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US 12,697,576 B2Granted
Heat pump-based water harvesting systems, and methods of using thereof
AssigneeWater Harvesting, Inc.
InventorsDavid S. Kuo, Ievgen Kapustin
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Abstract
Provided herein are water harvesting systems, as well as methods of making and using such systems, for capturing water from surrounding air using a design that reduces overall energy costs of the systems and improve water harvesting cycle efficiency. The systems and methods use sorbent materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, to adsorb water from the air. The systems and methods desorb this water in the form of water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed into liquid water and collected. The liquid water is suitable for use as drinking water.
Claims15
A water harvester, comprising:
- a rotary device containing a sorbent, including:
- at least one process sector,
- said at least one process sector including a process air inlet and a process air outlet,
- wherein process air flows from said process air inlet to said process air outlet through said at least one process sector,
- wherein a sorbent in said at least one process sector adsorbs water from said process air flowing through said at least one process sector,
- at least one reactivation sector,
- said at least one reactivation sector including a reactivation air inlet and a reactivation air outlet,
- wherein reactivation air flows from said reactivation air inlet to said reactivation air outlet through said at least one reactivation sector,
- wherein said sorbent in said reactivation sector desorbs water into said reactivation air flowing through said at least one reactivation sector,
- a drive assembly configured to rotate said rotary device;
- a heat pump, comprising:
- a compressor;
- an expansion valve;
- an evaporator;
- a condenser;
- a refrigerant fluid which flows sequentially within said compressor, said condenser, said expansion valve, and said evaporator,
- wherein said condenser receives said reactivation air prior to flowing said reactivation air through said at least one reactivation sector,
- wherein said evaporator receives said reactivation air from said at least one reactivation sector;
- and
- a controller configured to receive one or more input parameters including one or more of:
- ambient temperature, ambient humidity, reactivation air temperature, reactivation air humidity,
- wherein said controller implementing a water harvesting algorithm based on said one or more input parameters controls operation of said rotary device and said heat pump.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.