Atmospheric water extraction system

Abstract

An atmospheric water extraction system is disclosed. The atmospheric water extraction system includes a plurality of contactors and a condenser. Each of the plurality of contactors is at least partially coated with a sorbent. The plurality of contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor that performs an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor that performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor that performs a desorption process during the first operating mode. The condenser is configured to heat an ambient air stream using heat energy recuperated from the third sorbent-coated contactor during the first operating mode.

Description

700770-WO-l(17851-1476)ATMOSPHERIC WATER EXTRACTION SYSTEMSTATEMENT 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 ambient air. The amount of water vapor within the air depends at least partially on the temperature of air entering the extraction system. Generally, air at cooler temperatures holds less water vapor as compared to air at warmer temperatures. To facilitate the extraction of water from the ambient air, at least some known systems use a vapor compression system to cool the ambient air below its dew point. Although additional water may be extracted when the air is below its dew point, the benefits of such systems may be outweighed by the costs, as the necessary energy consumption of such water extraction systems may be more than 51 kJ / mole- water. Accordingly, a need exists for a system that can extract higher amounts of water from lower temperature air, while minimizing energy consumption during atmospheric water extraction.SUMMARY

[0004] In one aspect, an atmospheric water extraction system is disclosed. The atmospheric water extraction system includes a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality of contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor that performs an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor that performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor700770-WO-l (17851-1476) that performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a condenser configured to heat an ambient air stream using heat energy recuperated from the third sorbent-coated contactor during the first operating mode.

[0005] In another aspect, an atmospheric water extraction system is disclosed. The atmospheric water extraction system includes a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, the plurality of contactors including a first sorbent-coated contactor performing an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor performing a pre-heating process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor performing a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a counter-current condenser heat exchanger configured to recover latent heat for heating a circulating liquid channeled to the second and third sorbent-coated contactors during the first operating mode.

[0006] In yet another aspect, a method of extracting water from ambient air is disclosed. The method includes (i) performing an adsorption process during a first operating mode using a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes at least a first sorbent- coated contactor, a second sorbent-coated contactor, and a third sorbent-coated contactor, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the adsorption process during the first operating mode, the second sorbent-coated contactor performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and the third sorbent-coated contactor performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and (ii) recuperating heat energy using a condenser coupled to the third sorbent-coated contactor to heat the ambient air during the first operating mode.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary air-cooled condenser recuperation system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary liquid-cooled condenser recuperation system that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system that may be used with the condenser recuperation system shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In the following specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the follow ing meanings.

[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.

[0013] “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.

[0014] The embodiments described herein relate to various systems that may be used for atmospheric w ater extraction in which energy consumption is facilitated to be improved, as compared to at least some known water extraction systems, by using heat recuperated from a sorbent-coated contactor undergoing a desorption process, and / or waste heat of exhaust gases discharged from a combustion engine of a generator within a powder700770-WO-l(17851-1476) generation system. In some embodiments, an atmospheric water extraction system may be based on a principle of air-cooled condenser recuperation and such systems may use a plurality of sorbent-coated contactors undergoing different processes (or operating modes), such as an adsorption process, a condensation recuperation process, a first desorption process, and a second desorption process.

[0015] In the exemplary' embodiment, at least four different sorbent-coated contactors are used to perform the adsorption process, the condensation recuperation process, the first desorption process, and a second desorption process during each of a plurality of operating modes. By way7of a non-limiting example, during a first operating mode, a first of the at least four sorbent-coated contactors performs the adsorption process. During the first operating mode, a fan moves ambient air through the first sorbent-coated contactor to cause water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed. Additionally, or alternatively, a fan may be used to draw air through each sorbent-coated contactor while performing the adsorption process during an operating mode. Also, during the first operating mode, a second of the sorbent-coated contactors performs the condensation recuperation process. During this process, heat recuperated from at least one sorbent-coated contactor performing the desorption process is used to heat the second sorbent-coated contactor from the ambient temperature at which adsorption occurs, to a temperature at which desorption of water occurs. Each of the sorbent-coated contactors in the system includes a metal conduit or pipe that is coated with a sorbent material that circumscribes the metal conduit or pipe. Accordingly, when the second sorbent-coated contactor is heated, sensible heating of the sorbent-coated contactor metal conduit or pipe, the sorbent coating, and the adsorbed water occur, which facilitates condensation recuperation within the second sorbent-coated contactor.

