System for extracting water from ambient air

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of intermediate plates and a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the plurality of intermediate plates is stacked between the plurality of end plates. Each of the plurality of intermediate plates includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels coated with a sorbent. Each of the plurality of end plates includes a set of end plate channels coated with the sorbent on one side of the base plate. During a first operating cycle, ambient air is forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality of end plates, and a low-pressure steam is drawn through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels of a second of the plurality of end plates.

Description

700530-WO-l(17851-1477)SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTING WATER FROM AMBIENTAIRSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

[0001] This invention was made with government support under a grant “HR0011-21C-0020” 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 water extraction from ambient air and more particular, to systems that operate with improved energy consumption during water extraction from ambient air.

[0003] At least some known water extraction systems use a sorbent material and a vacuum swing process in combination to extract water from ambient air and to produce a water stream and a less humid air stream. Moreover, at least some of such systems also use a vapor compression system in which ambient air is cooled below its dew point using a refrigeration system. Although, such systems are generally successful in extracting water from ambient air, the use of such systems may be limited. For example, energy consumption of at least some known atmospheric water extraction systems is generally more than about 28 kJ / mole- water. Moreover, with ambient air having a relative low humidity, (i.e., ambient air below 5° Celsius dew point) it may be possible to only extract a relatively low amount of water from such air. As such, the benefits gained from at least some known extraction systems may be outweighed by the energy consumption necessar ’ for such systems.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for a system that can extract water from the ambient air but do so with an improved energy consumption, for example, less than 28 and as low as 2.7 kJ / mole-water. during atmospheric water extraction.700530-WO-l (17851-1477)SUMMARY

[0005] In one aspect, a heat exchanger for use in extracting water from ambient air is provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of intermediate plates coupled together, a controller coupled to the heat exchanger, and a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality' of intermediate plates such that the plurality7of intermediate plates is stacked between the plurality of end plates. Each of the plurality7of intermediate plates includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels. Each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement. Each of the plurality of end plates includes a first side and an opposite second side. One of the first side and the second side of each of the plurality of end plates includes a set of defined end plate channels thereon coated with the sorbent. Each of the plurality of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the set of defined end plate channels face the plurality of intermediate plates. During a first operating cycle, ambient air is forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality7of end plates where adsorption is being performed and a low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels of a second of the plurality of end plates where desorption is being performed, wherein operation of the operating cycles is determined by the controller.

[0006] In another aspect, a system for extracting water from ambient air is provided. The system includes a heat exchanger, at least one memory7storing instructions thereon, and at least one controller. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of intermediate plates coupled together, and a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality7of intermediate plates such that the plurality of intermediate plates is stacked between the plurality of end plates. Each of the plurality of intermediate plates includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels. Each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement. Each of the plurality7of end plates includes a set of end plate channels coated with the sorbent. Each of the plurality of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the set of end plate channels face the plurality of intermediate plates. The at least one controller is configured to execute the instructions to: (i) cause ambient air to be forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality of end plates during a first operating cycle;700530-WO-l (17851-1477) and (ii) cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on a second of the plurality of end plates during the first operating cycle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary' heat exchanger that may be used for atmospheric water extraction.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system that may be used with the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] As used herein, the terms “processor” and “computer” and related terms, e.g., “processing device,” “controller,” and “computer device” are not limited to just those integrated circuits referred to in the art as a computer, but broadly refers to a700530-WO-l (17851-1477) microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and other programmable circuits, and these terms are used interchangeable herein.

[0012] In the exemplar embodiments described herein, a heat exchanger is used to extract water from the atmosphere in a manner that facilitates reducing energy consumption, as compared to at least some known extraction systems. The exemplary heat exchanger transfers heat through thin walls that separate two independent sets of flow channels. The two sets of flow channels each include a first set of channels that channel humid ambient air therethrough during an adsorption mode, and a second set of flow channels that channel low-pressure steam therethrough during a desorption mode. The heat exchanger may be formed as, but is not limited to only being, a plate-and-frame type heat exchanger that includes two sets of flow channels extending on opposite sides of a plate within the heat exchanger.

