SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PURIFIED WATER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for providing purified water, the system including a water vapor condenser, a separate water purifier, and piping coupling the condenser to the water purifier, the water purifier being distanced from the condenser sufficiently to provide noise insulation. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water purifier is sufficiently distanced from the condenser to permit placing the condenser in a location having higher humidity than the location of the water purifier.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing purified water, in general and, in particular, to a system and method for condensing and purifying water vapor from the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known systems for condensing water from the air. Water coolers having both a condenser and a water purifier are known, to permit water vapor present in the air to be converted to drinking water. These condensers generally are very noisy. Since they are generally placed in an office or in an area in the building where it is desired that water be available for drinking, such noise is disturbing and distracting. In addition, the condenser and water purifier are generally built as a single unit. Since such unit is generally placed in the office wherein air conditioning provides for relatively low humidity, the unit can provide only small amounts of condensed and purified water.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a system which efficiently condenses water vapor at a location with relatively high humidity which is not susceptible to noise and supplies purified water at a location of low humidity and susceptible to noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided according to the present invention a system for providing purified water, the system including a water vapor condenser, a separate water purifier, and piping coupling the condenser to the water purifier, the water purifier being distanced from the condenser sufficiently to provide noise insulation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water purifier is sufficiently distanced from the condenser to permit placing the condenser in a location having higher humidity than the location of the water purifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system for condensation and purification of water vapor constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for condensation and purification of water vapor, which permits location of the condenser in an area of relatively higher humidity than at the location of the water purifier, and permits a user to drink purified water without suffering from the noise of the condenser and the high humidity.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic illustration of a system 10 for condensation and purification of water vapor constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System 10 includes a water vapor condenser 20 and a water purifier 30.

Water vapor condenser 20 includes a condensing unit (not shown) coupled to a condensed water tank 22. A float 24 having an electric switch (not shown) is mounted in tank 22 and is electrically coupled to a controller 26. A sensor 40, for detecting a pre-selected minimum depth of condensed water, is mounted in tank 22 and is electrically coupled to controller 26. A pump 28 is mounted in condenser 20 and is electrically controlled by controller 26. A water pressure sensor 29 is mounted in condenser 20 and is electrically coupled to controller 26. Pressure sensor 29 may comprise a pressostat, as known. Piping 12 extends from tank 22 to purifier 30 via pressure sensor 29 for detecting a change in the water pressure in piping 12 and via pump 28, which is arranged to pump water from tank 22 to water purifier 30, as required. A one-way valve 42 is preferably mounted between pump 28 and piping 12 to prevent the draining of the pump when it stops pumping.

Water purifier 30 includes a water purifying unit 34, a water tank 32 for collecting the incoming condensed water, and a purified water outlet 36, as illustrated in FIG. 1. According to another embodiment of the invention, the water tank 32 may be used for collecting the purified water (not shown). A float 38 is preferably mounted in water tank 32.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the water purifier 30 is distanced from the water vapor condenser 20 and need be coupled thereto only by piping for passage of the condensed water. This permits the water purifier 30 to be located in a convenient location for drinking, which can be insulated or isolated from both the noise of the condenser and the relatively humid air required for the condenser to operate most efficiently. In addition, this permits the condenser to be located in an area of relatively higher humidity, such as outside a building, so as to increase the quantity of condensed water. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tap may be coupled to the condenser for permitting the inflow of tap water in the event that there is insufficient humidity to provide the desired quantity of condensed water for purification.

Operation of the system of the invention is as follows, with further reference to FIG. 1. The water condenser 20 is disposed in a convenient location, preferably an area where the humidity in the air is relatively high and is not artificially reduced by, for example, an air-conditioning unit. A water purifier 30, coupled to condenser 20 by piping 12, is disposed in a location convenient for drinking and, preferably, insulated from noise from the condenser and the humid air of its location. As water is condensed in condenser 20, it is stored in water tank 22. When the quantity of water in the water tank 32 drops below a pre-set level, as by opening water outlet 36, float 38 causes an inlet valve (not shown) mounted in purifier 30 and coupled to one end of piping 12, to open, thereby reducing the pressure in piping 12. This reduction in pressure is sensed by pressure sensor 29, which sends a signal to controller 26 to activate pump 28 to pump additional condensed water to purifier 30 through piping 12. As soon as float 24 is lowered due to water being drawn from water tank 22, float 24 send a signal to controller 26 to activate condenser 20 to condense additional air vapor and collect it in water tank 22 in the condenser. When float 38 returns to its original pre-set level the inlet valve is closed and water pressure in piping 12 rises. When pressure sensor 29 detects that water pressure in piping 12 has returned to its original pre-set level, it sends a signal to the controller to stop pump 28. Condenser 20 continues to condense air vapor until float 24 returns to its originally pre-set level and sends a signal to controller 26 to stop the operation of the condenser. In the event that condenser 20 cannot supply sufficient condensed water, sensor 40 detects that the condensed water in tank 22 has reached a minimum pre-set level and sends a signal to the controller to stop pump 28. Alternatively, controller 26 may open an inlet valve of a tap water supply coupled to the condenser (not shown). Further, the condensed water flows through piping 12 into tank 32 in purifier 30 and, when water outlet 36 is opened for dispensing purified water, the condensed water flows through purifying unit 34 and is dispensed through outlet 36. Alternatively, the condensed water may flow through piping 12 into purifying unit 34 where the purified water is collected in tank 32. When water outlet 36 is opened, purified water flows from tank 32 and is dispensed through outlet 36.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. It will further be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, the invention is limited solely by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A system for providing purified water, the system comprising:

a water vapor condenser;

a separate water purifier; and

piping extending between said condenser and said water purifier for moving condensed water from said condenser to said water purifier,

said water purifier being sufficiently distanced from said condenser to permit placing said condenser in a location having higher humidity than the location of said water purifier.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said water purifier is sufficiently distanced from said condenser to permit placing of said purifier in a location substantially insulated from the noise created by said condenser.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a condensed water tank;

a condensed water pump coupled to said condensed water tank;

a controller for controlling said pump, and

at least one sensor, coupled to said water tank and to said controller, for causing said controller to activate or deactivate said pump.

4. A method for providing purified water, the method comprising:

mounting a water vapor condenser in a relatively humid area;

separately mounting a water purifier distanced from said condenser in a location for drinking in a less humid area than said condenser; and

coupling said condenser to said water purifier via piping.

5. A method for providing purified water according to claim 4, wherein the step of mounting said water purifier further includes separately mounting said water purifier at a location substantially insulated from the noise created by said condenser.