[0016] In addition, during the first operating mode, a third of the sorbent- coated contactors performs a desorption process, also known as the first desorption process, in which heat recuperated from the desorption process is used to desorb some of the water from the sorbent coating. Concurrently, a sweep gas heated using waste heat from a generator is used to channel the water vapor desorbed from the third sorbent-coated contactor to the condenser. In some embodiments, a sweep air blower may be used to force the sweep gas from the ambient, through a generator exhaust heater, through the third sorbent-coated700770-WO-l (17851-1476) contactor, and through the condenser. In other words, the sweep air blower channels heated sweep gas away from each of the plurality7of sorbent-coated contactors performing the desorption process during the first operating mode.

[0017] Lastly, during the first operating mode, a fourth of the sorbent- coated contactors performs a desorption process, also known as the second desorption process, in which heat from the generator exhaust supplements the heat energy from the second sorbent-coated contactor to facilitate the sensible heating of the metal conduit or pipe for desorption. As described herein with regards to the third sorbent-coated contactor performing the desorption process, the sweep gas is heated and is used to channel the desorbed water vapor from the fourth sorbent-coated contactor to the condenser. Additionally, the sweep gas blower may be used to pull the sweep gas from the ambient, through the generator exhaust heater, through the fourth sorbent-coated contactor, and through the condenser. In the exemplary embodiment, an exhaust blower may be used to pull generator exhaust through the fourth sorbent-coated contactor for heating. A second blower may be used to force generator exhaust gases through a heat exchanger used to heat the sweep gas for the desorption processes. During other operating modes, within each of the four sorbent-coated contactors, the process performed during an earlier operating mode is changed. For example, the processes performed by each sorbent-coated contactor during different operating modes may rotate in an order of the adsorption process, the condensation recuperation process, the first desorption process, and the second desorption process.

[0018] In some embodiments, an atmospheric water extraction system may be based on a principle of liquid-cooled condenser recuperation and in such an embodiment, a plurality of sorbent-coated contactors is used to perform different processes, such as an adsorption process, a pre-heating process, and a desorption process. In the exemplary embodiment, at least three different sorbent-coated contactors are used to perform the adsorption process, the pre-heating process, and the desorption process during each of a plurality of different operating modes. For example, during a first operating mode, a first of the three sorbent-coated contactors performs the adsorption process, a second performs the pre-heating process, and a third performs the desorption process.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0019] As the second of sorbent-coated contactors performs the pre-heating process, a circulating liquid is heated using one or more heat exchangers. In the exemplary embodiment, two heat exchangers are used, such as a counter-current condenser heat exchanger and a liquid heat exchanger. The counter-current condenser heat exchanger heats the circulating liquid using heat or energy extracted from the condensation process. Concurrently, the circulating liquid is further heated via the liquid heat exchanger which uses waste heat from a generator within the power generation system and / or a duct burner or a duct heater. For example, the duct burner or duct heater may be a stand-alone duct burner or duct heater. Further, the liquid circulating through the second sorbent-coated contactor may be a mixture of a liquid coming from a third of the sorbent-coated contactors and liquid heated using waste heat from the generator and / or the duct burner or duct heater that is circulated through the liquid heat exchanger.

[0020] The third sorbent-coated contactor performs the desorption process during the first operating mode. The third sorbent-coated contactor is heated using the liquid circulating through the generator and / or the duct burner or duct heater via the liquid heat exchanger. Concurrently, the third sorbent-coated contactor is also heated using sweep air or gas heated from exhaust gases channeled from the generator, and duct heater or duct burner. The sweep air or gas transports the released water vapor during desorption from the third sorbent-coated contactor to the counter-current condenser heat exchanger wherein the heat of condensation is released, and the circulating liquid is heated. As a result, water is collected as it condenses in the counter-current condenser. In the exemplary embodiment, by way of a non-limiting example, a sweep air blower may be used to draw the sweep gas from the ambient, through the air-air heat exchanger, the third sorbent-coated contactor, and the condenser. Additionally, an exhaust blower may be used to pull generator and duct heater waste heat and exhaust gases through the air-air heat exchanger. Lastly, as the liquid coolant exits the second sorbent-coated contactor during the first operating mode, an air-cooler heat exchanger may be used to remove the additional heat.