[0013] In the exemplary embodiments described herein, a sorbent absorbs humidity from the air. The sorbent is coated on opposite sides of a plate, and multiple plates are stacked together in the heat exchanger. Ambient air flows through one set of flow channels to adsorb the water while a vacuum is induced on the other set of flow channels to desorb the water. The set of flow channels performing adsorption, i.e., the adsorbing side of the heat exchanger, increases in temperature while the set of flow channels performing desorption, i.e., the desorbing side of the heat exchanger, decreases in temperature. However, because the sorbent layers are on opposite sides of the same plate, the heat transfer occurs from the first or hotter side of the plate to the opposite or cooler side of the plate via conduction and the energy generated by adsorption is efficiently delivered to the desorption side.

[0014] Accordingly, in the exemplar}' embodiment, the heat exchanger facilitates eliminating a need for two contactors and / or vacuum vessels. In addition, because intermediate heat transfer, i.e., transferring heat from adsorbing sorbents though a wall to water and then subsequently from the water through another wall and eventually into the desorbing sorbent, is not required. In addition, a requirement to establish a temperature difference (AT) at each heat transfer location is also eliminated. Essentially, in the exemplary heat exchanger, the heat necessary for desorption is supplied by the heat of adsorption, and700530-WO-l (17851-1477) as such, in contrast to known processes that extract water from ambient air, no additional heat is required for the process. Elimination of intermediate heat transfer enables significantly lower temperature gradients such that energy transfer is facilitated to be significantly more efficient with use of the exemplary heat exchanger. Furthermore, because the adsorption beds generally do not cycle in temperature as frequently or with relatively large temperature swings, i.e., a heating cycle followed by a cooling cycle and vice versa, as compared to heat exchangers used in known water extraction processes, the working capacity7of the sorbent in the exemplary heat exchanger is higher as compared to contactors used in known water extraction systems.

[0015] Accordingly, the exemplary7heat exchanger described herein facilitates eliminating a necessity for dual chambers or different beds for adsorption and desorption, and / or heat pipes or circulating water for energy transfer. Rather, the independent flow channels used with the exemplary heat exchanger described herein function as an adsorber in one set of flow7channels and as a desorber in the other set of flow7channels, such that heat transfer occurs via conduction through the thin plate walls, thus facilitating reducing a temperature difference necessary to transfer energy. In addition, the exemplary heat exchanger facilitates increasing the efficiency of the process by significantly reducing external heat losses. Additionally, the heat exchanger described herein facilitates reducing the complexity of the overall water extraction system such that maintenance and operating costs are also facilitated to be reduced.

[0016] In one exemplary embodiment, a sorbent coating applied on opposite sides of a plate of the heat exchanger is, but is not limited to only being, a metalorganic framework (MOF)-303 (A1(OH)(PZDC), wherein PZDC is l-H-pyrazole-3,5- dicarboxylate). Generally, the sorbent coating may include any sorbent known in the art that facilitates water capture and release as described herein. In some embodiments, the sorbent is selected from a group consisting of coordination framework compounds, metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds, porous coordination polymers (PCPs), covalent organic framework (COF) compounds, zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) compounds, crystalline porous materials, crystalline open frameworks, reticular chemistry, silica particles, zeolites, silico-alumino-phosphates (SAPOs), alumino-phosphates (AlPOs), polyaromatic frameworks (PAFs), activated carbons, molecular organic solids, and combinations thereof.700530-WO-l (17851-1477)

[0017] As used herein, MOF compounds are a class of compounds that include metal ions or clusters that are coordinated to organic ligands to form one-, two-, or three-dimensional structures. The metal ions or clusters act as joints and are bound by multidirectional organic ligands, which act as linkers in a network structure. MOF compounds have a modular nature that enables synthetic tunability, which affords fine chemical and structural control. Properties such as porosity, stability’, particle morphology, and conductivity7can be tailored for specific applications.

[0018] In many embodiments, the sorbent is an MOF compound that includes a MOF metal or metal-containing cluster and an MOF linker. In various embodiments described herein, a MOF compound may include, but is not limited to only being, MOF-303, MIL-lOO(Fe) MOF-LA2-l(pyrazole). and MIL- 160.

