System for atmospheric water extraction

Abstract

A system including a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement, and a controller configured to: (i) cause at least a first of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating cycles; (ii) cause at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle; (iii) cause at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle; (iv) cause heating of the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle using waste heat provided from an engine coupled to a generator; (v) cause heating of the second adsorber bed using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and (vi) channel water accumulated to an accumulator for collection, is disclosed.

Description

700750-WO-l (17851-1474)SYSTEM FOR ATMOSPHERIC WATER EXTRACTIONSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

[0001] This invention was made with government support under a grant “HR001121C0020” awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to atmospheric water extraction and in particular, systems for use in improving energy' consumption during atmospheric water extraction.

[0003] In at least some currently known water extraction systems, an adsorbent material and a vacuum swing process are used in combination to extract water from ambient air and produce a water stream and a less humid air stream. At least some known systems for atmospheric water extraction use a vapor compression system in which air is cooled below its dew point using a refrigeration system. Energy7consumption of the known atmospheric water extraction systems is generally more than 51 kJ / mole-water. However, with air that has a low humidity (below 5° Celsius dew point), an amount of water that can be extracted from air at low ambient temperature is relatively low. As such, the benefits gained from at least some known extraction systems may be outweighed by the energy consumption needed for such systems.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for a system having improved energy consumption, for example, as low as 27 kJ / mole-water, during atmospheric water extraction.SUMMARY

[0005] In one aspect, a system for extracting atmospheric water is disclosed. The adsorption system includes a plurality7of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement, and a controller. Each of the plurality7of adsorber beds includes at least one channel coated with an adsorbent extending across an outside of the at least one channel that700750-WO-l (17851-1474) is oriented to channel fluid therethrough. The controller is configured to: (i) cause at least a first of the plurality7of adsorber beds to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality' of operating cycles: (ii) cause at least a second of the plurality' of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle; (iii) cause at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle; (iv) cause heating of the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle using waste heat provided from an engine coupled to a generator; (v) cause heating of the second adsorber bed using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and (vi) channel water accumulated to an accumulator for collection.

[0006] In another aspect, a system for extracting water from ambient air is disclosed. The steam recompression system includes a plurality’ of contactors coupled together in a flow arrangement, and a controller configured to: (i) cause at least a first of the plurality of contactors to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality7of operating modes; (ii) cause at least a second contactor to perform a desorption function during the first operating mode; and (iii) cause at least a third contactor to perform a preheating function during the first operating mode using waste heat discharged from at least one of at least one engine coupled within a power generation system, and condensate discharged from the steam recompression system. The adsorption, desorption, and preheating functions are performed by different contactors within the plurality of contactors.

[0007] In yet another aspect, a method for extracting atmospheric water is disclosed. The method includes (i) causing at least a first of a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating cycles, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes at least one channel coated with an adsorbent, wherein the at least one channel is oriented to channel fluid therethrough; (ii) causing at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle while being heated using w ater vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and (iii) causing at least a third of the plurality’ of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle while being heated using waste heat during the first operating cycle, wherein the waste heat is generated by an engine coupled to a generator.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-bed vacuum adsorption system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-contactor steam recompression system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction in a mode of a plurality of operating modes.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system that may be used with the multi-bed vacuum adsorption system shown in FIG. 1 or multicontactor steam recompression system shown in FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] When introducing elements of various embodiments disclosed herein, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0012] Unless otherwise indicated, approximating language, such as “generally,” “substantially,” and “about,” as used herein indicates that the term so modified may apply to only an approximate degree, as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, rather than to an absolute or perfect degree. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Additionally, unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first,” “second.” etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, for example, a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, for example, a “first” or lower-numbered item or a “third” or higher-numbered item.700750-WD-l (17851-1474)

[0013] The embodiments described herein relate to various systems that may be used for atmospheric water extraction in which energy consumption is facilitated to be improved, as compared to at least some known extraction systems, using waste heat from a generator. In some embodiments, at least three beds are used for atmospheric water extraction, and in such systems, each bed performs a different function, and / or is operated in a different operating mode during the atmospheric water extraction process. For example, during an adsorption operating mode, air is drawn through a sorbent-coated contactor, and water is adsorbed from the air. In the present disclosure, each bed includes a sorbent-coated across an air contactor. During a pre-heating operating mode, water vapor from a bed in a desorption operating mode is channeled to a bed in pre-heating operating mode. Additionally, or alternatively, during the pre-heating operating mode, waste heat from the generator is circulated through the sorbent-coated contactor, such that the metal, sorbent coating, and adsorbed water are sensibly heated. The water vapor provides heat to the preheating bed as it condenses in the pre-heating bed. In contrast, during a desorption operating mode, additional heat from the generator facilitates the desorption of the water.

