Atmospheric water extraction using refrigerant working fluid

Abstract

An atmospheric water extraction system including a condenser, an evaporator including an evaporator coil, and a compressor is disclosed. The condenser includes a contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent. During an adsorption operating mode, the compressor is isolated, and water or moisture entrained in ambient air drawn over the condenser is adsorbed on the contactor. During a desorption operating mode, the compressor is turned on, and sweep gas flowing across the contactor is heated and channeled towards the evaporator to enabled entrained water to be condensed from the sweep gas.

Description

700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)ATMOSPHERIC WATER EXTRACTION USING REFRIGERANT WORKING FLUIDSTATEMENT 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 known water extraction systems, a sorbent material and a vacuum swing process are used to extract water from air. The amount of water vapor within the air depends at least partially on the temperature of air. Generally, air at cooler temperatures has a lower mole fraction of water vapor as compared to air at warmer temperatures. To facilitate the extraction of water from the ambient air, at least some such systems use a vapor compression system to cool the ambient air below its dew point using a refrigeration system. Although additional water can be extracted when the air is below its dew point, additional energy is required. Accordingly, a need exists for a system that can extract higher amounts of water from lower temperature air, while minimizing energy consumption.SUMMARY

[0004] In one aspect, an atmospheric water extraction system is disclosed. The atmospheric water extraction system includes a condenser including a contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent, an evaporator including an evaporator coil, and a compressor. During an adsorption operating mode, the compressor is isolated (or turned off), and water or moisture entrained in ambient air drawn over the condenser is adsorbed on the contactor. During a desorption operating mode, the compressor is turned on, and a sweep gas flowing700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)across the contactor is heated and channeled towards the evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the sweep gas.

[0005] In another aspect, a system for atmospheric water extraction being used with a power generation system is disclosed. The system includes an air conditioning unit including a condenser and an evaporator, a contactor at least partially coated with a sorbent, and a sweep gas inlet. At least one of the sweep gas, and the contactor is heated using waste heat discharged from a generator within the power generation system.

[0006] In yet another aspect, a method of atmospheric water extraction is disclosed. The method includes (i) isolating or turning off, by a controller, a compressor during an adsorption operating mode; (ii) channeling ambient air past a condenser to cause water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed within a sorbent material of a sorbent-coated contactor of the condenser; (iii) activating the compressor during a desorption operating mode; (iv) heating a sweep gas drawn across the sorbent-coated contactor; and (v) channeling the heated sweep gas towards an evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the heated sweep gas during the desorption operating mode.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 A is a schematic illustration of an exemplary system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction during an adsorption mode.

[0008] FIG. IB is a schematic illustration of the exemplary system shown in FIG. 1A and during a desorption mode.

[0009] FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of another exemplary system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.

[0010] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of an alternative system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.

[0011] FIG. 2C is a schematic illustration of another alternative system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system that may be used with the refrigeration system shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. IB, or FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow-chart of method operations of atmospheric water extraction.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In the following specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0018] A computer program of one embodiment is embodied on a computer-readable medium. In an example, the system is executed on a single computer system, without requiring a connection to a server computer. In a further example embodiment, the system is being run in a Windows® environment (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington). In yet another embodiment, the system is run on a mainframe environment and a UNIX® server environment (UNIX is a registered trademark of X / Open Company Limited located in Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom). In a further embodiment, the system is run on an iOS® environment (iOS is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. located in San Jose. CA). In yet a further embodiment, the system is run on a Mac OS® environment (Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. located in Cupertino, CA). In still yet a further embodiment, the system is run on Android® OS (Android is a registered trademark of Google, Inc. of Mountain View, CA). In another embodiment, the system is run on Linux® OS (Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds of Boston, MA). The application is flexible and designed to run in different environments without compromising any major functionality. In some embodiments, the system includes multiple components distributed among a plurality of computer devices. One or more components may be in the form of computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium. The systems and processes are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. In addition, components of each system and each process can be practiced independently and separately from other components and processes described herein. Each component and process can also be used in combination with other assembly packages and processes.

