System for generating liquid water from air

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system for generating liquid water from air. The system includes an airflow generating device and a body allowing an airflow from the airflow generating device to flow therethrough. The body includes a constricted portion through which the airflow flows from its inlet to its outlet, where cooling air at a temperature substantially at the dew point temperature of the air is discharged at the outlet of the constricted portion, thereby condensing water in the air from the cooling air. Part of the energy required to cool the air is fed back to the input end, so that less energy is required to cool the air in subsequent air circulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for generating liquid water from air. Background Art

[0002] Existing systems for producing water from air already exist, and there are several commercial units on the market. However, most of these systems use grid power to power the system, or they use simple techniques such as freezing water on a cooled copper coil structure, which is inefficient for producing large amounts of water. In addition, the energy required to provide sufficient cooling to reach the dew point to allow the water vapor in the air to condense is very high. Therefore, due to the high energy required to produce one liter of fresh water, the cost of operating these systems is very high. In some cases, the technical complexity of these systems requires a powerful and large compressor to operate, which again increases the production cost per liter of water and makes it very uneconomical. Therefore, the cost of producing fresh water from air is very high when using existing systems on the market.

[0003] The present invention overcomes these problems by using a Venturi air compression and expansion system to enhance the condensation of water from air. By forcing air through a narrow tube and then expanding the air into a larger chamber, the air is allowed to cool more efficiently, thereby reducing the system operating cost. Once a certain volume of air passes through the narrow tube, it reaches the dew point, and all the water vapor present in the compressed air will condense out of the cooled air.

[0004] Various systems for generating liquid water from air are known, such as:

[0005] US2020 / 0346164, titled "Method and Apparatus for Obtaining Water from Ambient Air", describes an apparatus for obtaining water from ambient air, which includes at least one evaporator for generating water vapor from a dilute liquid absorbent, at least one condenser operably connected to the at least one evaporator (wherein the at least one condenser includes at least one heat exchanger for condensing water vapor), at least one delivery device for delivering a cooling medium to the at least one heat exchanger to cool the at least one condenser, and a device for delivering the heated cooling medium discharged from the at least one condenser to at least one device for bringing the heated cooling medium into extensive contact with ambient air to cool the heated cooling medium by the ambient air. The heat exchanger can be powered by solar energy.

[0006] US2021 / 0156124, titled "Active Atmospheric Water Collector", describes an atmospheric water collector system that includes two beds with water capture materials (such as metal-organic frameworks (MOF)), a heater, two fans, and a condenser with two sides, which is operably configured in adsorption and desorption modes, where the MOF beds are interchangeable to cycle between the desorption mode and the water adsorption mode. The system may also include photovoltaic panels that power the fans and the condenser.

[0007] US10,835,861, titled "Systems and Methods for Generating Liquid Water from Air", describes a system for generating liquid water from air that includes a housing defining an adsorption region and a desorption region, a desiccant selectively movable between the adsorption regions, in the adsorption region, the desiccant is in fluid communication with a process air flow path such that the desiccant can capture water from the air in the process air flow path, and a desorption region, where the desiccant is in fluid communication with a regeneration fluid path such that the desiccant can release water to a regeneration fluid in the regeneration fluid path. The system also includes an actuator, a first blower, and a circulator, the actuator is configured to move the desiccant between the adsorption region and the desorption region, the first blower is configured to regulate the flow rate of air passing through the process air flow path, the circulator is configured to regulate the flow rate of the regeneration fluid passing through the regeneration fluid path. The system also includes a thermal unit, the thermal unit includes a housing, a condenser, a solar insolation sensor, and a controller, the housing is in fluid communication with the regeneration fluid path and is configured to provide thermal energy to the regeneration fluid in the regeneration fluid path, the condenser is configured to receive the regeneration fluid from the desorption region via the regeneration fluid path and produce liquid water from the regeneration fluid received from the desorption region, the solar insolation sensor is configured to capture data indicating the level of solar insolation, the controller is configured to control the liquid water production rate by controlling at least one of the following: the blower speed of the first blower, the movement of the desiccant by the actuator, or the speed of the circulator at least partially based on a signal received from the solar insolation sensor. Embodiments of the system also include a solar power unit configured to provide power to the system.