[0014] During the desorption operating mode, a vacuum pump facilitates reducing the operating pressure and facilitates desorbing water as vapor from the bed that is undergoing the desorption process. Coolant capturing the heat of condensation from the condensed, desorbed w ater vapor can be used along with w aste heat from the generator to facilitate improving energy consumption during the atmospheric water extraction process. Each of the three beds performs different functions (for example, adsorption, pre-heating, and desorption) at the same time, and performs different functions over time, which can result in constant and continuous w ater extraction. By w ay of a non-limiting example, each bed may be configured to perform a specified function for a predetermined or preconfigured amount of time. Moreover, in other embodiments, the beds could be any other component that enables the system to function as described herein, such as, but not limited to, a contractor, a coated heat exchanger, and / or any other component containing packed beds of pellets, coated contractors, and / or coated heat exchangers, for example. Alternatively, the function and / or operating mode of each bed may be variably selected using a series of valves and / or control mechanisms. In various embodiments described herein, adsorbent coating may include, but is not limited to only being, metal-organic framework (MOF)-303 (A1(OH)(PZDC), where PZDC is l-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate).700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0015] Generally, the sorbent coating may include any sorbent known in the art that facilitates the water capture and release as described herein. In some embodiments, the sorbent is selected from a group consisting of coordination framework compounds, metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds, porous coordination polymers (PCPs), covalent organic framework (COF) compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), poly aromatic frameworks (PAFs). activated carbons, molecular organic solids, and combinations thereof.

[0016] As used herein, MOF compounds are a class of compounds including metal ions or clusters that are coordinated to organic ligands to form one-, two-, or three-dimensional structures. The metal ions or clusters act as joints and are bound by multidirectional organic ligands, which act as linkers in a network structure. MOF compounds have a modular nature that enables synthetic tunability, which affords fine chemical and structural control. Properties such as porosity, stability, particle morphology, and conductivity can be tailored for specific applications.

[0017] In many embodiments, the sorbent is an MOF compound that includes a MOF metal or metal-containing cluster and an MOF linker. In various embodiments described herein, a MOF compound may include, but is not limited to only being, MOF-303, MIL-lOO(Fe) MOF-LA2-l(pyrazole), and MIL-160.

[0018] In some embodiments, the MOF metal is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, Ca. Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, ions thereof, hydrates thereof, salts thereof, halides thereof, fluorides thereof, chlorides thereof, bromides thereof, iodides thereof, nitrates thereof, acetates thereof sulfates thereof, phosphates thereof, carbonates thereof, oxides thereof, formates thereof, carboxylates thereof, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the MOF metal includes Mg.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0019] In some embodiments, the MOF metal-containing cluster includes an MOF metal node and a linker strut, with the MOF metal and the linker each defined as described herein. In other embodiments, the MOF metal-containing cluster includes an MOF metal-oxy cluster.

[0020] In some embodiments, the MOF linker may be any suitable MOF linker known in the art that facilitates the water capture and release described herein. Generally, the geometry and connectivity of a linker contribute to the structure of the resulting MOF compound. Adjustments of linker geometry, length, ratio, and functional- group may tune the size, shape, and internal surface property of a MOF compound for a targeted application. In some embodiments, the MOF linker is a linker selected from the group consisting of polytopic linkers, ditopic linkers, tritopic linkers, tetratopic linkers, pentatopic linkers, hexatopic linkers, heptatopic linkers, octatopic linkers, mixed linkers, desymmetrized linker, metallo linkers, N-heterocyclic linkers, and combinations thereof.

[0021] In some embodiments, atmospheric water extraction systems based upon the steam recompression concept use multiple sorbent-coated contactors. For example, in such embodiments, during an adsorption stage, air is drawn through a sorbent-coated contactor, which is maintained at substantially ambient temperature due to the large thermal mass of the sorbent-coated contactor and the ambient air drawn through the sorbent-coated contactor.