[0021] During other operating modes, each of the sorbent-coated contactors changes the process each performed during an earlier operating mode. For example, the processes performed by each sorbent-coated contactor during different operating modes may700770-WO-l (17851-1476) rotate in an order of the adsorption process, the pre-heating process, and the desorption process.

[0022] Various embodiments described in the present disclosure thermally integrate the recovered heat from condensation and from the exhaust gases discharged from the generator using air or a circulating liquid. Using the air-cooled or liquid-cooled sorbent- coated contactors as described herein enables waste heat from the generator to be thermally integrated into the atmospheric water extraction process. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein not only recover waste heat from the generator and / or duct burner, but also facilitate recovering the heat of condensation, thus improving energy consumption of the atmospheric water extraction process. Additionally, using the embodiments described herein, water harvesting, and dehumidification can be performed at a lower energy cost than the currently known systems, which require a generally expensive and energy intensive vapor compression system.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary atmospheric water extraction system 100 that is based on an air-cooled condensation recuperation principle. In some embodiments, the atmospheric water extraction system 100 may include a plurality of contactors 102 that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent and that each are undergoing different processes, such as, for example, an adsorption process, a condensation recuperation process, a first desorption process, and / or a second desorption process.

[0024] In the exemplary embodiment, at least four different sorbent-coated contactors 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may perform the adsorption process, the condensation recuperation process, the first desorption process, and the second desorption process during each of a plurality of operating modes. For example, during a first operating mode, a first sorbent-coated contactor 102a performs the adsorption process. A fan 104a forces ambient air through the first sorbent-coated contactor 102a to enable water or moisture entrained in the ambient air to be adsorbed. Concurrently, a second sorbent-coated contactor 102b performs the condensation recuperation process. Heat recuperated from at least one sorbent- coated contactor, for example, a third sorbent-coated contactor 102c, performing the desorption process is used to heat the second sorbent-coated contactor 102b. More specifically the second sorbent-coated contactor 102b is heated from the temperature at which adsorption occurs to a temperature at which desorption of water occurs. Each of the700770-WO-l (17851-1476) four sorbent-coated contactors 102 includes a conduit or pipe (e g., dual channel air conduit) that is coated with a sorbent material. The conduit or pipe, in the exemplary embodiment, is not limited to having a smooth cylindrical shape, but rather the conduit may have any other non-circular shape. Further, the conduit or pipe may include extended surfaces such as fins or plates that extend outwardly from the conduit or pipe. Additionally, the fins or plates are not limited to being only flat, and instead may have any other shape and / or may include any ty pe of convection enhancement feature such as louvers, dimples, grooves, and / or slits, etc. Moreover, the conduit may be a fluidic conduit. By way of a non-limiting example, the sorbent material may include, but is not limited to only being, a metal-organic framework (MOF), comprising MOF-303 (A1(OH)(PZDC), where PZDC is l-H-pyrazole-3,5- dicarboxylate), MIL-lOO(Fe) MOF-LA2-l(pyrazole), or MIL-160, and combination thereof. Accordingly, when the second sorbent-coated contactor 102b is heated, the metal conduit or pipe of the contactor, the sorbent coating, and the adsorbed water within the second sorbent- coated contactor 102b are sensibly heated. Fans 104b, 104c, and / or 104d are isolated during the first operating mode. In the present disclosure, the term contactor should be understood to be an air contactor at least partially coated with sorbent.

[0025] Generally, the sorbent coating may include any sorbent known in the art that facilitates the water capture and release described herein. In some embodiments, the sorbent is selected from the group consisting of coordination framework compounds, metalorganic 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.

[0026] As used herein, MOF compounds are a class of compounds including 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 fine700770-WO-l (17851-1476) chemical and structural control. Properties such as porosity, stability, particle morphology, and conductivity can be tailored for specific applications.