[0019] In some embodiments, the MOF metal is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, Ca, Mn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni. Cu, Zn, Al, ions thereof, hydrates thereof, salts thereof, halides thereof, fluorides thereof, chlorides thereof, bromides thereof, iodides thereof, nitrates thereof, acetates thereof, sulfates thereof, phosphates thereof, carbonates thereof, oxides thereof, formates thereof, carboxylates thereof, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the MOF metal includes Mg.

[0020] 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.

[0021] In some embodiments, the MOF linker may be any suitable MOF linker known in the art that facilitates the water capture and release described herein. Generally, the geometry and connectivity of a linker contribute to the structure of the resulting MOF compound. Adjustments of linker geometry, length, ratio, and functional- group may tune the size, shape, and internal surface property of a MOF compound for a targeted application. In some embodiments, the MOF linker is a linker selected from the group consisting of polytopic linkers, ditopic linkers, tritopic linkers, tetratopic linkers,700530-WO-l(17851-1477) pentatopic linkers, hexatopic linkers, heptatopic linkers, octatopic linkers, mixed linkers, desymmetrized linker, metallo linkers, N-heterocyclic linkers, and combinations thereof.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment, the sorbent material is applied in a slurry that is applied to the individual plates and that is allowed to cure. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the sorbent material is not affixed to the plates using an adhesive.

[0023] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the sorbent-coated plates may be coupled or connected together via pipes that extend to each of the sets of flow channels on the opposite sides of the sorbent-coated plate. Accordingly, in such embodiments, during an adsorption process, ambient air is drawn through the pipes causing adsorption from the ambient air flowing through the first set of channels. During adsorption, the operating temperature within the set of flow channels performing adsorption is increased and the flow channels are heated. In the exemplary embodiment, conduction through each plate thickness adds heat to the adjacent channel which is under vacuum and desorbing and requiring this amount of energy’. Conductive heating from the adsorbing sorbent on one side of the plate prevents the sorbent on the opposite side of the plate from decreasing in temperature during the desorption process. A decrease in temperature of the sorbent on a side of the plate performing the desorption process may cause the desorption process to slow or even stop.

[0024] In the first operating half-cycle valving flows ambient air into the first set of flow' channels where adsorption occurs, before the dryer air exits at the far end of the first channels. Simultaneously, the valves are closed at one end of the second set of flow' channels, and the opposite end is coupled to a vacuum source to reduce the pressure causing desorption of water vapor extracted by the pumping device. After a period of time, both adsorption and desorption are nearly complete, and the second operating half-cycle is initiated as the valving is switched to enable ambient air to be supplied to the second set of flow7channels and to enable steam to be extracted via a vacuum pump from the first set of flow channels. In other words, the sorbent coated on each side of the plate performs adsorption and desorption function during alternate operating cycles.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary' heat exchanger 100 that may be used for atmospheric water extraction. In the exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger 100 includes a plurality of intermediate plates 104 stacked together between700530-WO-l (17851-1477) two opposed end plates 102 positioned on opposite sides 105 and 107 of stacked intermediate plates 104. Each of the intermediate plates 104 includes a sorbent coating (not show n in FIG. 1) extending across opposite sides 120 and 122 of each intermediate plate 104. The sorbent coating may be applied with a thickness of between about 50 microns to about 250 microns. In the exemplary embodiment, sorbent is also coated across only one side of each base plate 102, such that the sorbent coating on each base plate 102 faces towards the stacked plurality of intermediate plates 104.

[0026] Each of the two end plates 102 and each of the intermediate plates 104 is formed with four holes 114 defined therein. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, each base plate 102 and each intermediate plate 104 in each comer of the respective plate 102 and 104. In the exemplary embodiment, a plurality of piping 116 and 118 extends through holes 114. Each of the intermediate plates 104 includes a first set of flow channels 106 on a first side of the intermediate plate 104 and a second set of flow channels 108 on a second side of the same plate 104. The first and second set of flow channels 106 and 108 are also coated with a sorbent.

