US 11,235,986 B2Granted

Method of controlling a pump to convert non-potable to potable water from waste heat

AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC

InventorSean James

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Abstract

Waste heat generated by devices as a byproduct of their operation is utilized to increase and maintain the temperature of non-potable water to neutralize biological contaminants, thereby rendering such water potable. The potable water can then be utilized for evaporative cooling of the devices. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the non-potable water and a controller controls the pump to provide sufficient time for the water to remain in the heat exchanger above a predetermined temperature to neutralize biological contaminants and render such water potable. To the extent that different devices generate different quantities and intensities of waste heat, multiple heat exchangers are utilized, with lower intensity waste heat serving to preheat the water and, thereby, reduce the amount of time needed to reach the target temperature in a primary heat exchanger. Waste heat not utilized to generate potable water can be utilized for other heat-driven processes.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of controlling a pump to pump water through piping, wherein heating of the water in the piping generates potable water from non-potable water, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a controller implementing the method, a first temperature from a first temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor sensing the first temperature of water in a first portion of the piping, the first portion of the piping being thermodynamically coupled to a computing device such that the waste heat from the computing device is transferred to water in the first portion of the piping,
receiving, by the controller implementing the method, a second temperature from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor sensing the second temperature of water in a second portion of the piping, the second portion of the piping being thermodynamically coupled to a power generation device such that the waste heat from the power generation device is transferred to water in the second portion of the piping, and
controlling, with the controller, the pump to pump the non-potable water into the first portion of the piping, thereby moving water from the first portion of the piping into the second portion of the piping, and thereby further expelling water from the second portion of the piping, the expelled water now being potable, based on:
(1) whether the first temperature has reached a first threshold temperature and
(2) whether the second temperature has been above a second threshold temperature for greater than a predetermined quantity of time;
wherein the first threshold temperature is based on a temperature of the waste heat from the computing device, the temperature of the waste heat from the computing device being insufficient to generate potable water from the non-potable water;
wherein the second threshold temperature and the predetermined quantity of time are sufficient to kill microbes in the non-potable water;
and
wherein the second threshold temperature and the predetermined quantity of time are based on a maintenance of the water at or above the second threshold temperature for at least the predetermined quantity of time being sufficient to kill microbes in the water.

6 more elements

Digital memory comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

receive a first temperature from a first temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor sensing the first temperature of water in a first portion of the piping, the first portion of the piping being thermodynamically coupled to a computing device such that the waste heat from the computing device is transferred to water in the first portion of the piping;
receive a second temperature from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor sensing the second temperature of water in a second portion of the piping, the second portion of the piping being thermodynamically coupled to a power generation device such that the waste heat from the power generation device is transferred to water in the second portion of the piping;
and
generating a pump control output causing a pump to pump the non-potable water into the first portion of the piping, thereby moving water from the first portion of the piping into the second portion of the piping, and thereby further expelling water from the second portion of the piping, the expelled water now being potable, based on:
(1) whether the first temperature has reached a first threshold temperature and (2) whether the second temperature has been above a second threshold temperature for greater than a predetermined quantity of time;
wherein the first threshold temperature is based on a temperature of the waste heat from the computing device, the temperature of the waste heat from the computing device being insufficient to generate potable water from the non-potable water;
wherein the second threshold temperature and the predetermined quantity of time are based on a maintenance of the water at or above the second threshold temperature for at least the predetermined quantity of time being sufficient to kill microbes in the water;
and
wherein the computing device and the power generation device are thermodynamically independent heat sources.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/118,430Filed 30 Aug 2018 · continuation
Priority: 27 Jun 2014
Published: US 2018/0370817 A127 Dec 2018
Granted: 1 Feb 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

C02F 1/16
By distillation or evaporation: using waste heat from other processes
C02F 1/02
Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage: by heating
F24F 5/0035
Cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning: using evaporation
F24F 5/0046
Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00 , e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an…

Family

Application14/318,576Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jun 2014
US 2018/0370817 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Dec 2018
US 10,087,088 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0376031 A1Published application
US 11,235,986 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.