[0019] As used herein, the terms "processor" and “computer’ and related terms, e.g., “processing device,” “computer device,” and “controller” are not limited to just those integrated circuits referred to in the art as a computer, but broadly refers to a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and other programmable circuits, and these terms are used interchangeably herein. In the embodiments described herein, memory may include, but is not limited to, a computer-readable medium, such as a random-access memory (RAM), and a computer-readable non-volatile medium, such as flash memory. Alternatively, a floppy disk, a compact disc - read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), and / or a digital versatile disc (DVD) may also be used. Also, in the embodiments described herein,700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)additional input channels may be, but are not limited to, computer peripherals associated with an operator interface such as a mouse and a keyboard. Alternatively, other computer peripherals may also be used that may include, for example, but not be limited to. a scanner. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, additional output channels may include, but not be limited to, an operator interface monitor.

[0020] Further, as used herein, the terms “software” and “firmware” are interchangeable and include any computer program storage in memory’ for execution by personal computers, workstations, clients, servers, and respective processing elements thereof.

[0021] As used herein, the term “non-transitory computer-readable media” is intended to be representative of any tangible computer-based device implemented in any method or technology for short-term and long-term storage of information, such as, computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and sub-modules, or other data in any device. Therefore, the methods described herein may be encoded as executable instructions embodied in a tangible, non-transitory. computer readable medium, including, without limitation, a storage device, and a memory device. Such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least a portion of the methods described herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term “non-transitory computer-readable media” includes all tangible, computer-readable media, including, without limitation, non-transitory computer storage devices, including, without limitation, volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media such as a firmware, physical and virtual storage, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and any other digital source such as a network or the Internet, as well as yet to be developed digital means, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal.

[0022] 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 water extraction systems. In the exemplary embodiments, heat from a refrigeration system, e.g., a vapor compression cycle-based refrigeration system is used during the atmospheric water extraction. In some embodiments, the refrigerant working fluid concept is used with the refrigeration system for the atmospheric water extraction process. In embodiments in which the refrigeration system is used for the atmospheric water extraction process, a condenser includes a sorbent-coated contactor.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)During an adsorption operating mode, air is drawn or forced, using a fan (e.g., an adsorption fan) through the sorbent-coated contactor. As the air passes through the condenser heat exchanger coil, the sorbent coating extracts water or moisture from the air. During a desorption operating mode, the refrigeration system is activated, and the sorbent-coated contactor is heated by the refrigeration system working fluid. Concurrently, sweep gas is drawn through a duct extending between the condenser and an evaporator of the refrigeration system. As the sorbent-coated contactor is heated, water is desorbed. The desorbed water is entrained within the sweep gas, and when the sweep gas flows through the evaporator, the water condenses and convectively releases the heat of condensation into the refrigerant working fluid. Accordingly, using the heat generated from the refrigeration system for the atmospheric water extraction process, energy consumption is facilitated to be substantially improved. For example, in one embodiment, energy consumption may be facilitated to be improved to as low as about 2.7 kJ / mole-water.

[0023] In some embodiments, the refrigeration system may be used along with a generator within a power generation system, and waste heat from the combustion engine hot liquid coolant may be used to facilitate improving energy consumption of the atmospheric water extraction process. The generator includes an electric generator driven by a combustion engine. Waste heat from the engine and the electric generator may be removed and transferred to the hot liquid coolant. The hot liquid coolant functions as the system working fluid and is circulated through a sorbent-coated contactor, such as a plate-fin type heat exchanger or a tube-in-plate (e.g., a finned-tube) type heat exchanger coated with sorbent material. Additionally, heat generated by a condenser of the refrigeration system may also be used to heat the contactor. Sweep gas gets heated when passing through the contactor, and as it passes through the evaporator of the refrigeration system, the water vapor condenses. As the water vapor condenses, heat from the condensation is transferred to the refrigeration working fluid and subsequently heats the liquid working fluid circulating outside the condenser of the refrigeration system.