[0008] Known drawbacks of these inventions are that they do not use a Venturi air compression and expansion system to enhance the condensation of water from the air, and in addition, the inventions do not use a thermal feedback system between the condenser and the outlet gas to improve the efficiency of the water production process and reduce the cost of the water production process.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to alleviate at least some of the above drawbacks. Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for generating liquid water from air, the system comprising: -

[0011] an air flow generating device;

[0012] a main body that allows an air flow from the air flow generating device to flow through the main body, the main body including a constriction portion through which the air flow generated by the air flow generating device flows from its inlet to its outlet, wherein cooled air having a temperature substantially at the dew point temperature of the air is discharged at the outlet of the constriction portion, thereby promoting condensation of water from the cooled air.

[0013] The main body may include:

[0014] a first end arranged to be in fluid flow communication with the inlet of the constriction portion air flow generating device; and

[0015] a second end in communication with the outlet of the constriction portion to allow the cooled air to expand as it is discharged from the outlet of the constriction portion.

[0016] The air flow generating device may be arranged in the inlet of the main body to allow ambient air to flow into the main body via the inlet of the main body and enable the air flow generating device to generate an air flow from the ambient air.

[0017] The cross-sectional area of the constriction portion is smaller than the cross-sectional areas of its inlet and outlet to allow the air flow flowing into the constriction portion to be compressed at its inlet and allow the compressed air flowing through the outlet of the main body from the constriction portion to expand when released from the outlet, so as to facilitate condensation of water from the cooled air.

[0018] The main body may be in the form of a tube.

[0019] The main body may be made of any suitable plastic and / or metal material, preferably made of stainless steel.

[0020] The inlet may have a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, preferably a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the inlet may be in the range of 1 m to 2 m, preferably 1 m.

[0021] The outlet may have a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, preferably a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the outlet may be in the range of 1 m to 2 m, preferably 1 m.

[0022] The narrow portion may have a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, preferably a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the narrow portion may be in the range of 0.3 m to 0.5 m, preferably 0.5 m. The narrow portion may be of a substantially tubular shape. The length of the narrow portion may be in the range of 1 m to 3 m, preferably 1 m.

[0023] The cross-section of the narrow portion may be smaller than / less than the cross-section of the inlet.

[0024] The air flow generating device may be a fan, which may be in the form of a conventional fan, such as a centrifugal or axial flow fan. The air flow generating device may also be in the form of a blower.

[0025] The fan may be located in or arranged relative to the first end of the body so as to drive an air flow into the first end of the body.

[0026] The system may include a cooling device mounted to the body to allow the air flow to be cooled as the air flows through the narrow portion of the body.

[0027] The cooling device may be arranged in the narrow portion of the body.

[0028] The cooling device may be in the form of a conventional coil cooling system. The system or the cooling device may include a fluid circulation system for circulating a cooling fluid through the cooling device to facilitate the cooling of air. The cooling fluid may be in the form of a cooling refrigerant. The fluid circulation system may include a piping system and a displacement device arranged in fluid flow communication with the piping system for displacing the cooling fluid through the piping system (not shown) into the cooling device to facilitate the cooling of air. The displacement device may be in the form of a pump.

[0029] The body may have a water outlet at the second end of the body. The water outlet may have a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, preferably a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the water outlet may be in the range of 1 m to 10 m, preferably 3 m. The shape of the water outlet may be of a substantially tubular shape. The length of the water outlet may be in the range of 1 m to 10 m, preferably 1 m.

[0030] The heat extraction device may be arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the constriction portion (in particular the outlet region extending from the second end of the body) and the cooling device to allow the air to be further cooled by extracting heat from the air, thereby further promoting the formation of water from the air.

