ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATOR
An atmospheric water generator includes a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. The condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil, and preheats a flow of atmospheric air as the air is forced through the condenser coil before the air passes through the evaporator coil. Liquid water condensate from the preheated air is generated as the air passes through the evaporator coil and is accumulated in a water collection tank. A second condenser coil cooled by a second flow of atmospheric air supplies refrigerant to the evaporator coil.
Water is a valuable resource which can be scarce in geographic regions which have extremely dry climates and few natural sources of fresh water. Even in such dry climates, however, the local atmospheric air typically contains at least some water in the form of water vapor. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have the ability to extract this available moisture from relatively dry atmospheric air to provide liquid water for drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing, irrigation, livestock, industrial applications, and other common uses. In particular, it would be beneficial to be able to extract substantial quantities of liquid water from atmospheric air having low relative humidity (for example, relative humidity less than or equal to about 35 percent). In addition, it would be helpful to be able to scavenge substantial volumes of liquid water from atmospheric air in cooler climates where atmospheric temperatures are relatively low (for example, locations where the air temperature is less than or equal to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit).
SUMMARYOne embodiment of an atmospheric water generator according to the invention includes a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. The condenser coil can be positioned proximate to the evaporator coil, and can be configured to preheat a flow of atmospheric air as the air is forced through the condenser coil and then through the evaporator coil. Liquid water condensate from the preheated air is generated as the air passes through the evaporator coil. The atmospheric water generator can also include a water collection tank configured to accumulate the liquid water condensate. In one arrangement, the evaporator coil and the condenser coil have corresponding non-flat shapes. The atmospheric water generator can further include a second condenser coil which is cooled by a second flow of atmospheric air and supplies refrigerant to the evaporator coil.
In another embodiment according to the invention, an atmospheric water generator includes a chassis and a refrigeration circuit within the chassis. The refrigeration circuit can include a compressor, a primary condenser coil, a secondary condenser coil, an expansion valve, an evaporator, at least one condenser fan, and at least one evaporator fan. The secondary condenser coil can be positioned proximate to the evaporator coil, and can be configured to preheat atmospheric air before the air is forced through the evaporator by the evaporator fan. Refrigerant can be supplied from the compressor to both the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil, and liquid water condensate from the preheated atmospheric air is generated as the preheated air is forced through the evaporator coil. The condenser fan can be configured to force a first flow of atmospheric air through the primary condenser coil, and the evaporator fan can be configured to force a second flow of atmospheric air through the secondary condenser coil and the evaporator coil. The atmospheric water generator can also include at least one water collection tank configured to collect the liquid water condensate from the evaporator. At least one drain line can be provided to drain the liquid water condensate from the water collection tank, and at least one pump can be configured to pump the liquid water condensate from the drain line to a water storage location.
The atmospheric water generator can further include a divider panel which separates a condenser chamber and an evaporator chamber within the chassis. At least one dried air duct can be configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber to the condenser chamber. In addition, the condenser fan can be configured to exhaust both a first flow of air which passes through the primary condenser and the dried air which enters the condenser chamber from the evaporator chamber through the dried air duct. In one embodiment, the evaporator fan is located at one end of the dried air duct. The atmospheric water generator can also include a second water collection tank, and the dried air duct can be configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber into the second water collection tank. The secondary water collection tank can be arranged to collect liquid water condensate from the dried air. At least one dried air vent can be provided to permit the dried air to enter the condenser chamber from the second water collection tank. At least one of the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil can have a non-planar shape.
The invention also includes a method of generating liquid water from atmospheric air containing water vapor. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator, preheating a flow of atmospheric air containing at least some water vapor, passing the flow of preheated air through the evaporator to cause liquid water to condense from the preheated air, and collecting the condensed liquid water. The step of preheating the flow of atmospheric air can include passing the flow of atmospheric air through a condenser coil of the refrigeration system before the air passes through the evaporator coil.
One embodiment of an atmospheric water generator (AWG) 100 according to the invention is shown in
The AWG 100 further includes a primary condenser coil 114 located proximate to the first air intake grill 115. The primary condenser coil 114 is positioned within the chassis 105 such that the first flow of atmospheric air will pass through the primary condenser coil 114. In the embodiment shown in
The AWG 100 shown in
As further shown in
One embodiment of a refrigeration circuit 200 for use in the AWG 100 shown in
The primary flow path of refrigerant within the refrigeration circuit 200 is described beginning at the compressor 202. In one embodiment, the compressor 202 is scroll-type compressor. Hot gaseous refrigerant exits the compressor 202 at high pressure through a compressor discharge line 204 and passes to the primary condenser coil 114. As shown in
The refrigerant then passes through conduit 216 from receiver 205 to an expansion valve 222. Conduit 216 can include a filter drier 218 to remove any moisture or debris, and a sight glass 220 to permit observation of the condition of the refrigerant as it exits the filter drier 218. The refrigerant exits the expansion valve 222 as a cold low-pressure gas/liquid mixture and passes through evaporator supply line 224 to the evaporator 103. The refrigerant is heated as it passes through the evaporator coil 103 by air flow generated by one or more evaporator fans 112a, 112b, 112c, and exits the evaporator coil 103 through an evaporator discharge line (suction line) 226 in a primarily gaseous state. The refrigerant then passes through the evaporator discharge line 226 to an accumulator 230 which prevents any liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor 202. The gaseous refrigerant is then returned to the compressor 202, and the refrigeration cycle is complete.