[0022] While a steam system is isolated via valving, water may be circulated enabling recovery of heat of condensation. During a desorption stage, steam is used to heat the sorbent-coated contactor to cause the water to vaporize, such that the resulting water vapor may be channeled into a compressor. Some of the water is removed prior to compression and is collected in an accumulator. Most of the water vapor is removed as the w ater product, and any remaining water is used for heating wherein heated steam from the compressor is mixed with water from the accumulator. Additional heat is also added from the generator exhaust such that prior to desorption, the sorbent-coated contactor is heated from three different heat recovery sources including the heat of adsorption, the heat of the liquid engine coolant, and the heat from the hot condensate from the accumulator. The heat of the liquid engine coolant increases the heat to the circulating water, which in turn heats the sorbent-coated contactor. Additionally, heat from the hot condensate of the700750-WO-l (17851-1474) accumulator is circulated through the sorbent-coated contactor. Similar to the operation of each bed performing a different function at different times, each of the sorbent-coated contactors performs a different function at different times. It should be noted, that in each embodiment, rather than beds, and / or rather than contractors, any component or combination of components that enables a gas to contact with a solid, such that the solid is heated by the contact with the gas as described herein, could be used, including but not limited to, a packed bed, a coated heat exchanger, a gas solid contactor, and / or a three-dimensional (3D) printed object, for example. Additionally, because heat from the three different heat recovery sources is re-used at different sorbent-coated contactors during different stages of the atmospheric water extraction process, energy consumption within the overall system is facilitated to be substantially improved. For example, in one embodiment, energy consumption may be facilitated to be reduced to as low as 27 kJ / mole- water.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-bed vacuum adsorption system (also referenced herein as an adsorption system) 100 for use with atmospheric water extraction. In the exemplary' embodiment, the multi-bed vacuum adsorption system 100 includes three beds (also referenced herein as adsorber beds) 102a, 102b, and 102c coupled in a flow arrangement. Alternatively, system 100 may include more or less than three beds 102. In the exemplary7embodiment, beds 102 may each be a sealed vessel that contains sorbent-coated contactors, and each bed 102 may include a plurality of inlets and outlets that enable the flow of the fluids into and out of each bed 102, as shown in FIG. 1. In alternative embodiments, as described above, any other component that enables the system 100 to function as described herein, may be used in cooperation with the beds 102 and / or in the alternative to the beds 102. During the atmospheric water extraction process, at any given time, each of the three beds 102a, 102b, and 102c performs a different function, such as, but not limited to, an adsorption function, a pre-heating function, or a desorption function. Further, the function performed by each bed 102 may be changed over time. In other words, in the exemplary7embodiments, during a first cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, bed 102a may perform the adsorption function, as beds 102b and 102c are performing the pre-heating function and the desorption function, respectively. Similarly, during a second cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, bed 102a may perform the pre-heating function, while beds 102b and 102c perform the desorption function and the adsorption function, respectively. During a third cycle of the atmospheric water700750-WO-l (17851-1474) extraction process, bed 102a may perform the desorption function, while beds 102b and 102c perform the adsorption function and the pre-heating function, respectively.

[0024] As described herein, during the first cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, an adsorption function is performed by bed 102a. More specifically, during the first cycle, air is drawn through a sorbent-coated contactor (not shown in FIG 1) at bed 102a, to enable water to be adsorbed from the air. In other words, bed 102a removes humidity from air drawn into bed 102a. During the first cycle, while adsorbing water at bed 102a, water vapor from bed 102c is channeled to bed 102b. The water vapor channeled to bed 102b condenses on an exterior wall of a metal pipe, i.e., on the adsorbent coating the metal pipe. Additionally, or alternatively, adsorbent material may fill the metal pipe in a pellet form or as a formed particle. Energy is imparted to bed 102b via the condensation of water from bed 102c. In the exemplary embodiment, during the first cycle, bed 102c receives waste heat from generator 103 to enable the water to be completely desorbed. Moreover, a vacuum pump 105 is used to reduce the pressure 104c to facilitate desorption. Released water vapor travels through 104c to bed 102b where it is condensed in bed 102b that is undergoing the preheating. As a result, during the first cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, water is accumulated at an accumulator 110b. By way of a non-limiting example, the accumulator 110 may be an open vessel or a closed vessel.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment, during the second cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, bed 102c performs an adsorption function in which air is drawn through a sorbent-coated contactor (not shown in FIG 1) at bed 102c to facilitate adsorbing water from the air. During the second cycle, water vapor from bed 102b is channeled to bed 102a. The water vapor channeled to bed 102a condenses on an exterior wall of a metal pipe, i.e., the adsorbent material circumscribing the metal pipe. Additionally, or alternatively, adsorbent material may fill the metal pipe in a pellet form or as a formed particle. Energy7is imparted to bed 102a via the condensation of w ater from bed 102b. In the exemplary embodiment, bed 102b receives waste heat from generator 103 to facilitate desorbing the water during the second cycle. During this operating mode, the vacuum pump 105 is used to reduce the pressure 104b and water vapor travels through 104b to bed 102a where it is condensed in bed 102a, which is undergoing the preheating process. Moreover,700750-WO-l (17851-1474) during the second cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, water is accumulated at an accumulator 11 Oa.