[0031] The heat extraction device may include a hot fluid circulation system for circulating the cooling fluid through the heat extraction device to further promote the cooling of air. In particular, the hot fluid circulation system may be arranged in fluid flow communication with the fluid circulation system to allow the cooling fluid from the fluid circulation system to circulate through the hot fluid circulation system. The fluid circulation system may include a heat pipe system and a fluid displacement device arranged in fluid flow communication with the heat pipe system for displacing the cooling fluid through the heat pipe system to further promote the cooling of air. It should be understood that since the fluid circulation system and the hot fluid circulation system are arranged in fluid flow communication with each other and the same cooling fluid flows through both systems, the same energy used by the cooling device for cooling air is also used to enhance the heat extraction process in the heat extraction device. It should be understood that this improves the overall efficiency and energy utilization of the entire system for generating water from air.

[0032] A sensor arrangement may be provided for sensing the temperature of air to determine the optimal water production period. It should be understood that the efficiency of forming water from air can be optimized when the temperature of air approaches the dew point. The sensor arrangement may be in the form of a temperature sensor. The controller may be arranged in electrical communication with the sensor arrangement for controlling the fan, the cooling device, and / or the heat extraction device, particularly its fluid displacement device, to optimize the efficiency of forming water from air.

[0033] A power generation device or an energy supply device may be arranged in electrical communication with the fan, the cooling device, the heat extraction device, the sensor arrangement, and / or the controller for powering / supplying energy to the fan to facilitate the inflow of air into the inlet and allow the air to be cooled in the narrow portion and / or the outlet of the body (particularly the outlet region extending from the second end of the body). The power generation device or the energy supply device may be selected from the group including a wind turbine system, a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell arrangement, or a grid power arrangement.

[0034] An additional enlarged condensation area may be arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the body to allow the air flowing out of the body cooled by the cooling device to condense on a larger surface area, further enhancing the formation of water from the air. The additional enlarged condensation area may be in the form of an improved conventional greenhouse.

[0035] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for generating water from air is provided, the method comprising:

[0036] Passing air through a constricted portion of a body; and

[0037] As the air flow passing through the constriction portion expands as it is discharged into the enlarged portion of the main body that is in fluid communication with the constriction portion, condensate and cooling air are collected.

[0038] The method may include contacting the air flow with a cooling device as the air flow passes through a duct to further reduce the temperature of the air flow to the dew point temperature. Description of the Drawings

[0039] A system for generating liquid water from air according to the present invention will now be described by way of the following non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] In the drawings: -

[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for generating liquid water from air according to the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 is as Figure 1 shown, a schematic diagram of a system for generating liquid water from air, wherein a heat exchange system is arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the main body, and the energy for cooling the air in the narrow portion is further used to enhance the heat extraction process of the heat exchange coil, and the heat exchange coil is now placed in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the main body;

[0043] Figure 3 is as Figure 2 shown, a schematic diagram of a system for generating liquid water from air, wherein the energy supply device is in the form of a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell arrangement;

[0044] Figure 4 is as Figure 2 shown, a schematic diagram of a system for generating liquid water from air, wherein the energy supply device is in the form of a wind turbine system; and

[0045] Figure 5 is as Figure 2 shown, a schematic diagram of a system for generating liquid water from air, wherein an additional enlarged condensation area is arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the main body, and the additional enlarged condensation area is in the form of a modified conventional greenhouse. Detailed Description

[0046] Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a system for generating liquid water 12 from air 14. The system 10 includes a body 16, a fan 24, a cooling device 26, and a water outlet 28. The body 16 allows air 14 to flow therethrough. The body 16 includes an inlet 18, an outlet 20, and a narrow / constricted portion 22. The inlet 18 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with a first end 16a of the body 16 to allow air 14 to flow into the body 16. The outlet 20 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with an opposite second end 16b of the body 16 to allow air 14 to flow out of the body 16. The narrow / constricted portion 22 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with the first and second opposite ends 16a, 16b of the body 16. The cross-sectional area of the narrow portion 22 is less than the cross-sectional areas of the inlet 18 and the outlet 20, so that the air 14 flowing into the narrow portion 22 from the inlet 18 can be compressed, and the compressed air 14b flowing out of the narrow portion 22 through the outlet 20 can then expand, facilitating the formation of water 12 from the air 14. The fan 24 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with the inlet 18 to allow an air stream 14 to flow into the inlet 18. The cooling device 26 is arranged in the narrow portion 22 of the body 16 to allow the air stream 14 to be cooled when the air 14 is compressed as it flows through the narrow portion 22 of the body 16. The water outlet 28 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with the outlet 20 of the body 16 to allow the water 12 formed from the air 14 to flow through the water outlet 28.