[0024] Various embodiments described in the present disclosure thermally integrate the adsorption and desorption processes using a working fluid. Circulating the refrigerant working fluid as described herein enables waste heat from the vapor compression system to be thermally integrated into the atmospheric water extraction process. Circulating700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)a hot liquid coolant working fluid as described herein enables waste heat from both the vapor compression system and generator to be thermally integrated into the atmospheric water extraction process. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein not only recover waste heat from the vapor compression system and generator, but also facilitate recovering the heat of condensation and the heat of adsorption, thus improving energy consumption of the atmospheric water extraction process. Additionally, using the embodiments described herein, atmospheric water extraction, and dehumidification can be performed at a lower energy cost than currently known systems, which require a generally expensive and energy intensive vapor compression system.

[0025] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an exemplary refrigeration system 100 for use with atmospheric water extraction during an adsorption mode. In the exemplary embodiment, the refrigeration system 100 includes a condenser 102, an evaporator 104, a compressor 106, and an expansion valve 108. The condenser 102 includes a sorbent-coated contactor 102a, and the evaporator 104 includes an evaporator coil 104a. By way of a non-limiting example, the evaporator coil 104a and / or the sorbent-coated contactor 102a may be fabricated from a metallic material such as a conduit or pipe. Furthermore, the metallic conduit or pipe may include thermally and mechanically connected surfaces, such as fins or plates. The conduit or pipe, and extended surfaces may have any shape and may include any enhanced surface features known to those of ordinary skill of the art. The sorbent-coated contactor 102a has a coating of sorbent material on the surface of the metal conduit or pipe. Refrigerant working fluid generally flows through the evaporator 104 via the evaporator coil 104a and the condenser 102 via the sorbent-coated contactor 102a. By way of a non-limiting example, the sorbent coating material may include, but is not limited to only being, metal-organic framework (e g., MOF-303, A1(OH)(PZDC). where PZDC is l-H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate)) and / or a sorbent with isosteric heat similar to MOF-303. In the exemplary embodiment, the refrigerant working fluid may include, but is not limited to only being, ammonia, R-12 (also referenced herein as freon), and / or cyclopentane.

[0026] Generally, the sorbent coating may include any known sorbent that facilitates the water capture and release as described herein. In some embodiments, the sorbent is selected from a group consisting of, but not limited to only being, coordination700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)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), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, molecular organic solids, and / or combinations thereof.

[0027] As used herein. MOF compounds are a class of compounds that include metal ions or clusters 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.

[0028] In many embodiments, the sorbent is a MOF compound including a MOF metal or metal-containing cluster and a MOF linker. In various embodiments described herein, a MOF may include, but is not limited to only including, MOF-303, MIL-1 OO(Fe) MOF-LA2-l(pyrazole), and MIL-160.

[0029] In some embodiments, the MOF metal is a metal material 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 / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the MOF metal includes Mg.

[0030] 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.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0031] 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. Linker geometry, length, ratio, and functional-group may tune the size, shape, and internal surface property of a MOF compound for a targeted application, and each may be variably selected based on the targeted application(s). In some embodiments, the MOF linker is 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.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment, during the adsorption mode, the compressor 106 of the refrigeration system 100 is isolated (or turned off), and the refrigerant working fluid circulating through the evaporator 104 and the condenser 102 is stopped or prevented. A fan 110 draws or forces ambient air through the condenser 102. As the ambient air flows through the condenser 102, the sorbent material coated on the metal pipe of the sorbent-coated contactor 102a extracts water or moisture from the ambient air.