[0027] Each of the end plates 102 includes a set of flow channels 106 or 108 that are also coated with sorbent. The flow channels 106 or 108 extending across each base plate 102 are on the side of the base plate 102 that is coated with sorbent. The pipes 116 are formed with openings 112 that extend into the set of flow channels 108 and the pipes 118 are formed with openings 110 that extend into the set of flow channels 106. The first base plate 102 including the set of flow channels 108 is coupled to piping 116 through the openings 112, and the second base plate 102 that includes the set of channels 106 is coupled to piping 118 that extends through the openings 110. In other words, the first and second end plates 102 and the plurality of intermediate plates 104 are coupled together in a flow arrangement or flow communication via piping 116 and / or 118 such that air (for example, humid air and / or low-pressure steam / air) may be selectively forced into the piping 116 and / or 118 and / or selectively drawn from piping 116 and / or 118 via a vacuum pump (not shown) in FIG. 1.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment, a thin gasket (not shown) is positioned between each set of adjacent plates 102 and 104. Each gasket seals one set of piping 116 or 118 to prevent any leakage between plates 102 and 104, while allowing the700530-WO-l (17851-1477) opposite set of piping 1 18 or 1 16 to remain open and in flow communication. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, the only holes extending through each gasket are the openings 112. As such, by requiring only four openings 112 to be defined through each gasket, an amount of surface area that flow channels 108 may be defined within is facilitated to be maximized. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, because gaskets are thin, adjacent plates 102 and 104 may sandwich and retain each gasket in position without the use of any adhesives. In addition, because the gaskets are retained in position via plates 102 and 104, assembly of heat exchanger 100 is facilitated to be more cost effective and easier as compared to known heat exchangers that require a plurality of fasteners, adhesive, and labor to ensure that the fastener openings within each gasket are properly aligned with fastener openings formed in each plate. In an exemplary7embodiment, during a first operating cycle, humid air is forced into piping 116 via a valving system (not shown in FIG. 1). The air entering piping 116 also flows through the set of flow channels 108 during adsorption, and low-pressure steam is forced to exit from piping 1 18 via the valving system. The low- pressure steam is drawn via a vacuum process from the heat exchanger 100 via piping 118. During a second operating cycle, humid air enters the heat exchanger 100 via piping 118 and the set of flow channels 106 during adsorption. Concurrently, low-pressure steam exits piping 116. The low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger 100 via a vacuum process and piping 116.

[0029] During adsorption, heat generated causes the operating temperature of a base plate 102 and / or one or more intermediate plates 104 to increase. The additional heat generated through the adsorption on one side of the base plate 102 and / or one or more intermediate plates 104 is conductively transferred to the opposite side of the same plate that is concurrently performing desorption or performing desorption during the next operating cycle. To facilitate the conductive heat exchange, in the exemplary embodiment, the base plate 102 or intermediate plate 104 is fabricated from a metallic material such as, but not limited to only being, an aluminum alloy, a stainless steel material, and / or any other metallic material that is cost-effective for use and that has a relatively high thermal conductivity7.

[0030] As such, in the exemplary embodiment, no additional heat sources are required to perform the desorption process during w ater extraction from ambient air using the heat exchanger 100. Moreover, water extraction or harvesting, and dehumidification are700530-WO-l(17851-1477) facilitated at a much lower energy cost than is possible with at least some of the known atmospheric water extraction systems. Further, the present heat exchanger described herein facilitates eliminating external heat losses, and thereby, facilitates increasing the overall efficiency of the atmospheric water extraction system while also simplifying the complexity of components and associated piping of the atmospheric water extraction system described herein as compared to known water extraction systems.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system 200 that may be used with the heat exchanger 100 shown in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the controller 202 includes a memory 204 and a processor 206. In the exemplary7embodiment, the controller 202 automatically controls operation of valves (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) and controls (not shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) to enable humid ambient air to enter piping 116 and / or 118, and to enable low-pressure steam to exit through piping 118 and / or 116 during respective operating cycles, based on data and / or instructions stored in the memory' 204, and data analyzed by the processor 206. Alternatively, the controller 202 may accept manual inputs to enable control operation of the heat exchanger 100.

