Water production system and method with auxiliary refrigeration cycle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for condensing water vapor in air to extract liquid water in which a refrigeration system defines a closed-loop refrigerant path. The refrigeration system includes a main portion, a first branch portion and a second branch portion. The first branch portion and the second branch portion each have an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion. The first branch portion includes a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator. The second branch portion includes a second evaporator. A first water vessel is positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator. A second water vessel is positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator. A conduit transports water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 102,120, entitled “Methods and Systems for Potable Water Production,” filed Oct. 2, 2008, and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 184,956, entitled “Method And System For Water Recovery From Air Using Combined Receiver And Water Cooled Condenser,” filed Jun. 8, 2009, the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to production of water, and more specifically to improved systems and methods for extracting water from water vapor, for example from the atmosphere.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Ambient air naturally contains some quantity of water vapor, so the general atmosphere is a potential water source. Extracting this water from the surrounding atmosphere presents several challenges. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of extracting water from air using a water production system in which the water production system includes an air movement device, a first water vessel, a second water vessel and a refrigeration system having a first cooling element and a second cooling element. The air movement device is operated to cause air to flow and contact the first cooling element. The refrigeration system is operated to cause the first cooling element to have a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first cooling element during operation and to cause the second cooling element to have a temperature less than the temperature of a fluid contacting the second cooling element during operation. Liquid water is condensed from the air on an exterior surface of the first cooling element. The water is collected in the first water vessel. A portion of the water is moved from the first water vessel into the second water vessel. The water in the second water vessel is cooled using the second cooling element. The air movement device is shut off if an amount of water in the first water vessel exceeds a predetermined amount.

Problems solved by technology

Extracting this water from the surrounding atmosphere presents several challenges.

Therefore, atmospheric water vapor is an essentially untapped source of greatly needed water supplies that is potentially available worldwide.

In most residential and commercial refrigeration systems, this condensation is considered undesirable, and some refrigeration systems even have features for ameliorating them.

Water production systems also suffer from the drawback in which the refrigeration system operates in an “all or nothing” manner such that trying to keep the produced water cool also results in the extraction of additional water from the atmosphere.

The result is that operation of the compressor for a system whose water collection vessel is full will result in overflow of the vessel or that the system cannot be operated to keep the collected water cool.

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