[0026] During the third cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, the adsorption function is performed by bed 102b wherein air is drawn through a sorbent- coated contactor (not shown in FIG 1) at bed 102b to enable water from the air to be adsorbed. More specifically, during the third cycle, water vapor from bed 102a is channeled to bed 102c. The water vapor channeled to the bed 102c condenses on an exterior wall, i.e., on the adsorbent material circumscribing the metal pipe the metal pipe. Additionally, or alternatively, adsorbent material may fill the metal pipe in a pellet form or as a formed particle. Energy is imparted to bed 102c via the condensation of w ater from bed 102a. In the exemplary embodiment, bed 102a receives waste heat from generator 103 to facilitate desorbing the water during the third cycle. During the third cycle, the vacuum pump 105 is used to reduce the pressure 104a and water vapor travels through 104a to bed 102c where it is condensed in bed 102c, which is undergoing the preheating process. Moreover, during the third cycle of the atmospheric water extraction process, water is accumulated at an accumulator 110c.

[0027] Waste heat from the generator 103 is circulated to bed 102a, bed 102b. and bed 102c via hot coolant, such as, but not limited to glycol, radiator fluid heat, exhaust heat, and / or hot air discharged from a radiator, for example. Depending on temperature requirements, different types of coolant, such as, but not limited to, water, glycol, ethylene glycol, and / or propylene glycol, may be used. In FIG. 1, the coolant returnpaths from bed 102a, bed 102b, and bed 102c are illustrated as 112a, 112b, and 112c, respectively. In the multi -bed vacuum adsorption system 100. the heat of condensation from the condensed, desorbed water vapor is imparted directly to another adsorption bed and is also used in addition to the waste heat from the generator 103 to desorb w ater. As such, energy7consumption during the atmospheric water extraction process is facilitated to be significantly improved as compared to at least some known water extraction systems.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary multi-contactor steam recompression system 200 for use in atmospheric water extraction during an operating mode of a plurality of operating modes. During each operating mode, one or more different sorbent-coated contactors perform different functions, including adsorption, desorption, and700750-WO-l (17851-1474) pre-heating. During the different operating modes, in the exemplary embodiment, a function performed by each sorbent-coated contactor within the multi-contactor steam recompression system is automatically rotated or may be manually changed or switched. In alternative embodiments, the function performed by each sorbent-coated contactor within the multicontactor steam recompression system may be variably selected as described herein.

[0029] In one embodiment, during the first operating mode shown in FIG. 2, a sorbent-coated contactor 202a performs the adsorption function. During the adsorption function, a fan 206 connected via ductwork (not shown in FIG. 2) is operated, and a valve 208 connected to the sorbent-coated contactor 202a is opened to enable air to be drawn into and through the sorbent-coated contactor 202a wherein the water is adsorbed onto an adsorbent coating (not shown in FIG. 2). The adsorbate (i.e., H2O) releases its isosteric heat (adsorption is an exothermic process), which in turn is transferred to clean water 204 that is circulating. The sorbent-coated contactor 202a may be, but is not limited to only being, a shell and tube (e.g., a finned-tube) type heat exchanger, and / or a plate-fin type heat exchanger. The adsorbent coating may extend across the fins and / or may extend across the outside surface of the tubes or plates. The clean water flows inside the tubes or interior plate flow passages and is heated. While the sorbent-coated contactor 202a performs the adsorption function, a steam system coupled to the sorbent-coated contactor 202a is isolated with valves (shown in FIG. 2, but not labeled).