As can be seen in
As the preheated atmospheric air passes through the evaporator coil 103, water vapor contained within the air condenses and accumulates under and around the evaporator coil 103. As shown in
As discussed above, atmospheric air is preheated by the secondary condenser coil 101 before the air passes through the evaporator coil 103. As a result, the AWG 100 is capable of extracting a substantially larger volume of water from a given mass of atmospheric air than would be possible if the air was not preheated. In addition, preheating the air permits the AWG 100 to be used to extract substantial amounts of liquid water from atmospheric air at relatively low atmospheric temperatures. For example, the AWG 100 can produce liquid water from atmospheric air at temperatures less than or equal to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the opposite side of the chassis 105, a second flow of atmospheric air “B” is drawn into the chassis 105 through the second intake grill 104, through the secondary condenser coil 101, and through the evaporator coil 103 by evaporator fans 112a, 112b, 112c. As best seen in
The dried air then passes out of the secondary water collection tank 108 through one or more dried air vents 120, and enters the condenser chamber 500. The dried air vents 120 can include adjustable airflow dampers 122 to regulate the flow of air exiting the vents 120. The dried air is then exhausted from the condenser chamber 500 by the condenser fans 113a, 113b together with the air exiting the primary condenser coil 114.
As shown in
The above descriptions of various embodiments of the invention are intended to illustrate particular aspects and elements of the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain changes or modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An atmospheric water generator comprising a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator coil and a condenser coil, wherein the condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil and is configured to preheat a flow of atmospheric air as the air is forced through the condenser coil and then through the evaporator coil, whereby liquid water condensate from the preheated air is generated as the air passes through the evaporator coil.
2. An atmospheric water generator according to claim 1 and further including a water collection tank configured to accumulate the liquid water condensate.
3. An atmospheric water generator according to claim 1 wherein the evaporator coil and the condenser coil have corresponding non-flat shapes.
4. An atmospheric water generator according to claim 1 further comprising a second condenser coil, wherein the second condenser coil is cooled by a second flow of atmospheric air and supplies refrigerant to the evaporator coil.
5. An atmospheric water generator comprising:
- a. a chassis; and
- b. a refrigeration circuit within the chassis, the refrigeration circuit comprising: i. a compressor; ii. a primary condenser coil; iii. a secondary condenser coil; iv. an expansion valve; v. an evaporator; vi. at least one condenser fan; and vii. at least one evaporator fan;
- c. wherein the secondary condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil and is configured to preheat atmospheric air before the air is forced through the evaporator by the evaporator fan;
- d. wherein refrigerant is supplied from the compressor to both the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil; and
- e. whereby liquid water condensate from the preheated atmospheric air is generated as the preheated air is forced through the evaporator coil.
7. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 5 wherein the condenser fan is configured to force a first flow of atmospheric air through the primary condenser coil and the evaporator fan is configured to force a second flow of atmospheric air through the secondary condenser coil and the evaporator coil.
8. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 5 further comprising at least one water collection tank configured to collect the liquid water condensate from the evaporator.
9. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 8 further comprising at least one drain line to drain the liquid water condensate from the water collection tank.
10. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 9 further comprising at least one pump configured to pump the liquid water condensate from the drain line to a water storage location.
11. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 5 further comprising a divider panel which separates a condenser chamber and an evaporator chamber within the chassis.
12. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 11 further comprising at least one dried air duct configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber to the condenser chamber.
13. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 12 wherein the condenser fan is configured to exhaust both a first flow of air which passes through the primary condenser and the dried air which enters the condenser chamber from the evaporator chamber through the dried air duct.
14. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 12 wherein the evaporator fan is located at one end of the dried air duct.
15. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 12 further comprising a second water collection tank, wherein the dried air duct is configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber into the second water collection tank, and wherein the secondary water collection tank is arranged to collect liquid water condensate from the dried air.
16. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 15 further comprising at least one dried air vent configured to permit the dried air to enter the condenser chamber from the second water collection tank
17. The atmospheric water generator according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil have a non-planar shape.
18. A method of generating liquid water from atmospheric air containing water vapor, the method comprising:
- a. providing a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator;
- b. preheating a flow of atmospheric air containing at least some water vapor;
- c. passing the flow of preheated air through the evaporator to cause liquid water to condense from the preheated air; and
- c. collecting the condensed liquid water.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein preheating the flow of atmospheric air comprises passing the flow of atmospheric air through a condenser coil of the refrigeration system before the air passes through the evaporator coil.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 20, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2017
Inventor: Joseph BARUCH (Palm City, FL)
Application Number: 15/133,379