[0027] In many embodiments, the sorbent is an MOF compound including a MOF metal or metal -containing cluster and an MOF linker. In various embodiments described herein, an MOF may include, but is not limited to only including, MOF-303, MIL- 100(Fe) MOF-LA2-l(pyrazole), and / or MIL-160.

[0028] 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 / or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the MOF metal includes Mg.

[0029] 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 melal-oxy cluster.

[0030] 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. The linker geometry, length, ratio, and functional-group may be variably selected, including optimizing the size, shape, and / or internal surface property of a MOF compound based on the 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 / or combinations thereof.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0031] A third sorbent-coated contactor 102c performs a desorption process, also known as the first desorption process, in which heat recuperated from the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c and a fourth sorbent-coated contactor 102d is used to increase temperature of the conduit or pipe, sorbent coating, and adsorbed water from its temperature at the end of the condensation recuperation mode to the desorption temperature and to desorb some of the water from the sorbent coating material within the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c. Concurrently, a sweep gas heated using waste heat from an electrical generator 112 within a power generation system is used to channel the water vapor desorbed from the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c towards the condenser 108. The electrical generator 1 12 is powered by a combustion engine. In some embodiments, a sweep air blower 106 may be used to force the sweep gas from the ambient, through the sweep gas — generator exhaust air-to-air heat exchanger (not shown), through the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c, and through the condenser 108. In other words, the sweep air blower 106 channels heated sweep gas away from each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors 102 performing the desorption process during the first operating mode. As described herein, the metal conduit of the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c and the sorbent material is heated using recuperated heat of condensation from the sweep gas of both sorbent-coated contactors 102c and 102d. Thus, the recuperated heat of condensation obtained by the condenser 108 facilitates heating the sorbent-coated contactor 102b in the condensation recuperation mode and the sorbent-coated contactor 102c performing the first desorption process.

[0032] A fourth sorbent-coated contactor 102d performs a desorption process, referenced herein as the second desorption process, in which heat discharged as exhaust gases from the generator 112 is used to facilitate desorption within the fourth sorbent-coated contactor 102d. The fourth sorbent-coated contactor’s metal conduit or pipe, sorbent coating, and adsorbed water are heated to desorption temperature and some adsorbed water is desorbed in the condensation recuperation mode and during the first desorption process. As described herein with regards to the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c performing the desorption process, a sweep gas is heated using the waste heat discharged from the generator 112 and is used to channel the desorbed water vapor from the fourth sorbent-coated contactor 102d to the condenser 108. Additionally, the sweep gas blower 106 also forces the sweep gas from the ambient, through the sweep gas — generator exhaust air- to-air heat exchanger (not shown), through the fourth sorbent-coated contactor 102d, and700770-WO-l (17851-1476) through the condenser 108. In the exemplary embodiment, an exhaust blower 1 10 is used to pull generator exhaust gases through the fourth sorbent-coated contactor conduit or pipe for heating. An additional blower (not shown in FIG. 1) may be used to pull exhaust gases from the generator 112 through a heat exchanger (not shown in FIG. 1) used to heat the sweep gas for the desorption processes performed by the third and fourth sorbent-coated contactors 102c and 102d, respectively. In the exemplar}’ embodiment, unused energy or heat from heated sweep air or gas be recuperated using a recuperating blower 114b at the second sorbent-coated contactor 102b and a recuperating blower 114a at the third sorbent-coated contactor 102c.

