Water and latent energy capture system

Abstract

Water and latent energy harvesting system (10), for improving system efficiency by reducing the electrical power required by the system, comprising: multiple chambers (22), each comprising a heat exchange contactor coated with an adsorbent material, and each having at least one pair of doors (38) configured to open and close, for adsorbing gas molecules from an air stream; a duct connecting the multiple chambers to allow heat transfer by permitting the transfer of adsorption heat accumulated by the coated heat exchange contactor from an open chamber to the coated heat exchange contactor of a closed chamber to aid the desorption of gas molecules and permitting the transfer of desorption heat to an open chamber to aid the adsorption of gas molecules;a condenser (24) configured to recover thermal energy and liquid condensate from the condensation of gas molecules in a partial vacuum within the condenser; and a variable compression vacuum pump (28) configured to draw a partial vacuum within the chamber when the doors are closed, wherein the adsorbent material is formulated to desorb gas molecules in the partial vacuum when the doors are closed, said variable compression vacuum pump compresses the gas molecules to a pressure sufficient to cause condensation within the condenser; and associated method.