[0047] The body 16 is made of any suitable plastic or metal material, typically made of stainless steel.

[0048] The inlet 18 has a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, typically a generally circular cross-section. The diameter of the inlet 18 is in the range of 1 m to 2 m, typically 1 m.

[0049] The outlet 20 has a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, typically a generally circular cross-section. The diameter of the outlet 20 is in the range of 1 m to 2 m, typically 1 m.

[0050] The narrow portion 22 has a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, typically a generally circular cross-section. The diameter of the narrow portion 22 is in the range of 0.3 m to 0.5 m, typically 0.5 m. The shape of the narrow portion 22 is generally tubular. The length of the narrow portion 22 is in the range of 1 m to 3 m, typically 1 m. The fan 24 is in the form of a suitable conventional fan.

[0051] The cooling device 26 is in the form of a conventional coil cooling system. The cooling device 26 includes a fluid circulation system (not shown) for circulating a cooling fluid (not shown) through the cooling device 26 to facilitate the cooling of the air 14. The cooling fluid (not shown) is in the form of a cooling refrigerant. The fluid circulation system (not shown) includes a piping system (not shown) and a displacement device (not shown), the displacement device being arranged in fluid flow communication with the piping system (not shown) for displacing the cooling fluid (not shown) through the piping system (not shown) to facilitate the cooling of the air 14. The displacement device (not shown) is in the form of a pump.

[0052] The outlet 28 has a cross-section of any suitable conventional geometry, typically a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the outlet 28 is in the range of 1 m to 10 m, typically 3 m. The outlet is typically tubular in shape. The length of the outlet 28 is in the range of 1 m to 10 m, typically 1 m.

[0053] The heat extraction device 29 is arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet 20 of the narrow portion 22 (in particular the outlet region 20a extending from the opposite second end 16b of the main body 16) and the cooling device 26 to allow further cooling of the air 14 by extracting heat from the air 14, thereby further facilitating the formation of water 12 from the air 14. The heat extraction device 29 is placed downstream of the main body 16 and is positioned relative to the outlet of the narrow portion 22. The heat extraction device 29 includes a hot fluid circulation system (not shown) for circulating a cooling fluid (not shown) through the heat extraction device 29 to further facilitate the cooling of the air 14. In particular, the hot fluid circulation system (not shown) is arranged in fluid flow communication with the fluid circulation system (not shown) to allow the cooling fluid (not shown) from the fluid circulation system (not shown) to circulate through the hot circulation system (not shown). The fluid circulation system (not shown) includes a heat pipe system (not shown) and a fluid displacement device (not shown), the fluid displacement device being arranged in fluid flow communication with the heat pipe system (not shown) for displacing the cooling fluid (not shown) through the heat pipe system (not shown) to further facilitate the cooling of the air 14. It should be understood that since the fluid circulation system (not shown) and the hot fluid circulation system (not shown) are arranged in fluid flow communication with each other and the same cooling fluid (not shown) flows through both systems, the same energy used by the cooling device to cool the air 14 is also used to enhance the heat extraction process in the heat extraction device 29. It should be understood that this improves the overall efficiency and energy utilization rate of the entire system for generating water 12 from the air 14.

[0054] The energy supply device 30 is arranged to be in electrical communication with the fan 24 and the cooling device 26, the heat extraction device 29, a sensor arrangement (not shown), and a controller (not shown) for energizing the fan 24 to promote the flow of air 14 (i.e., generate an air stream) into the inlet 18 and allow the air 14 to be cooled in the narrow portion 22 and the outlet 20 of the main body 16, particularly the outlet region 20a extending from the opposite end 16. The energy supply device 30 is selected from the group comprising a wind turbine system, a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell arrangement, or a grid power arrangement.

