System and method for extracting potable water from atmosphere

Abstract

A system for producing potable water from atmosphere includes an enclosure with at least one intake port and exhaust port. The system includes a plurality of panels arranged within the enclosure substantially parallel to each other along a central axis. Each of the panels is made of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure. The system includes a plurality of conduits arranged to pass through the panels. A cooling fluid is passed through the conduits to cool the panels. The amount of water condensate formed on surfaces of the panels in response to cooling is detected. The panels are rotated about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the surfaces of the panels when the detected amount of water condensate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a Continuation-in-Part from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 017,856 filed Dec. 22, 2004 entitled System and Method for Extracting Potable Water from Atmosphere, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 949,249 filed Sep. 27, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the production of potable water. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for extracting potable water from the atmosphere.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Generally, natural freshwater resources are scarce or limited in many areas of the world, including areas such as, for example, deserts and lands, due to low precipitation and high salinity of surface and underground water. Shortage in supply of potable water and fresh water is increasing at a vast rate, as deserts expand and overtake fertile land, and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention relates to a system and method for extracting potable water from the atmosphere. The system includes a sealed enclosure with a first and second surface, a cooling device, a sensor circuit, and a wiper. The cooling device cools the enclosure and the sensor circuit detects the amount of water condensate formed on the surfaces. The wiper removes water condensate from the surfaces when the amount of water condensate exceeds a predetermined value. The system can also include a collector for collecting the water condensate for use as potable water. The technical effects of the invention include the ability to extract potable water from the atmosphere and the use of a cooling device to enhance the process."

Problems solved by technology

Generally, natural freshwater resources are scarce or limited in many areas of the world, including areas such as, for example, deserts and lands, due to low precipitation and high salinity of surface and underground water.

Shortage in supply of potable water and fresh water is increasing at a vast rate, as deserts expand and overtake fertile land, and as many of the natural ground water resources are being depleted.

Furthermore, shifts in patterns of the global climate over time have resulted in a drop in the rate of rainfall in many areas.

For example, hunger and starvation is spreading in areas such as, for example, Africa, because of shortage of fresh water to raise domestic animals and crops for food.

Sparse population and scattered population pockets in many areas make the application of water desalination and other water treatment technologies uneconomical due to the low demand and the high cost of water distribution from a central system over a wide stretch of land.

For example, such methods of supplying potable water may be inaccessible to remote and / or impoverished areas of the world due to lack of natural resources, wealth, infrastructure and technical expertise.

Alternatively, transportation of loads of fresh water is costly and exposes water to contamination en route and during handling and storage.

For example, remote areas of the world may lack the necessary transportation infrastructure to allow transportation of potable water to these remote areas.

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