[0033] FIG. IB is a schematic illustration of the exemplary refrigeration system 100 during a desorption mode. In the exemplary embodiment, during the desorption mode, the refrigeration system 100 is activated, which in turn heats the sorbent-coated contactor 102a. While the sorbent-coated contactor 102a is heated, a sweep gas is drawn or forced across the condenser 102 and through the evaporator 104. Because the sorbent-coated contactor 102a is heated, water or moisture is desorbed and is entrained with the sweep gas. Using a fan 112, the sweep gas is forced to flow from the condenser 102 into the evaporator 104 via a duct (not shown in FIG. 1A) coupling the evaporator 104 and the condenser 102, thus causing condensation and enabling water extracted from ambient air to be collected.

[0034] In some embodiments, only a single fan including a diverter valve (not shown in FIG. 1 A or FIG. IB) in the duct is used to selectively change the direction of air flow across the condenser 102 during the adsorption operating mode, and across the condenser 102 and the evaporator 104 during the desorption operating mode. Additionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the diverter valve may be removed to create a higher pressure drop from the fan 110 used during the adsorption operating mode to cause700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)adsorption air to be channeled through the evaporator 104 during the adsorption operating mode.

[0035] The compressor 106 compresses refrigerant working fluid vapor, and consequently heats the working fluid vapor. The heated refrigerant working fluid flows into the condenser 102 and convectively transfers heat to the sorbent-coated contactor 102a. The expansion valve 108 facilitates expansion of the refrigerant working fluid flowing from the condenser 102 thus enabling the refrigerant working fluid to change from a liquid to a vapor in the evaporator 104 thereby facilitating condensation of water vapor from the sweep air.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary system 200 that may be used for atmospheric water extraction. FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of another alternative system 201 that may be used for atmospheric water extraction. FIG. 2C is a schematic illustration of another alternative system 203 that may be used for atmospheric water extraction. Systems 201 and 202 are similar to system 200 and components in systems 201 and 203 that are identical to components of the system 200 are identified in FIGs. 2B and 2C using the same reference numerals used in FIG 2A. The system 200 includes a generator 202 used within a power generation system (not shown), a sorbent-coated contactor 204, an air conditioning (A / C) unit 206, and a sweep gas inlet 208. In one embodiment, the system 200 includes a sweep gas heat exchanger. The generator 202 includes at least one engine (e g., an internal combustion engine) (not shown) that is cooled using a liquid coolant. In alternative embodiments, the system 200 may include an automotive engine, for example, rather than, or in addition to generator 202. In one embodiment, the system is integrated into a vehicle, for example. In the exemplary embodiment, the generator 202 is an electric generator driven by a combustion engine.

[0037] In each embodiment, waste heat from the engine and / or from the electric generator, for example, may be removed and transferred to the hot liquid coolant (i.e., the engine coolant). As the engine is cooled, heat is convectively transferred to the liquid coolant via a radiator 230. The liquid coolant used to cool the engine and / or the generator 202 may include, but is not limited to only including, Syltherm 800, Syltherm XLT, Syltherm HF, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and / or water. The liquid coolant may700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)get as hot as about 150° Celsius, and heat energy (or waste heat) from the hot liquid coolant facilitates improving energy consumption of the atmospheric water extraction process.

[0038] Rather than discharging all of the heat generated within the engine to the atmosphere, the hot liquid coolant 210 functions as a working fluid, and is circulated through the sorbent-coated contactor 204 (i.e., the MOF). By way of anon-limiting example, the sorbent-coated contactor 204 may be a plate-fin type heat exchanger, a tube-in-plate (e.g., a finned-tube) type heat exchanger coated with sorbent material (e.g., MOF-303), and / or any other type of heat exchanger that enables the system 200 to function as described herein.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2A, contactor 204 collects water via a porous MOF. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, ambient air 205 is drawn or forced into the contactor 204. The ambient air 205 contains humidity or water vapor that is targeted for capture within the sorbent-coated contactor 204. This ambient air stream 205 “loads'’ the contactor 204 with water that can be removed via desorption, as described in more detail below. More specifically, when the MOF has collected either a predefined target amount of water vapor, or is saturated (i.e., fully loaded), the contactor 204 is considered loaded.