[0033] During other operating modes, each of the four sorbent-coated contactors 102 changes the process performed within that respective sorbent-coated contactor 102. For example, the processes performed by each sorbent-coated contactor 102 during different operating modes may rotate in an order of the adsorption process, the condensation recuperation process, the first desorption process, and the second desorption process. The recuperating blowers 114a and 114b may be coupled within the system such that they can be selectively isolated and / or operated in conjunction with any of the sorbent- coated contactors 102 via valving selected opened and closed based on the process being performed by each sorbent-coated contactor 102 during those respective operating modes.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary atmospheric water extraction system 200 that uses liquid-cooled condenser recuperation. In some embodiments, the atmospheric water extraction system 200 may include a plurality of sorbent-coated contactors 202 undergoing different processes, such as an adsorption process, a pre-heating process, and a desorption process. In the exemplary embodiment, at least three different sorbent-coated contactors 202a, 202b, and 202c may perform the adsorption process, the pre-heating process, and the desorption process during each of a plurality of operating modes. By way of a non-limiting example, during a first operating mode, a first sorbent-coated contactor 202a performs the adsorption process, and a fan 204 is operated to move ambient air through the first sorbent-coated contactor 202a to adsorb water or moisture entrained in the ambient air. Optionally, heat exchanger 206 may be employed to further rej ect heat from the circulating fluid following its passage through the sorbent-contactor 202a performing the adsorption process during the first operating mode.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0035] Concurrently, a second sorbent-coated contactor 202b performs the pre-heating process using a circulating liquid. The circulating liquid is heated using one or more heat exchangers. In the exemplary embodiment, two heat exchangers, such as a counter-current condenser heat exchanger 206a and a liquid heat exchanger 208, may be used. The counter-current condenser heat exchanger 206a heats the circulating liquid using heat or energy extracted from the condensation process following desorption and heat from the sweep gas used for the desorption process. Concurrently, the circulating liquid is heated using waste heat discharged from a generator 210 and / or a duct burner or a duct heater 212 using the liquid heat exchanger 208. By way of a non-limiting example, the duct burner or duct heater 212 may be a stand-alone duct burner or duct heater. Further, the liquid circulating through the second sorbent-coated contactor 202b may be a mixture of a liquid discharged from the third of the sorbent-coated contactor 202c and liquid heated using waste heat from the generator 210 and / or the duct burner or duct heater 212 that is circulated through the liquid heat exchanger 208.

[0036] The third sorbent-coated contactor 202c performs the desorption process during the first operating mode. The third sorbent-coated contactor 202c is heated using the liquid circulating through the generator 210 and / or the duct burner or duct heater 212 viathe liquid heat exchanger 208. Concurrently, the third sorbent-coated contactor 202c is also heated using sweep air or gas heated at a heat exchanger 214 using exhaust gases discharged from the generator 210, and duct heater or duct burner 212. The sweep air or gas is drawn from the third sorbent-coated contactor 202c through the counter-current condenser heat exchanger 206a where it releases the heat of condensation and increases the heat of the circulating liquid. As a result, water is collected as it condenses in the counter-current condenser 206a. In the exemplary embodiment, by way of a non-limiting example, a sweep air blower may be used to draw the sweep gas from the ambient, sweep gas heat exchanger 208, the third sorbent-coated contactor 202c, and the condenser 206a. As the liquid coolant exits the second sorbent-coated contactor 202b performing the pre-heating process during the first operating mode, an air-cooled heat exchanger 206 may be used to remove the additional heat.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0037] During other operating modes, each of three sorbent-coated contactors 202 changes the process that was performed by that respective sorbent-coated contactor 202 during an earlier operating mode. By way of a non-limiting example, the processes performed by each sorbent-coated contactor 202 during different operating modes may rotate in an order of the adsorption process, the pre-heating process, and the desorption process. Each of the sorbent-coated contactors 202 includes a conduit (e.g., dual channel air conduit) at least partially coated with a sorbent material including, but not limited to only being, a metal-organic framework, extending across the metal conduit.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system 300 that may be used with the condenser recuperation system shown in FIG. 1 and / or FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 302 includes a memor ’ 304 and a processor 306. The controller 302 may selectively adjust the temperature of one or more components of the condenser recuperation system 100 and / or 200 based on data received by the control system 300 from sensor(s) 308 by convectively 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 condenser recuperation 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.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 302 selectively modulates the operating conditions of the condenser recuperation system 100 and / or 200 to facilitate optimizing or improving energy' consumption during the atmospheric yvater extraction process described herein. The exemplary' systems and methods as described herein provide several advantages over conventional designs and processes, including increasing the energy efficiency and performance of water adsorption and desorption.

[0040] 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, United700770-WO-l (17851-1476)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.

[0041] 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, 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.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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-transitory7, 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 descnbed 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 transitory7, propagating signal.

[0044] Exemplars7systems and methods, as described herein, use temperature and / or humidity7control and characteristics of one or more solid sorbents to optimize the efficiency and productivity7of 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 at least some of the know n atmospheric water extraction systems. Additionally, using air or liquid (e.g., water) to recuperate heat at condenser, energy consumptions improvements are facilitated using a relatively simple system.

