Method and apparatus to produce potable water
OwnerRichard Pautz, Patricia Graef +2inventors
InventorsRichard Pautz, Patricia Graef, Larry Klekar, Danny Dotson
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing potable water from non-potable water, in which a supply of air is passed through a heating unit to increase the air temperature and then passed through an evaporative cooling media through which the non-potable water is passed in liquid/gas contact with the heated air. The temperature of the air leaving the evaporative media is reduced as a result of contact with the water, and its moisture content is increased. The cooler moist air is then passed through a cooling coil to cause the moisture in the air to condense as liquid water, which is then collected and made suitable for use as drinking water.
Claims22
A method of producing potable water from non-potable water comprising the steps of:
- I) providing a supply of air;
- ii) passing said supply of air through a heating device to increase its temperature;
- iii) passing the heated air leaving the heating device through an evaporative cooling media;
- iv) supplying non-potable water to the evaporative cooling media whereby the non-potable water passes in liquid gas contact with the heated air and the temperature of the air is reduced while its moisture content is increased;
- v) passing the thus cooled and moistened air through a cooling coil to cause water moisture in the air to condense as liquid water;
- and
- vi) collecting said liquid water.
Apparatus for producing potable water from non-potable water comprising means for heating a supply of air to increase its temperature;
- an evaporative media;
- means for supplying non-potable water to said evaporative media for passage therethrough in liquid/gas contact with air heated in said heating means thereby to reduce the temperature of the heated air while increasing its moisture content;
- means for cooling the air leaving the evaporative media to cause water moisture in the air to condense as liquid water;
- and means for causing said supply of air to move first through the heating means, then through the evaporative media and then through said cooling means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.