Method and apparatus for recovering water from air
AssigneeFantom Technologies Inc.
InventorsWayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process of separating water from ambient air involves a liquid desiccant to first withdraw water from air and treatment of the liquid desiccant to produce water and regenerated desiccant. Water lean air is released to the atmosphere. Heat generated in the process is recycled. The drying capacity, or volume of water produced, of the system for a given energy input is favored over the production of dried air.
Claims42
A regenerative process for separating water from air comprising:
- (a) providing a hygroscopic solution comprising a solute in an initial concentration;
- (b) contacting the hygroscopic solution with air containing water to obtain a water rich hygroscopic solution having a concentration of solute less than the initial concentration and a water lean air stream;
- (c) separating the water lean air stream from the water rich hygroscopic solution;
- (d) releasing the water lean air stream to the atmosphere;
- and,
- (e) vapourizing water in the water rich hygroscopic solution to obtain water vapour and the hygroscopic solution and subsequently condensing the water vapour wherein the water rich hygroscopic solution is heated at least in part by the heat of condensation which is liberated by the condensation of the water vapour.
The process of claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises:
- (a) subjecting the water rich hygroscopic solution to at least one heat exchange step to indirectly heat the water rich hygroscopic solution to an elevated temperature at a first pressure;
- (b) introducing the heated water rich hygroscopic solution into an area at a second pressure below the first pressure whereupon water in the water rich hydroscopic solution is evolved to produce a heated hygroscopic solution and heated water;
- and,
- (c) using the heated water to heat the water rich hygroscopic solution in step (a) of claim 10.
A regenerative process for separating water from air comprising:
- (a) providing a releasable water absorption means;
- (b) contacting the releasable water absorption means with air containing water vapour in a contact area to obtain a water rich releasable water absorption means and a water lean air stream;
- (c) separating the water lean air stream from the water rich releasable water absorption means;
- (d) releasing at least a portion of the water lean air stream to the atmosphere;
- and,
- (e) vaporizing water in the water rich releasable water absorption means to regenerate the releasable water absorption means and to obtain water vapour and condensing the water vapour to obtain water for use wherein the water rich releasable water absorption means is heated at least in part by the heat of condensation which is liberated by the condensation of the water vapour.
An open loop regenerative process for separating water from air comprising:
- (a) contacting a desiccant with air containing water to obtain a water rich desiccant and a water lean air stream;
- (b) separating the water lean air stream from the water rich desiccant;
- (c) dividing the water rich desiccant into a plurality of portions;
- (d) subjecting a first portion to conditions at which water is vaporized from the water rich desiccant to produce water vapour and condensing water vapour to produce liquid water;
- (e) heating a second portion of the water rich desiccant using at least in part heat of condensation produced from the condensation of water vapour in step (d) to vaporize water from the second portion of the water rich desiccant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.