[0030] During the first operating mode, while the sorbent-coated contactor 202a performs the adsorption function, a sorbent-coated contactor 202b performs the preheating function. In the exemplary embodiment, a pump 210 circulates the clean water along a path 204 between the sorbent-coated contactor 202a performing the adsorption function and the sorbent-coated contactor 202b performing the pre-heating function. A clean water flow path 204 carrying the circulating clean water enables a portion of the isosteric heat from the sorbent-coated contactor 202a to be transferred to the sorbent-coated contactor 202b. For example, in one embodiment, up to 90% of the isosteric heat may be transferred from the sorbent-coated contactor 202a to the sorbent-coated contactor 202b.

[0031] Additionally, during the first operating mode, apump 214 circulates clean w ater from a liquid tank 212 to a sorbent-coated contactor 202c performing the preheating function to facilitate heating the sorbent-coated contactor 202c. The clean water700750-WO-l (17851-1474) flow path 216 for heating the sorbent-coated contactor 202 channels liquid to a liquid / liquid heat exchanger 218 that receives waste heat from at least one engine (not shown) that is coupled to an electrical generator of a power generation system. The liquid / liquid heat exchanger 218 transfers engine heat collected by the engine coolant to the circulating clean water. The electrical generator (not shown) generates electricity for use by the pumps 210, 214, 222, and 224, fan 206, and steam compressor 234, as well as the control system 300 (shown in FIG. 3) in the multi-contactor steam recompression system. In the exemplary7embodiment, the engine coupled to the electrical generator is typically about 30% efficient, such that about 70% of the fuel energy used by the engine becomes waste heat. Some of the waste heat is captured by the engine coolant, transferred by the liquid / liquid heat exchanger 218 to heat the circulating clean w ater channeled to the sorbent-coated contactor 202c. In some embodiments, the engine coolant may be, but is not limited to only being, water, ethylene glycol, and / or propylene glycol acting as a heat transfer fluid. Alternatively7, the engine coolant may be a heat transfer oil and / or any other fluid that enables system 200 to function as described herein. Further, the engine coolant is fluidly isolated from the clean water circulating through the sorbent-coated contactors because the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger only allows thermal contact between the fluids, rather than fluid-to-fluid contact.

[0032] During the first operating mode, hot condensate from product w ater accumulator 220 is circulated through a sorbent-coated contactor 202d to facilitate heating the adsorbent coating via a pump 222. A portion of the hot condensate from the product w ater accumulator 220, stream 228 is pumped via a pump 224 through a heat exchanger 240, vaporized and heated to the same pressure as the steam product 234a leaving compressor 234, and mixed w ith product stream from compressor 234 (shown as stream 234b in Figure 2). Stream 234b. containing saturated or unsaturated steam at a higher pressure and temperature than the adsorbent in sorbent-coated, contactor 202e supplies heat to sorbent- coated contactor 202e. As a result, the sorbent-coated contactor 202e is heated to a temperature that is high enough for the adsorbent coating to undergo desorption.

[0033] Further, sorbent-coated contactors 202a-202e coupled in a serial flow arrangement may be isolated to prevent the hot water vapor from escaping to the ambient. For example, the sorbent-coated contactors 202a-202e may be contained in one or more finned-tube heat exchangers.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0034] Water vapor is drawn from the vessel containing the sorbent-coated contactor 202e through a valve 230 and is channeled through a knockout device 232 to enable any condensate to be collected. The resulting flow is then discharged into an inlet of steam compressor 234. The water vapor flow path is shown in FIG. 2 as 236. A pump (not shown) may be used to force the condensate from the knockout device 232 to the product water accumulator 220.

[0035] Additionally, or alternatively, if the generator exhaust gases 238 cannot provide sufficient heat, auxiliary heat 242 from a duct burner (DB) (not shown in FIG. 2) can be used to augment the desorption process. Energy from recompressed product steam flowing through the tubes or plates of the sorbent-coated contactor 202e provides sufficient heat to cause desorption, thus causing the water to be desorbed in the form of water vapor from the sorbent coating on the fin side of the sorbent-coated contactor 202e. This is the waler vapor drawn from the vessel of the sorbent-coated contactor 202e through the valve 230 and into the knockout device 232 as described earlier. In some embodiments, there may be a “desuperheat mist” steam, which may be a stream of liquid water drawn from the hot condensate accumulator 220 and channeled to the compressor to avoid excessive superheating. During the first operating mode, valves coupled within the paths 204, 216, 226, and 236 are opened, and other valves shown in FIG. 2 are closed.