[0040] After the MOF is loaded, heat must be applied to remove the water from the pores of the MOF. In the exemplary embodiment, generally the desorption process uses heat. In alternative embodiments, such as in a system that uses three contactor beds, for example, the desorption process may use a combination of heat and vacuum that is applied as a part of the heat integration process. In some alternative embodiments, depending on the operating temperature of the contactor 204. the ambient air stream 205 may also facilitate cooling of the contactor 204.

[0041] The heat used drives the total energy costs of the system 200, and as such, to facilitate increasing the overall efficiency of the system 200 during the desorption process, initially low-quality heat is used, followed by higher-quality heat, as described herein. If the low-quality heat is not sufficient for desorption, the engine coolant loop 210 may be used to supply additional heat. In the exemplary embodiment, the A / C unit 206 generates low-grade waste heat. Dissipating the heat generated by the A / C unit 206 facilitates improving the operating efficiency of the unit 206. In the exemplary embodiment,700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)a liquid coolant 244 facilitates removing heat from the A / C unit 206. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, a portion of the heated coolant is provided to the contactor 204, and any remaining residual heat is dissipated to the atmosphere via a radiator 230.

[0042] The sorbent-coated contactor 204 may include metal pipes coated with the sorbent material, as described herein. Water adsorbed from air drawn across the sorbent-coated contactor 204 is collected with sweep gas 208 containing moisture as humid sweep 240, and is channeled to an evaporator (e.g., the evaporator 222) of the A / C unit 206. The water is condensed at the evaporator 222 of the A / C unit 206 and may be then removed. The remaining heat from the A / C unit 206 may be recaptured and used to heat the sorbent-coated contactor 204 and / or air or sweep gas 208. The heat is recaptured via the working fluid circulating through the A / C unit 206 (i.e., the evaporator 222) wherein the A / C unit 206 refrigerant working fluid transfers heat to the system working fluid 210. In some embodiments, when waste heat from the generator 202 is not sufficient, additional heat energy from a duct burner (not shown in FIG. 2) may also be used. Duct burners are usually used in combined cycle powerplants, and such burners use fuel to heat the turbine’s exhaust gases. The refrigerant working fluid used in the A / C unit 206 for heat transfer may include, but is not limited to only including, ammonia, R-12 (also referenced herein as freon), and / or cyclopentane, which thermally integrates the adsorption and desorption processes.

[0043] The sorbent-coated contactor 204 used with the system 200 may be any type of heat exchanger that enables the system 200 to function as described herein. Generally, the contactor 204 includes at least an inlet for liquid coolant, and an inlet to receive air therein to facilitate cooling. The liquid coolant inlet may provide a means of moving liquid engine coolant into the contractor 204 or liquid A / C coolant, or a combination of these liquid streams as selectively controlled by valves. In another embodiment, two inlets provided for liquid may be used with two corresponding outlets, i.e., a first for engine coolant, and a second for A / C liquid coolant. For example, in one embodiment, the contactor may include a single MOF bed that includes a contactor support and a film of MOF extending across the contactor support. In such an embodiment, the MOF 204 may be oriented to simultaneously enable both sides of the MOF adsorbent to be contacted by humid air entering the contactor 204. Moreover, the contactor 204 may include a primary channel to enable inlet air and sweep gases to contact the MOF bed.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0044] In other embodiments, the contactor 204 may be fabricated as a simple shell and tube, or as a shell and fin type of heat exchanger. In such an embodiment the contactor would still require inlets for liquid heating and air to contact the MOF. Moreover, in such an embodiment, the liquid coolant may be circulated along the back side of the adsorbent to facilitate heating the adsorbent, without contacting the adsorbent. Moreover, in such an embodiment, the same heat exchanger may be used to circulate AC liquid coolant during a preheating phase.