[0032] In the exemplary' embodiment, the controller 202 may be configured to cause ambient air to be forced through the first set of channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 106) on the plurality of intermediate plates 104 and through set of end plate channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 106) defined on a first of the plurality of end plates 102 during a first operating cycle, and cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the second set of channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 108) on the plurality' of intermediate plates 104 and through the set of end plate channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 108) defined on a second of the plurality of end plates 102 during the first operating cycle. Additionally, the controller 202 may cause the ambient air to be forced through the second set of channels (e.g., the set of flow' channels 108) on the plurality' of intermediate plates 104 and through the set of end plate channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 108) defined on the second of the plurality of end plates 102 during a second operating cycle, and cause a low- pressure steam being drawn through the first set of channels (e.g., the set of flow channels 106) on the plurality' of intermediate plates 104 and through the set of end plate channels700530-WO-l (17851-1477)(e.g., the set of flow channels 106) defined on the first of the plurality of end plates 102 during the second operating cycle.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, memory 204 may be a cache memory and / or a random-access memory (RAM), which may be a computer-readable memory (e.g., volatile, or non-volatile) that includes at least a memory section storing an operating system and a section storing program code or computer-executable instructions. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, program code may be stored remotely on a server or mass-storage device and made available over a network to controller 202 and / or processor 206.

[0034] As used herein, the terms "processor" and “computer’ and related terms, e.g., “processing device,” “controller,” and “computer device” 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 interchangeable herein.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.700530-WO-l (17851-1477)

[0037] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:

[0038] A heat exchanger for use in extracting water from ambient air, the heat exchanger including: (i) a plurality of intermediate plates coupled together, each of the plurality7of intermediate plates comprises a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement; and (ii) a plurality7of end plates coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the plurality of intermediate plates are stacked between the plurality of end plates, each of the plurality7of end plates comprises a first side and an opposite second side, one of the first side and the second side of each of the plurality of end plates comprises a set of defined end plate channels thereon coated with the sorbent, wherein each of the plurality of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the set of defined end plate channels face the plurality of intermediate plates, wherein during a first operating cycle, ambient air is forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality7of end plates where adsorption is being performed, and wherein during the first operating cycle, a low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels of a second of the plurality7of end plates where desorption is being performed.

[0039] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the flow arrangement comprises a plurality of first piping coupled to the first set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates.

[0040] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of second piping coupled to the second set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined of the second of the plurality7of end plates.

[0041] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates and each of the plurality of end plates includes at least one opening extending therethrough, each at least one opening is sized to enable at least one of the first piping and the second piping to extend therethrough.700530-WO-l (17851-1477)

[0042] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels via a vacuum process.

[0043] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates is fabricated from a metallic material that facilitates heat transfer via conduction therethrough.

[0044] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of intermediates plates is coated with the sorbent on both sides of each of the plurality of intermediate plates.

[0045] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sorbent includes a metal-organic framework.

[0046] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein during a second operating cycle, ambient air is forced through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the second of the plurality' of end plates where adsorption is being performed, and wherein low-pressure steam exits the heat exchanger through the first set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates where desorption is being performed.

[0047] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-and-frame type heat exchanger.

[0048] A system for extracting water from ambient air, the system including: (i) a heat exchanger including: (a) a plurality of intermediate plates coupled together, each of the plurality of intermediate plates includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement; and (b) a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the plurality of intermediate plates are stacked between the plurality of end plates, each of the plurality of end plates includes a first side and an opposite second side, one of the first side and the second side of each of the plurality of end plates includes a set of defined end plate channels thereon coated with the sorbent, wherein each of the plurality' of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates700530-WO-l(17851-1477) such that the set of defined end plate channels face the plurality of intermediate plates; (ii) at least one memory storing instructions thereon; and (iii) at least one controller configured to execute the instructions to: (a) cause ambient air to be forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality of end plates during a first operating cycle; and (b) cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels of a second of the plurality of end plates during the first operating cycle.

[0049] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the flow arrangement comprises a plurality of first piping coupled to the first set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates.

[0050] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of second piping coupled to the second set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined of the second of the plurality of end plates.

[0051] The heat exchanger in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality7of intermediate plates and each of the plurality of end plates includes at least one opening extending therethrough, each at least one opening is sized to enable at least one of the first piping and the second piping to extend therethrough.

[0052] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels via a vacuum process.