[0036] As described herein, during different operating modes, each function performed by a sorbent-coated contactor of the multi-contactor steam recompression system is rotated or changed. Accordingly, functions performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, and 202e during the first operating mode may be performed by sorbent- coated contactors 202b. 202c, 202d, 202e, and 202a, respectively, during the second operating mode. Similarly, functions performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202b, 202b, 202d, 202e, and 202a during the second operating mode may be performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202c, 202d, 202e, 202a, and 202b, respectively, during the third operating mode. Further, functions performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202c, 202d, 202e, 202a, and 202b during the third operating mode may be performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202d, 202e, 202a, 202b, and 202c, respectively, during the fourth operating mode, and functions performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202d, 202e, 202a, 202b, and 202c during the fourth operating mode may be performed by sorbent-coated contactors 202e, 202a, 202b, 202c, and700750-WO-l (17851-1474)202d, respectively, during the fifth operating mode. During each operating mode, different valves may be selectively opened to enable fluids to flow depending on which function is being performed by which sorbent-coated contactor. By way of a non-limiting example, each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes may be selectively changed using valves and / or controls. Additionally, an operating mode, which may be a phase of the multicontactor steam recompression system may be selectively changed after a predetermined or preconfigured amount of time has lapsed.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system 300 that may be used with the adsorption system 100 shown in FIG. 1 and / or the multi -contactor steam recompression system 200 (shown in FIG. 2). In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 302 includes a memory 304 and a processor 306. The controller 302 may selectively adjust the temperature of one or more of the beds 308 and / or of one or more of the sorbent-coated contactors 312 based on data received by the control system 300 from bed sensors 310 and / or from a contactor sensor 314 that measures waste heat being transferred from the generator, heat transferred from hot engine coolant, and / or other heat transferred from other resources described herein. The controller 302 may automatically control operation of valves and controls of the adsorption system 100 shown in FIG. 1 and / or the multi-contactor steam recompression system 200 based on data and / or instructions stored in the memory' 304, and data analyzed by the processor 306. Alternatively, the controller 302 may accept manual inputs to enable control operation of the adsorption system 100 and / or of the multi-contactor steam recompression system 200.

[0038] In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 302 modulates the operating conditions of the adsorption system 100 shown in FIG. 1 and / or the multi-contactor steam recompression system 200 facilitate optimizing or improving energy consumption during the atmospheric water extraction process described herein. The controller 302 may execute instructions stored in the memory' 304 to: (i) cause at least a first of the plurality' of beds (e g., bed 102a) to perform an adsorption function during a first operating cycle of a plurality of operating cycles; (ii) cause at least a second of the plurality of beds (e.g., bed 102b) to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle: (iii) cause at least a third of the plurality7of beds (e.g., bed 102c) to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle; and (iv) cause heating of at least the second and third beds (e.g., bed 102b700750-WO-l (17851-1474) and bed 102c) using waste heat from at least one engine coupled to a generator of a power generation system during the first operating cycle. In some embodiments, at least one bed of the second and the third beds is heated using energy from hot coolant of the at least one engine coupled to the generator.

[0039] The controller 302 may regulate a temperature of the coolant channeled to the plurality' of beds. The controller 302 may also cause at least the first bed (e.g., bed 102a) performing the adsorption function during the first operating cycle to perform the pre-heating function during a second operating cycle and to perform the desorption function during a third operating cycle. Additionally, the controller 302 may cause at least the second bed (e.g., bed 102b) performing the pre-heating function during the first operating cycle to perform the desorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the adsorption function dunng a third operating cycle, and to cause at least the third bed (e.g., bed 102c) performing the desorption function during the first operating cycle to perform the adsorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the preheating function during a third operating cycle.

