Active atmospheric moisture harvester
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsOmar M. Yaghi, Mathieu S. Prevot, Nikita Hanikel, Eugene A. Kapustin, Farhad Fathieh
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Abstract
Atmospheric moisture harvester systems include two beds with water capture material, such as metal-organic framework (MOF), a heater, two fans, and a condenser having two sides, operatively configured into adsorption and desorption modes, wherein the MOF beds are interchangeable to cycle between the desorption and water adsorption modes. The systems may further include a photovoltaic panel powering the fans and condenser.
Claims22
An atmospheric moisture harvester system comprising two metal-organic framework (MOF) beds, a heater, a photovoltaic panel which powers two fans, and a condenser having two sides, operatively configured into:
- a) an adsorption mode wherein ambient air is blown by one of the fans through one of the MOF beds to one side of the condenser, wherein the MOF adsorbs water from the ambient air to form dried air;
- b) a regeneration mode wherein the dried air is blown by the other fan through the other MOF bed to the other side the condenser, wherein the heater heats the dried air, the heated dried air desorbs water from the MOF to produce humidified air, and the humidified air releases the water at the condenser;
- and
- wherein the MOF beds are interchangeable to cycle between the regeneration and water adsorption modes.
An atmospheric moisture harvester system, comprising:
- a first moisture sorption unit and a second moisture sorption unit,
- wherein each moisture sorption unit independently comprises:
- at least one fan, and
- at least one tray configured to hold water capture material, and
- wherein each moisture sorption unit is configured to operate in one or more cycles, wherein each cycle comprises an adsorption mode followed by a desorption mode;
- at least one heating element, positioned either (a) within each moisture sorption unit, or
- (b) externally to each moisture sorption unit;
- a condenser, positioned in between the first moisture sorption unit and the second moisture sorption unit, wherein the side of the condenser adjacent to the moisture sorption unit in the adsorption mode has a higher average temperature than the side of the condenser adjacent to the moisture sorption unit in the desorption mode;
- and
- at least one power source, configured to power the fans and heating element in the system,
- wherein, for each moisture sorption unit in the adsorption mode,
- the at least one fan in the moisture sorption unit in the adsorption mode is configured to direct surrounding air towards the at least one tray of water capture material, and at least a portion of the water capture material adsorbs moisture from the surrounding air, and
- the at least one fan in the moisture sorption unit in the adsorption mode further directs air out of the moisture sorption unit in the adsorption mode to at least partially cool the side of the condenser adjacent thereto;
- wherein, for each moisture sorption unit in the desorption mode,
- the at least one heating element is configured to provide heat that causes release of water vapor from at least a portion of the water capture material;
- and
- wherein the condenser is configured to condense the water vapor released from the moisture sorption unit in the desorption mode and to produce liquid water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.