[0045] In some embodiments, not all the heat produced by the generator or engine 202 is provided to the MOF 204, and some of the heat is returned to the generator or engine 202 via the coolant return. In the exemplary embodiment, a standard engine radiator 230 is used to facilitate dissipating heat from the coolant return to the atmosphere.

[0046] During the desorption process, the contactor 204 is supplied with heat, i.e., the contactor 204 is preheated. In some embodiments, additional heat may be supplied to the contactor 204 to facilitate removing the adsorbed water from the MOF. In the exemplary embodiment, as described herein, the additional heat is provided by the engine coolant 210. The additional heat provided via the coolant 210 elevates the temperature of the contactor 204 to a temperature high enough that water is desorbed from the contactor 204 into the gas phase. More specifically, after the contactor 204 is heated, water vapor exists the MOF to facilitate subsequent desorption from the contactor 204, and to move the water vapor to a water collector (i.e., a condenser process). In the exemplary embodiment, sweep gas 240 facilitates moving the humid air to the cold side of the A / C unit 206 (i.e., the AC evaporator 222). When the saturated, humid sweep gas contacts the cold side 222 of the air conditioner 206, water condenses and is collected. The dried sweep gas, i.e., dry air. 242 is then dissipated to the environment.

[0047] In some embodiments, the dry air 242 may be mixed with ambient air and used to facilitate cooling of the hot side 220 of the A / C unit 206. Cooling the hot side 220 of the A / C unit 206 facilities extending the useful life of the A / C unit, and capturing the heat dissipated from the A / C unit 206 facilitates improving the overall operating efficiency of the system 200. In the exemplary embodiment, a liquid coolant 244 is channeled to the hot section 220 of the A / C unit 206 to facilitate cooling. The heated coolant 244 is then channeled to supply heat to the contactor 204.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0048] In the system 201 illustrated in FIG. 2B, ambient air is used, rather than liquid coolant, to facilitate cooling the hot section 220 of the A / C unit 206. All of the air suppled to facilitate cooling the A / C unit 206 may not be required for preheating the contactor 204. As such, in some embodiments, the system 200 may include valving that facilitates metering or controlling the amount of air directed to the contactor for preheating. In the system 203 illustrated in FIG. 2C, the liquid coolant is also used similarly as to its use in system 201. However, in system 203 the contactor 204 only includes two inlets and two outlets.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system 300 that may be used with the system shown in FIG. 1 and / or 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 components of the system 100 and / or 200 based on data received by the control system 300 from sensor(s) 308 by transferring waste heat from hot engine coolant, and / or other heat resources described herein. The controller 302 may also selectively and / or automatically operate valves and controls of the system 100 and / or 200 based on data and / or instructions stored in the memory 304, and / or based on data analyzed by the processor 306.

[0050] In the exemplary embodiment, during an adsorption operating mode, the controller 302 may isolate a compressor of the system to cause water or moisture entrained in ambient air channeled past a condenser of the system to be adsorbed on a sorbent-coated contactor of the condenser. The sorbent-coated contactor may be coated with a sorbent material as described in the present disclosure. During a desorption operating mode, the controller 302 may selectively activate the compressor, and sweep gas drawn or forced across the sorbent-coated contactor may be heated and channeled towards an evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the heated sweep gas during the desorption operating mode. The controller 302 may heat the sorbent-coated contactor using fluid flowing through the sorbent-coated contactor and an evaporator coil of the evaporator. In the exemplary embodiment, the sorbent-coated contactor is convectively heated by transferring heat from the refrigerant working fluid flowing through the sorbent-coated contactor and the evaporator coil to the air flowing across the compressor.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 302 selectively modulates the operating conditions of the system 100 and / or 200 to facilitate optimizing or improving energy consumption during the atmospheric water extraction process described herein. The exemplary systems and methods as described herein provide several advantages over at least some conventional designs and processes, including increasing the energy efficiency and performance of water adsorption and desorption.