[0040] In some embodiments, the controller 302 may: (i) cause at least one contactor (e.g., sorbent-coated contactor 202a) to perform an adsorption function during a first operating mode of a plurality of operating modes; (ii) cause at least one contactor (e.g., sorbent-coated contactor 202e) to performs a desorption function during the first operating mode; and (iii) cause at least one or more contactors (e.g., sorbent-coated contactors 202b, 202c, and / or 202d) to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating mode using waste heat discharged from at least one engine coupled to a generator of a power generation system, heat transferred from the at least one contactor performing the adsorption function, and / or heat of hot condensate discharged from an accumulator of steam recompression system.

[0041] The controller 302 may control a fan and a valve to cause air to be drawn into the at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the adsorption function. The controller 302 may control a temperature of the at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode using the hot condensate discharged from the accumulator, heat from a duct burner, and / or exhaust gas from the generator. The waste heat discharged from the engine coupled to the generator may be700750-WO-l (17851-1474) transferred from an engine coolant, wherein the engine coolant is either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, for example.

[0042] The controller 302 may: (i) cause the at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the adsorption function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during a second operating mode; (ii) cause at least one sorbent-coated contactor of the one or more sorbent-coated contactors performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during the second operating mode; and (iii) cause the at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the pre-heating function during the second operating mode. Additionally, the controller 302 may be configured to: (i) cause at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during a third operating mode; (ii) cause at least one other sorbent-coated contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during the third operating mode; and (iii) cause the at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the pre-heating function during the third operating mode.

[0043] Exemplar}' systems and methods, as described herein, use temperature and / or humidity control and characteristics of one or more solid sorbents to optimize the efficiency and productivity of water adsorption and desorption. Moreover, the systems and methods provide certain advantages or benefits, including but not limited to only, facilitating improvement in energy consumption to a level that is higher than possible with some of the known atmospheric water extraction systems.

[0044] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Modifications, which fall within the scope of the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims. The systems described herein are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather portions of the various systems may be utilized independently and separately from other systems described herein.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0045] Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Moreover, references to “one embodiment’' in the above description are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and / or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0046] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0047] A system for extracting atmospheric water, the system comprising: a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement, each of the plurality of adsorber bed comprises at least one channel coated with an adsorbent coating extending across an outside of the at least one channel, the channel oriented to channel fluid therethrough; and a controller configured to: cause at least a first of the plurality' of adsorber beds to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating cycles; cause at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle; cause at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle; cause heating of the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle using waste heat provided from an engine coupled to a generator; cause heating of the second adsorber bed using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and channel water accumulated to an accumulator for collection.

[0048] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising a vacuum pump configured to facilitate reducing pressure in at least the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle.

[0049] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the third adsorber bed to be heated using energy from coolant channeled through the engine.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0050] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to regulate a temperature of the coolant prior to the coolant being channeled to the plurality of adsorber beds.

[0051] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the coolant is one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

[0052] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the first adsorber bed to perform the pre-heating function during a second operating cycle and to perform the desorption function during a third operating cycle.

[0053] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the second adsorber bed to perform the desorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the adsorption function during a third operating cycle.

[0054] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the third adsorber bed to perform the adsorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the pre-heating function during a third operating cycle.

[0055] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes a contactor and an adsorbent coating.

[0056] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes a metal-organic framework, w herein the adsorbent coating extends over the contactor.

[0057] A system for extracting water from ambient air is disclosed. The steam recompression system comprises a plurality of contactors coupled together in a flow arrangement; and a controller configured to: cause at least a first of the plurality of contactors to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating modes; cause at least a second contactor to perform a desorption function during the first operating mode; and cause at least a third contactor to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating700750-WO-l (17851-1474) mode using waste heat discharged from at least one of at least one engine coupled within a power generation system, and condensate discharged from the steam recompression system, wherein the adsorption, desorption, and pre-heating functions are performed by different contactors within the plurality of contactors.

[0058] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of a fan to move air through at least one contactor during the adsorption function.

[0059] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to control a temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode.

[0060] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to control the temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode using heat from a duct burner.

[0061] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to control the temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode using exhaust gases discharged from the at least one engine.

