Potential Energy and Water Collection Systems

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method (236) for collecting thermal energy and water from air includes the steps of receiving a stream of water vapor containing air over a first heat exchange contactor housed in an unsealed chamber, the first heat exchange contactor being coated with an adsorbent material that adsorbs water vapor (238); desorbing water vapor from a second adsorbent-coated heat exchange contactor housed in an enclosed chamber under a partial vacuum (240); and exchanging thermal energy between the first heat exchange contactor and the second heat exchange contactor, wherein heat gained by adsorption in the first heat exchange contactor is transferred to heat the second heat exchange contactor. and transferring heat lost by the heat of desorption in the second heat exchange contactor to cool the first heat exchange contactor to promote adsorption (242); drawing a vacuum on the sealed chamber to remove air and desorb, compress, and heat the water vapor (244); condensing the water vapor in a condenser under partial vacuum (246); recovering the heat of condensation and liquid condensate from the water vapor in the condenser (248); and repeating the method (250) using the first heat exchange contactor used for desorption in a sealed state and the second heat exchange contactor used for adsorption in an unsealed state.

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