[0052] FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow-chart of a method of atmospheric water extraction. The method may include isolating 402 a compressor 106 (shown in FIG. 1) during an adsorption operating mode. While the compressor 106 is isolated (or turned off) 402, ambient air may be channeled 404 past or through a condenser 102 (shown in FIG. 1) to cause water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed within a sorbent material coating a sorbent-coated contactor 102a of the condenser 102. Channeling 404 the ambient air past or through the condenser may include adsorbing the water or moisture using sorbent material described in the present disclosure. During a desorption operating mode, the compressor 106 may be selectively activated 406, and a sweep gas drawn or forced across the sorbent-coated contactor 102a. In some embodiments, the sweep gas may be heated using a sweep gas heat exchanger and a source of heat used in the process, such as engine coolant, A / C coolant, and / or A / C hot process air. The sorbent-coated contactor 102a may be heated using fluid (e.g., a refrigerant working fluid) flowing through the sorbent-coated contactor 102a and an evaporator coil 104a of an evaporator 104 (shown in FIG. 1). The sorbent-coated contactor 102a may be convectively heated by transferring heat from the refrigerant working fluid flowing through the sorbent-coated contactor 102a and the evaporator coil 104a to the air flowing across the compressor 106. The heated sweep gas 408 may be channeled 410 towards the evaporator 104 to enable entrained water to be condensed from the heated sweep gas 408 during the desorption operating mode.

[0053] Exemplary 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.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0057] An atmospheric water extraction system comprising: a condenser including a contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent; an evaporator including an evaporator coil; and a compressor, wherein during an adsorption operating mode, the compressor is isolated, and water or moisture entrained in ambient air drawn over the condenser is adsorbed on the contactor, and wherein during a desorption operating mode, the compressor is turned on, and a sweep gas flowing across the contactor is heated and channeled towards the evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the sweep gas.

[0058] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the contactor is heated using a fluid flowing through the contactor and the evaporator coil.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0059] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein heat of condensation from condensing water vapor on the evaporator coil is convectively transferred to the working fluid flowing through the evaporator coil and the contactor.

[0060] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein heat of condensation from condensing water vapor is convectively transferred from the fluid flowing through the contactor to the sorbent coating the contactor.

[0061] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent includes at least one of: metalorganic framework compounds, coordination framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeohtic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

[0062] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising an adsorption fan used to force the ambient air over the condenser during the adsorption operating mode.

[0063] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising a secondary fan used to force the sweep gas across the contactor and towards the evaporator.

[0064] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising a fan and a diverter valve in a duct extending between the condenser and the evaporator, the fan cooperates with the diverter valve to draw the ambient air over the condenser during the adsorption operating mode and to selectively draw the sweep gas across the contactor and towards the evaporator during the desorption operating mode.

[0065] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the fluid includes at least one of ammonia, R-12, and cyclopentane.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0066] A system for atmospheric water extraction being used with a power generation system, the system comprising: an air conditioning unit including a condenser and an evaporator; a contactor at least partially coated with a sorbent; and a sweep gas inlet, wherein at least one of the sweep gas, and the contactor is heated using waste heat discharged from a generator within the power generation system.

[0067] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the sweep gas and the contactor is heated using heat discharged from the condenser.

[0068] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the evaporator condenses water vapor from sweep gas or sweep air, and transfers heat of condensation into a working fluid, which in turn is transferred to the condenser.

[0069] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the waste heat discharged from the generator is energy from liquid coolant of at least one engine coupled to the generator.

[0070] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the liquid coolant includes at least one of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, water, Syltherm 800, Syltherm XLT, and Syltherm HF.

[0071] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the contactor at least partially coated with a sorbent includes at least one of: metalorganic framework compounds, coordination framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

[0072] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the condenser includes another sorbent-coated contactor.

[0073] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the contactor is a plate-fin type heat exchanger.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)

[0074] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the contactor is a tube-in-plate type heat exchanger.