[0055] A sensor arrangement (not shown) is provided for sensing the temperature of the air 14 to determine the optimal water production period. It should be understood that the efficiency of forming water 12 from the air 14 can be optimized when the temperature of the air 14 approaches the dew point. The sensor arrangement (not shown) is in the form of a temperature sensor. The controller (not shown) is arranged to be in electrical communication with the sensor arrangement (not shown) for controlling the fan 24, the cooling device 26, and the heat extraction device 29, particularly its fluid displacement device (not shown), to optimize the efficiency of forming water 12 from the air 14.

[0056] An additional enlarged condensation region 32 is arranged to be in fluid flow communication with the outlet 20 of the narrow portion 22 to allow the air 14 flowing out of the main body 16 cooled by the cooling device 26 to condense on a larger surface area 34, thereby further enhancing the formation of water 12 from the air 14. The additional enlarged condensation region 32 is in the form of an improved conventional greenhouse.

[0057] Of course, it should be understood that the system for generating liquid water from air according to the present invention is not limited to the exact structural and functional details as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and can be changed as needed.

[0058] Although only certain embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the present invention are possible. Therefore, these modifications, variations, and possibilities are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention and thus form part of the present invention as described and / or illustrated herein. It should also be understood that the embodiments are provided to further illustrate the present invention and assist those skilled in the art in understanding the present invention, and should not be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the present invention.

[0059] The inventors believe that the system for generating liquid water from air according to the present invention is advantageous because it allows for a reduction in the production cost per liter of water from air during the 20-year life of the system.

Claims

1. A system for generating liquid water from air, the system comprising: an air flow generating device; and a main body that allows an air flow from the air flow generating device to flow through the main body, the main body including a constriction portion through which the air flow flows from its inlet to its outlet, wherein cooled air having a temperature substantially at the dew point temperature of the air is discharged at the outlet of the constriction portion, thereby condensing water in the air from the cooled air.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a first end and a second end, the first end being arranged in fluid flow communication with the inlet of the constriction portion, and the second end being in communication with the outlet of the constriction portion.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second end is larger than the constriction portion to allow the cooled air to expand in the second end when being discharged from the outlet of the constriction portion.

4. The system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the air flow generating device is arranged in the first end or relative to the first end to drive an air flow into the inlet of the constriction portion.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-sectional area of the constriction portion is smaller than the cross-sectional areas of its inlet and outlet to allow the air flow to be compressed at its inlet and to allow the compressed air flowing out of the main body through the outlet from the constriction portion to expand when released from the outlet, so as to facilitate the condensation of water from the cooled air.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a water outlet arranged in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the constriction portion.

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a cooling device to allow the air flow to be cooled when flowing through the constriction portion of the main body.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the cooling device includes a cooling fluid.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a heat extraction device in fluid flow communication with the outlet of the constriction portion to allow the cooled air to cool a cooling fluid to be cooled contained in the heat extraction device.

10. The system according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 8, wherein the heat extraction device includes a fluid circulation system for circulating the cooling fluid between the cooling device and the heat extraction device.

11. The system according to claim 10, including a sensor arrangement for sensing the temperature of the air flow flowing through the main body to determine an optimal water production period.

12. The system according to claim 11, including a power generation device for powering the air flow generating device, the cooling device, the heat extraction device, and the sensor arrangement.

13. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 12, comprising an enlarged condensation region in communication with the second end of the body, the enlarged condensation region allowing the cooling air flowing out of the constricted portion to expand over a greater surface area, thereby further promoting the formation of water from the air.

14. A method for generating water from air, the method comprising: passing an air stream through a constricted portion of a body; and collecting condensate and cooling air when the air stream flowing through the constricted portion expands upon exiting the outlet of the constricted portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising contacting the air stream with a cooling device as the air stream passes through the body to further reduce the temperature of the air stream to the dew point temperature of the air.

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