fluids in the first number of tubes to an environment around the radiator system, the first number of tubes passing through the radiator system, the second number of tubes configured to flow the water vapor into the first number tubes upstream from the first number of tubes entering the radiator system;an output system connected to the radiator system, the output system including at least a portion of the first number of tubes, wherein the output system is configured to direct the water vapor and the number of fluids from the radiator system to the second side of the cooling device, wherein the second side cools the water vapor and the number of fluids; anda controller configured to control a first amount of power delivered to the cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the radiator system based on a temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at an output of the output system. 2. The water extraction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a number of signals to increase the first amount of power delivered to the cooling device when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is less than a minimum selected temperature and when the first amount of power delivered to the cooling device is less than a maximum amount of power for the cooling device; and decrease the first amount of power delivered to the cooling device when the temperature is greater than a maximum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the cooling device is greater than about zero watts, and the second amount of power to the radiator system is not less than a maximum amount of power for the radiator system. 3. The water extraction system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a number of signals to increase the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is greater than a maximum selected temperature and the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system is less than a maximum amount of power for the radiator system; and decrease the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system when the temperature is less than a minimum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the cooling device is not less than a maximum amount of power for the cooling device, and the second amount of power delivered to the radiation system is greater than about zero watts. 4. The water extraction system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric cooler comprises a Peltier device. 5. The water extraction system of claim 1, wherein the first number of tubes comprises a first portion thermally connected to the first side of the cooling device, a second portion, and a third portion thermally connected to the second side of the first cooling device. 6. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the number of fluids from the fuel cell system flows through the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the first number of tubes. 7. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the first number of tubes is configured to heat the number of materials. 8. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the second number of tubes is configured to flow the water vapor so as to join the first portion of the first number of tubes. 9. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the radiator system is configured to transfer the heat from the water vapor and the number of fluids in the second portion of the first number of tubes to the environment. 10. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the second portion of the first number of tubes passes through the radiator system. 11. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the second number of tubes joins the first portion of the first number of tubes prior to the first number of tubes entering the radiator system. 12. The water extraction system of claim 5, wherein the output system comprises the third portion of the first number of tubes. 13. An apparatus comprising: a fuel cell system configured to generate power;a first cooling device having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is configured to heat a number of materials located at the first side of the first cooling device to generate a water vapor and the second side is configured to cool the water vapor and a number of fluids collected from a source, the cooling device comprising a thermoelectric cooler wherein the power from the fuel cell system warms the first side of the cooling device and the power cools the second side of the device;a second cooling device configured to transfer heat from the water vapor and the number of fluids flowing through the second cooling device to an environment around the second cooling device;a container located on the first side of the first cooling device and configured to hold the number of materials;a first number of tubes connected to the first side of the first cooling device and thermally connected to the second side of the first cooling device, and wherein the number of fluids from the fuel cell system flows through the first number of tubes, the first number of tubes also configured to heat the number of materials;an opening and a second number of tubes, the opening configured to receive the water vapor from the number of materials, the second number of tubes configured to flow the water vapor into the first number tubes upstream from the first number of tubes entering the second cooling device; anda controller configured to control a first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on a temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at an output for the number of fluids and the water vapor, wherein water extracted from the number of fluids and the water vapor by cooling the number of fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fuel cell system is configured to generate power and generate the number of fluids in response to generating the power, wherein the number of fluids is an exhaust of the fuel cell system and wherein the first cooling device and the second cooling device operate using the power generated by the fuel cell system. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a number of signals to increase the second amount of power delivered to a radiator system when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is greater than a maximum selected temperature and the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system is less than a maximum amount of power for the radiator system; and decrease the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system when the temperature is less than a minimum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is not less than a maximum amount of power for the first cooling device, and the second amount of power delivered to the radiator system is greater than about zero watts. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a number of signals to increase the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is less than a minimum selected temperature and when the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is less than a maximum amount of power for the first cooling device; and decrease the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device when the temperature is greater than a maximum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is greater than about zero watts, and the second amount of power to a radiator system is not less than a maximum amount of power for the radiator system. 17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a first converter, wherein the first converter is configured to deliver the first amount of power to the first cooling device; anda second converter, wherein the second converter is configured to deliver the second amount of power to the first cooling device. 18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number of fluids flowing through the first portion of the first number of tubes thermally connected to the first side of the first cooling device heats the number of materials at the first side of the first cooling device to generate the water vapor. 19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number of fluids flowing through the first portion of the first number of tubes thermally connected to the first side of the first cooling device cools the number of fluids. 20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second cooling device comprises: a number of tubes configured to transfer the heat from the water vapor and the number of fluids flowing through the number of tubes to the environment around the second cooling device; anda fan configured to generate airflow in the environment around the second cooling device to move heated air in the environment away from the number of tubes. 21. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a temperature sensor located at the output for the number of fluids and the water vapor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to identify the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output. 22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first cooling device is a thermoelectric cooler and the second cooling device is a radiator system. 23. A method for extracting water, the method comprising: generating power using a fuel cell system;flowing a number of fluids generated by a fuel cell through a first number of tubes;warming a first side of a first cooling device comprising a thermoelectric cooler with the power from the fuel cell system;cooling a second side of the first cooling device with the power from the fuel cell system;heating a number of materials using the first side of the first cooling device and the first number of tubes to generate a water vapor, wherein the number of materials is located at the first side of the first cooling device;collecting the water vapor in a second number of tubes;directing the water vapor in the second number of tubes to the first number of tubes;cooling the water vapor and a number of fluids collected from a fuel cell system using a second cooling device, the first number of tubes positioned in the second cooling device, and the water vapor in the second number of tubes joining the first number of tubes upstream from the first number of tubes entering the second cooling device;cooling the water vapor and the number of fluids using the second side of the first cooling device, the first number of tubes positioned adjacent the second side of the first cooling device; andcontrolling a first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on a temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at an output for the number of fluids and the water vapor, wherein the water extracted from the number of fluids and the water vapor by cooling the number of fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output. 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising: operating the first cooling device and the second cooling device using the power generated by the fuel cell system. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of heating the number of materials using the first side of the first cooling device to generate the water vapor, wherein the number of materials is located at the first side of the first cooling device comprises: heating the number of materials using the first side of the first cooling device to generate the water vapor; andheating the number of materials using heat generated as the number of fluids flows in a number of tubes thermally connected to the first side of the first cooling device. 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the second cooling device is a radiator system and wherein the step of cooling the water vapor and the number of fluids collected from the fuel cell system using the second cooling device comprises: transferring heat from the number of fluids and the water vapor to an environment around the radiator system as the number of fluids and the water vapor flows through a number of tubes in the radiator system. 27. The method of claim 23 further comprising: detecting the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output using a temperature sensor located at the output. 28. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output for the number of fluids and the water vapor, wherein the water extracted from the number of fluids and the water vapor by cooling the number of fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output comprises: comparing the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output to a selected temperature within a selected tolerance to form a comparison; andusing the comparison to determine whether to perform one of increasing the first amount of power, decreasing the first amount of power, increasing the second amount of power, and decreasing the second amount of power. 29. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device and the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device based on the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output for the number of fluids and the water vapor, wherein the water extracted from the number of fluids and the water vapor by cooling the number of fluids and the water vapor is collected at the output comprises: generating a first number of signals to increase the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is less than a minimum selected temperature and when the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is less than a maximum amount of power for the first cooling device;generating a second number of signals to decrease the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device when the temperature is greater than a maximum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is greater than about zero watts, and the second amount of power to the second cooling device is not less than a maximum amount of power for the second cooling device;generating a third number of signals to increase the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device when the temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at the output is greater than the maximum selected temperature and the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device is less than the maximum amount of power for the second cooling device; andgenerating a fourth number of signals to decrease the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device when the temperature is less than the minimum selected temperature, the first amount of power delivered to the first cooling device is not less than the maximum amount of power for the first cooling device, and the second amount of power delivered to the second cooling device is greater than about zero watts. 30. A water extraction system comprising: a fuel cell system configured to generate power, wherein the fuel cell system generates a number of fluids in response to generating the power;a cooling device having a first side and a second side, wherein the cooling device is connected to the fuel cell system and operates using the power generated by the fuel cell system, the cooling device comprising a thermoelectric cooler wherein the power is configured to warm the first side of the cooling device and the power is configured to cool the second side of the device, and wherein the first side is configured to heat a number of materials located at the first side of the cooling device in which water in the number of materials is converted into a water vapor;a first number of tubes comprising a first portion thermally connected to the first side of the cooling device, a second portion, and a third portion thermally connected to the second side of the first cooling device, and wherein the number of fluids from the fuel cell system flows through the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the first number of tubes, the first portion of the first number of tubes also configured to heat the number of materials;a collection system configured to collect the water vapor generated by heating the number of materials, the collection system comprising an opening connected to a second number of tubes, the opening configured to receive the water vapor and the second number of tubes configured to flow the water vapor so as to join the first portion of the first number of tubes;a radiator system connected to the fuel cell system and the collection system and configured to transfer heat from the water vapor and the number of fluids in the second portion of the first number of tubes to an environment around the radiator system, the second portion of the first number of tubes passing through the radiator system, the second number of tubes configured to flow the water vapor into the first number tubes upstream from the first number of tubes entering the radiator system;an output system connected to the radiator system, the output system including the third portion of the first number of tubes, wherein the output system is configured to direct the water vapor and the number of fluids from the radiator system to the second side of the cooling device, wherein the second side cools the water vapor and the number of fluids; anda controller configured to control a first amount of power delivered to the cooling device and a second amount of power delivered to the radiator system based on a temperature for the number of fluids and the water vapor at an output of the output system.
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Max, Michael D., Apparatus and method for harvesting atmospheric moisture.
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