[0062] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein waste heat discharged from the at least one engine heats an engine coolant, wherein the engine coolant is one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

[0063] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to: cause the at least the first contactor performing the adsorption function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during a second of the plurality of operating modes; cause at least the third contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during the second operating mode; and cause at least the second contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the pre-heating function during the second operating mode.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)

[0064] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the controller is further configured to: cause at least the second contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during a third operating mode of a plurality of operating modes; cause at least the third contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during the third operating mode; and cause at least the first contactor performing the adsorption function during the first operating mode to perform the preheating function during the third operating mode.

[0065] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the plurality of contactors is a shell and tube type heat exchanger or a plate-fin type heat exchanger.

[0066] A method for extracting atmospheric water comprising: causing at least a first of a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating cycles, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber bed includes at least one channel coated with an adsorbent, wherein the at least one channel is oriented to channel fluid therethrough; causing at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle while being heated using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and causing at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle while being heated using waste heat during the first operating cycle, wherein the waste heat is generated by an engine coupled to a generator.

[0067] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

700750-WO-l (17851-1474)WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for extracting atmospheric water, the system comprising: a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement, each of the plurality7of adsorber beds comprises at least one channel coated with an adsorbent coating extending across an outside of the at least one channel, the channel oriented to channel fluid therethrough; and a controller configured to: cause at least a first of the plurality7of adsorber beds to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating cycles; cause at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating cycle; cause at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle; cause heating of the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle using yvaste heat provided from an engine coupled to a generator; cause heating of the second adsorber bed using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and channel water accumulated to an accumulator for collection.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump configured to facilitate reducing pressure in at least the third adsorber bed during the first operating cycle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the third adsorber bed to be heated using energy from coolant channeled through the engine.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to regulate a temperature of the coolant prior to the coolant being channeled to the plurality of adsorber beds.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the coolant is one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the first adsorber bed to perform the pre-heating function during a second operating cycle and to perform the desorption function during a third operating cycle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the second adsorber bed to perform the desorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the adsorption function during a third operating cycle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least the third adsorber bed to perform the adsorption function during a second operating cycle and to perform the pre-heating function during a third operating cycle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes a contactor and at least one of an adsorbent coating and a packed bed of pellets.

10. The asy stem of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes a metal-organic framework, wherein the adsorbent coating extends over the contactor.

11. A system for extracting water from ambient air, the steam recompression system comprising: a plurality' of contactors coupled together in a flow arrangement; and a controller configured to: cause at least a first of the plurality of contactors to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of operating modes;700750-WO-l (17851-1474) cause at least a second contactor to perform a desorption function during the first operating mode; and cause at least a third contactor to perform a pre-heating function during the first operating mode using waste heat discharged from at least one of at least one engine coupled within a power generation system, and condensate discharged from the steam recompression system, wherein the adsorption, desorption, and pre-heating functions are performed by different contactors within the plurality of contactors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of a fan to move air through at least one contactor during the adsorption function.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control a temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control the temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode using heat from a duct burner.1 . The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control the temperature of the at least one contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode using exhaust gases discharged from the at least one engine.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein waste heat discharged from the at least one engine heats an engine coolant, wherein the engine coolant is one of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.700750-WO-l (17851-1474)17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to: cause the at least the first contactor performing the adsorption function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during a second of the plurality of operating modes; cause at least the third contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during the second operating mode; and cause at least the second contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the pre-heating function during the second operating mode.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: cause at least the second contactor performing the desorption function during the first operating mode to perform the adsorption function during a third operating mode of a plurality of operating modes; cause at least the third contactor performing the pre-heating function during the first operating mode to perform the desorption function during the third operating mode; and cause at least the first contactor performing the adsorption function during the first operating mode to perform the pre-heating function during the third operating mode.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of contactors is a shell and tube type heat exchanger or a plate-fin type heat exchanger.

20. A method for extracting atmospheric water, the method comprising: causing at least a first of a plurality of adsorber beds coupled together in a flow arrangement to perform an adsorption function during a first of a plurality of00750-WO-l (17851-1474) operating cycles, wherein each of the plurality of adsorber beds includes at least one channel coated with an adsorbent, wherein the at least one channel is oriented to channel fluid therethrough: causing at least a second of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a preheating function during the first operating cycle while being heated using water vapor channeled to the second adsorber bed from the third adsorber bed; and causing at least a third of the plurality of adsorber beds to perform a desorption function during the first operating cycle while being heated using waste heat during the first operating cycle, wherein the waste heat is generated by an engine coupled to a generator.

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