[0045] 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 appended700770-WO-l(17851-1476) 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0048] An atmospheric water extraction system comprising: a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality of contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor that performs an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor that performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor that performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a condenser configured to heat an ambient air stream using heat energy recuperated from the third sorbent-coated contactor during the first operating mode.

[0049] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein a fourth of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors performs the desorption process, while the third sorbent-coated contactor is heated using heated air channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor from the condenser, and wherein the fourth sorbent-coated contactor is heated using waste heat channeled to the fourth sorbent-coated contactor from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

[0050] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes a conduit at least partially coated with a sorbent material.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0051] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the plurality7of contactors includes a dual channel air conduit.

[0052] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the conduit and the sorbent material within the third sorbent-coated contactor are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

[0053] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of contactors is at least partially coated with a sorbent material including at least one of: coordination framework compounds, metal-organic framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials, cry stalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates, alumino-phosphates, polyaromatic frameyvorks, activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

[0054] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors is configured to draw ambient air through a fan while performing the adsorption process during the first operating mode.

[0055] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein a sweep air blo ver is configured to channel heated sweep gas from each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors performing the desorption process.

[0056] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, yvherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the condensation recuperation process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and the desorption process during a third of the plurality of operating modes.

[0057] The system in accordance yvith any of the preceding clauses, wherein the second sorbent-coated contactor performs the desorption process during the second operating mode.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0058] An atmospheric water extraction system comprising: a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, the plurality of contactors including a first sorbent-coated contactor performing an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor performing a pre-heating process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor performing a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a counter-current condenser heat exchanger configured to recover latent heat for heating a circulating liquid channeled to the second and third sorbent-coated contactors during the first operating mode.

[0059] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes a dual channel air conduit.

[0060] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes a fluidic conduit at least partially coated with a sorbent material.

[0061] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the fluidic conduit of the third sorbent-coated contactor and the sorbent material are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor via a liquid heat exchanger from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

[0062] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the fluidic conduit of the third sorbent-coated contactor and the sorbent material are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor via a duct burner.

[0063] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of contactors is at least partially coated with a sorbent material including at least one of: coordination framework compounds, metal-organic framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, cry stalline porous materials, cry stalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates, alumino-phosphates, polyaromatic frameworks, activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0064] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the counter-current condenser heat exchanger is configured to heat at least one of water and ethylene glycol.

[0065] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the pre-heating process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and performs the desorption process during a third of the plurality of operating modes.

[0066] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the second sorbent-coated contactor performs the desorption process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and performs the adsorption process during a third of the plurality of operating modes.

[0067] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the third sorbent-coated contactor performs the adsorption process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and performs the pre-heating process during a third of the plurality of operating modes.

[0068] A method of extracting water from ambient air, the method comprising: performing an adsorption process during a first operating mode using a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor, a second sorbent- coated contactor, and a third sorbent-coated contactor, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the adsorption process during the first operating mode, the second sorbent-coated contactor performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and the third sorbent-coated contactor performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and recuperating heat energy using a condenser coupled to the third sorbent-coated contactor to heat the ambient air during the first operating mode.

[0069] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising heating the third sorbent-coated contactor using heat from a generator used in a power generation system.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)

[0070] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising channeling the ambient air through the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors with a fan while performing the adsorption process during the first operating mode.

[0071] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising performing a desorption process by a fourth sorbent-coated contactor of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors; and heating the third sorbent-coated contactor using heated air channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor from the condenser, and heating the fourth sorbent-coated contactor using heat from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

[0072] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising performing the condensation recuperation process with the first sorbent-coated contactor during a second operating mode; and performing the desorption process with the first sorbent-coated contactor during a third operating mode.

[0073] The method in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, further comprising performing the desorption process with the second sorbent-coated contactor during the second operating mode.

[0074] 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

700770-WO-l(17851-1476)WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An atmospheric water extraction system comprising: a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality of contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor that performs an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor that performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor that performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a condenser configured to heat an ambient air stream using heat energy recuperated from the third sorbent-coated contactor during the first operating mode.