[0053] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates is fabricated from a metallic material that facilitates heat transfer via conduction therethrough.

[0054] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein each of the plurality of intermediates plates is coated with the sorbent on both sides of each of the plurality of intermediate plates.700530-WO-l (17851-1477)

[0055] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sorbent includes a metal-organic framework.

[0056] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to execute the instructions to: cause the ambient air to be forced through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the second of the plurality of end plates during a second operating cycle; and cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the first set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates during the second operating cycle.

[0057] The system in accordance with any of the preceding clauses, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-and-frame type heat exchanger.

[0058] 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

700530-WO-l(17851-1477)WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A heat exchanger for use in extracting water from ambient air, the heat exchanger comprising: a plurality7of intermediate plates coupled together, each of the plurality' of intermediate plates comprises a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement; a controller coupled to the heat exchanger; and a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality' of intermediate plates such that the plurality- of intermediate plates are stacked betyveen the plurality' of end plates, each of the plurality of end plates comprises a first side and an opposite second side, one of the first side and the second side of each of the plurality of end plates comprises a set of defined end plate channels thereon coated with the sorbent, wherein each of the plurality7of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the set of defined end plate channels face the plurality- of intermediate plates, wherein during a first operating cycle, ambient air is forced by through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality of end plates yvhere adsorption is being performed, and wherein during the first operating cycle, a low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels of a second of the plurality- of end plates yvhere desorption is being performed, wherein operation of the operating cycles is determined by the controller.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, yvherein the flow arrangement comprises a plurality of first piping coupled to the first set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates.700530-WO-l(17851-1477)3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of second piping coupled to the second set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined of the second of the plurality of end plates.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates and each of the plurality of end plates includes at least one opening extending therethrough, each at least one opening is sized to enable at least one of the first piping and the second piping to extend therethrough.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the low-pressure steam is drawn from the heat exchanger through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels via a vacuum process.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates is fabricated from a metallic material that facilitates heat transfer via conduction therethrough.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of intermediates plates is coated with the sorbent on both sides of each of the plurality of intermediate plates.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the sorbent includes a metalorganic framework.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein during a second operating cycle, ambient air is forced through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the second of the plurality of end plates where adsorption is being performed, and wherein low-pressure steam exits the heat exchanger through the first set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates where desorption is being performed.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate- and-frame type heat exchanger.700530-WO-l(17851-1477)1 1. A system for extracting water from ambient air, the system comprising: a heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of intermediate plates coupled together, each of the plurality of intermediate plates comprises a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each of the first and second sets of channels are coated with a sorbent and are oriented to define a flow arrangement; and a plurality of end plates coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the plurality of intermediate plates are stacked between the plurality of end plates, each of the plurality of end plates comprises a set of end plate channels coated with the sorbent, wherein each of the plurality' of end plates is coupled to the plurality of intermediate plates such that the set of end plate channels face the plurality of intermediate plates; at least one memory storing instructions thereon; and at least one controller configured to execute the instructions to: cause ambient air to be forced through the first set of channels and through set of end plate channels defined on a first of the plurality of end plates during a first operating cycle; and cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on a second of the plurality of end plates during the first operating cycle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the flow arrangement comprises a plurality' of first piping coupled to the first set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the flow arrangement further comprises a plurality of second piping coupled to the second set of channels and to the set of end plate channels defined of the second of the plurality of end plates.700530-WO-l(17851-1477)14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates and each of the plurality7of end plates includes at least one opening extending therethrough, each at least one opening is sized to enable at least one of the first piping and the second piping to extend therethrough.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the low-pressure steam is drawn through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels via a vacuum process.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of intermediate plates is fabricated from a metallic material that facilitates heat transfer via conduction therethrough.

17. The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of intermediates plates is coated with the sorbent on both sides of each of the plurality of intermediate plates.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sorbent includes a metal-organic framework.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to execute the instructions to: cause the ambient air to be forced through the second set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the second of the plurality of end plates during a second operating cycle; and cause a low-pressure steam being drawn through the first set of channels and through the set of end plate channels defined on the first of the plurality of end plates during the second operating cycle.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the heat exchanger is a plate-and- frame type heat exchanger.

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