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US 12,000,122 B2Granted
Atmospheric water harvesting system with cross-flow configuration
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 water harvesting systems utilize a sorbent cartridge configured to hold water capture material. The sorbent cartridge is made up of a plurality of permeable trays and a plurality of spacers that are arranged to provide cross-flow for adsorption and desorption airflow pathways. The systems are used for harvesting water from surrounding air.
Claims20
An atmospheric water harvesting system, wherein the system cycles between an adsorption mode followed by a desorption mode, the system comprising:
- a plurality of trays, stacked one on top of each other,
- wherein each tray has a permeable membrane that holds water capture material;
- wherein the plurality of trays form a box with four sides,
- wherein one side is an adsorption entry side, one side is an adsorption exit side, one side is a desorption entry side, and one side is a desorption exit side, and
- wherein the adsorption entry side and the adsorption exit side opposite to each other, and the desorption entry side and the desorption exit side are opposite to each other;
- a plurality of spacers positioned between every other tray on the adsorption entry side to create a set of adsorption channels;
- a plurality of spacers positioned between every other tray on the desorption entry side to create a set of desorption channels,
- wherein the set of adsorption channels are separated from and orthogonal to the set of desorption channels;
- at least one heating element positioned externally to the plurality of trays;
- at least one adsorption fans are positioned near the adsorption entry side,
- at least one desorption fans are positioned near the desorption entry side,
- a condenser positioned near the desorption exit side,
- wherein, in the adsorption mode,
- the at least one adsorption fans are configured to direct surrounding air through the adsorption channels, and
- at least a portion of the water capture material on each tray adsorbs moisture from the surrounding air;
- wherein, in the desorption mode,
- the at least one heating element is configured to provide heated air, and
- the at least one desorption fans are configured to direct heated air through the desorption channels that causes release of water vapor from at least a portion of the water capture material, and to direct released water vapor towards the condenser;
- and wherein the condenser is configured to condense the water vapor released through the desorption channels and to produce liquid water.
16 more elements
An atmospheric water harvesting system, wherein the system cycles between an adsorption mode followed by a desorption mode, the system comprising:
- a plurality of trays, stacked one on top of each other,
- wherein each tray comprises a permeable membrane that holds water capture material, and
- wherein the plurality of trays form a box with four sides,
- wherein one side is an adsorption entry side, one side is an adsorption exit side, one side is a desorption entry side, and one side is a desorption exit side, and
- wherein the adsorption entry side and the adsorption exit side opposite to each other, and the desorption entry side and the desorption exit side are opposite to each other;
- at least one heating element positioned within the plurality of trays;
- a plurality of spacers positioned between every other tray on the adsorption entry side to create a set of adsorption channels;
- a plurality of spacers positioned between every other tray on the desorption entry side to create a set of desorption channels,
- wherein the set of adsorption channels are separated from and orthogonal to the set of desorption channels;
- at least one adsorption fans are positioned near the adsorption entry side;
- at least one desorption fans are positioned near the desorption entry side;
- a condenser positioned near the desorption exit side,
- wherein, in the adsorption mode,
- the at least one adsorption fans are configured to direct surrounding air through the adsorption channels, and
- at least a portion of the water capture material on each tray adsorbs moisture from the surrounding air;
- wherein, 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
- the at least one desorption fans direct released water vapor towards the condenser;
- and
- wherein the condenser is configured to condense the water vapor released through the desorption channels and to produce liquid water.
17 more elements
A method of harvesting water from surrounding air using an atmospheric water harvesting system, wherein the system comprises:
- a plurality of trays stacked one on top of each other, wherein each tray comprises a permeable membrane that holds water capture material, and wherein the plurality of trays are arranged to form a set of adsorption channels and a set of desorption channels, wherein the set of adsorption channels are separated from and orthogonal to the set of desorption channels;
- at least one heating element positioned externally to the plurality of trays;
- and a condenser;
- and wherein the system cycles between an adsorption mode followed by a desorption mode,
- the method comprising:
- directing surrounding air through the adsorption channels in the adsorption mode,
- wherein at least a portion of the water capture material adsorbs moisture from the surrounding air;
- heating air using the at least one heating element to produce heated air;
- directing the heated air through the desorption channels to release water vapor from at least a portion of the water capture material in the desorption mode;
- and
- condensing the released water vapor using the condenser to produce liquid water;
- or
- a method of harvesting water from surrounding air using an atmospheric water harvesting system, wherein the system comprises:
- a plurality of trays stacked one on top of each other, wherein each tray comprises a permeable membrane that holds water capture material, and wherein the plurality of trays are arranged to form a set of adsorption channels and a set of desorption channels, wherein the set of adsorption channels are separated from and orthogonal to the set of desorption channels;
- at least one heating element positioned within the plurality of trays;
- and a condenser;
- and wherein the system cycles between an adsorption mode followed by a desorption mode,
- the method comprising:
- directing surrounding air through the adsorption channels in the adsorption mode, wherein at least a portion of the water capture material adsorbs moisture from the surrounding air;
- heating the water capture material using the at least one heating element in the desorption phase to release water vapor from at least a portion of the water capture material;
- directing the released water vapor through the desorption channels towards the condenser;
- and
- condensing the released water vapor using the condenser to produce liquid water.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.