2. The system of claim 1. wherein a fourth of the plurality of sorbent- coated contactors performs the desorption process, while the third sorbent-coated contactor is heated using heated air channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor from the condenser, and wherein the fourth sorbent-coated contactor is heated using waste heat channeled to the fourth sorbent-coated contactor from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes a conduit at least partially coated with a sorbent material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of contactors includes a dual channel air conduit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the conduit and the sorbent material within the third sorbent-coated contactor are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent- coated contactor from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of contactors is at least partially coated with a sorbent material including at least one of: coordination framework compounds, metal-organic framework compounds, porous coordination polymers, covalent organic framework compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry',700770-WO-l(17851-1476) silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates, alumino-phosphates, polyaromatic frameworks, activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors is configured to draw ambient air through a fan while performing the adsorption process during the first operating mode.

8. The system of claim 1. wherein a sweep air blower is configured to channel heated sweep gas from each of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors performing the desorption process.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the condensation recuperation process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and the desorption process during a third of the plurality of operating modes.

10. The system of claim 9. wherein the second sorbent-coated contactor performs the desorption process during the second operating mode.

11. An atmospheric water extraction system comprising: a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, the plurality of contactors including a first sorbent-coated contactor performing an adsorption process during a first of a plurality of operating modes, a second sorbent-coated contactor performing a pre-heating process during the first operating mode, and a third sorbent-coated contactor performing a desorption process during the first operating mode; and a counter-current condenser heat exchanger configured to recover latent heat for heating a circulating liquid channeled to the second and third sorbent- coated contactors during the first operating mode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors includes a dual channel air conduit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of sorbent- coated contactors includes a fluidic conduit at least partially coated with a sorbent material.700770-WO-l (17851-1476)14. The atmospheric water extraction system of claim 13, wherein the fluidic conduit of the third sorbent-coated contactor and the sorbent material are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor via a liquid heat exchanger from a generator coupled within a power generation system.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluidic conduit of the third sorbent-coated contactor and the sorbent material are heated using heat channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor via a duct burner.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of contactors is at least partially coated with a sorbent material including at least one of: coordination framework compounds, metal-organic 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, alumino-phosphates, polyaromatic frameworks, activated carbons, and molecular organic solids.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the counter-current condenser heat exchanger is configured to heat at least one of water and ethylene glycol.

18. The system of claim 1 1, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the pre-heating process during a second of the plurality of operating modes, and performs the desorption process during a third of the plurality' of operating modes.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the second sorbent-coated contactor performs the desorption process during a second of the plurality' of operating modes, and performs the adsorption process during a third of the plurality' of operating modes.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the third sorbent-coated contactor performs the adsorption process during a second of the plurality' of operating modes, and performs the pre-heating process during a third of the plurality' of operating modes.700770-WO-l(17851-1476)21. A method of extracting water from ambient air, the method comprising: performing an adsorption process during a first operating mode using a plurality of contactors that are each at least partially coated with a sorbent, wherein the plurality7of sorbent-coated contactors includes at least a first sorbent-coated contactor, a second sorbent-coated contactor, and a third sorbent-coated contactor, wherein the first sorbent-coated contactor performs the adsorption process during the first operating mode, the second sorbent-coated contactor performs a condensation recuperation process during the first operating mode, and the third sorbent-coated contactor performs a desorption process during the first operating mode; and recuperating heat energy using a condenser coupled to the third sorbent- coated contactor to heat the ambient air during the first operating mode.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: heating the third sorbent-coated contactor using heat from a generator used in a power generation system.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: channeling the ambient air through the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors with a fan while performing the adsorption process during the first operating mode.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising: performing a desorption process using a fourth sorbent-coated contactor of the plurality of sorbent-coated contactors; and heating the third sorbent-coated contactor using heated air channeled to the third sorbent-coated contactor from the condenser, and heating the fourth sorbent-coated contactor using heat from a generator coupled within a power generation system700770-WO-l (17851-1476)25. The method of claim 21, further comprising: performing the condensation recuperation process with the first sorbent- coated contactor during a second operating mode; and performing the desorption process with the first sorbent-coated contactor during a third operating mode.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: performing the desorption process with the second sorbent-coated contactor during the second operating mode.

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