[0075] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the sweep gas, the contactor, and the condenser is heated using heat discharged from a duct burner.

[0076] A method of atmospheric water extraction, the method comprising: isolating, by a controller, a compressor during an adsorption operating mode; channeling ambient air past a condenser to cause water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed within a sorbent material coating a sorbent-coated contactor of the condenser; activating the compressor during a desorption operating mode; heating a sweep gas drawn across the sorbent-coated contactor; and channeling the heated sweep gas towards an evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the heated sweep gas during the desorption operating mode.

[0077] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising heating the sorbent-coated contactor using a working fluid flowing through the heat exchanger coil and an evaporator coil of the evaporator.

[0078] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising convectively transferring heat of condensation from condensing water vapor on the evaporator coil to the working fluid.

[0079] 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

700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An atmospheric water extraction system comprising:a condenser including a contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent;an evaporator including an evaporator coil; and a compressor,wherein during an adsorption operating mode, the compressor is isolated, and water or moisture entrained in ambient air drawn over the condenser is adsorbed on the contactor, andwherein during a desorption operating mode, the compressor is turned on, and a sweep gas flowing across the contactor is heated and channeled towards the evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the sweep gas.

2. The system of claim 1. wherein the contactor is heated using a fluid flowing through the contactor and the evaporator coil.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein heat of condensation from condensing water vapor on the evaporator coil is convectively transferred to the fluid flowing through the evaporator coil and the contactor.

4. The sy stem of claim 2, wherein heat of condensation from condensing water vapor is convectively transferred from the fluid flowing through the contactor to the sorbent coating the contactor.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid includes at least one of ammonia, R-12, and cyclopentane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the contactor coated at least partially with a sorbent includes at least one of: metal-organic framework compounds, coordination framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials,700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adsorption fan used to force the ambient air over the condenser during the adsorption operating mode.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a secondary fan used to force the sweep gas across the contactor and towards the evaporator.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan and a diverter valve in a duct extending between the condenser and the evaporator, the fan cooperates with the diverter valve to draw the ambient air over the condenser during the adsorption operating mode and to selectively draw the sweep gas across the contactor and towards the evaporator during the desorption operating mode.

10. A system for atmospheric water extraction being used with a power generation system, the system comprising:an air conditioning unit including a condenser and an evaporator; a contactor at partially coated with a sorbent; and a sweep gas inlet.wherein at least one of the sweep gas, and the contactor is heated using waste heat discharged from a generator within the power generation system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the sweep gas and the contactor is heated using heat discharged from the condenser.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the evaporator condenses water vapor from sweep gas or sweep air, and transfers heat of condensation into a working fluid, which in turn is transferred to the condenser.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the waste heat discharged from the generator is energy from liquid coolant of at least one engine coupled to the generator.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)14. The system of claim 13, wherein the liquid coolant includes at least one of ethylene glycol, water, propylene glycol, Syltherm 800, Syltherm XLT, and Syltherm HF.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the contactor at least partially coated with a sorbent includes at least one of: metal-organic framework compounds, coordination framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the contactor is a plate-fin type heat exchanger.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the sweep gas, the contactor, and the condenser is heated using heat discharged from a duct burner.

18. A method of atmospheric water extraction, the method comprising: isolating, by a controller, a compressor during an adsorption operating mode; channeling ambient air past a condenser to cause water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed within a sorbent material of a sorbent-coated contactor of the condenser;activating the compressor during a desorption operating mode; heating a sweep gas drawn across the sorbent-coated contactor; and channeling the heated sweep gas towards an evaporator to enable entrained water to be condensed from the heated sweep gas during the desorption operating mode.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising heating the sorbent-coated contactor using a working fluid flowing through the sorbent-coated contactor and an evaporator coil of the evaporator.700751 -WO- 1(17851-1475)20. The method of claim 19, further comprising convectively transferring heat of condensation from condensing water vapor on the evaporator coil to the working fluid.

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