# US 9,039,816 B2 · Dynamic control of desiccant concentrations in a water recovery device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,816 B2 - Document ID: US9039816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/693,451 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2013-12-05 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-04 - Assignees: Z124 - Applicants: Z124 - Inventors: Charles Becze; James Ball; David Blatt; Michael J. Flynn; Gary Fong; Kean Wing Kin Lam; Richard Teltz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039816B2 ## CPC - B01D 53/263: {by absorption} - B01D 53/0454: {Controlling adsorption (controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047)} - B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) - B01D 53/26: Drying gases or vapours - B01D 53/28: Selection of materials for use as drying agents - F24F 3/1417: {with liquid hygroscopic desiccants} - F25B 17/02: the absorbent or adsorbent being a liquid, e.g. brine (F25B17/10 takes precedence) - F25B 37/00: Absorbers; Adsorbers (boiler-absorbers F25B35/00) - F25B 43/00: Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids (in analysers or rectifiers F25B33/00); Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat (F25B40/00 takes precedence) - F25D 21/14: Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays - Y02B 30/62: Absorption based systems - Y10T 29/49396: Condenser, evaporator or vaporizer making - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system and method to recover water from an ambient airstream. Dehumidification of the airstream is also achieved by removal of the water. A device of the system includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant in each tray, the concentration of the liquid desiccant may be dynamically changed based on changes within the system. A foam media absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. A controller is used to integrate and manage all system functions and input variables to achieve a high efficiency of operational energy use for water collection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water recovery device comprising: a desiccant stack including one or more desiccant containers, each of the one or more desiccant containers including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant solution placed within the one or more desiccant containers and being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge; one or more supply reservoirs communicating with the one or more desiccant containers, the one or more supply reservoirs containing an amount of liquid; wherein liquid from the one or more supply reservoirs is added into the one or more desiccant containers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the desiccant container is a desiccant tray, and one or more desiccant trays are stacked on a first desiccant tray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a controller incorporated in the device for controlling concentrations of a desiccant solution in the desiccant container, the device further including one or more desiccant concentration sensors as inputs to the controller, and a plurality of valves and liquid pumps as outputs of the controller, the valves and pumps being located within one or more liquid distribution lines of the device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the plurality of valves and liquid pumps include a desiccant distribution valve and a desiccant distribution pump, a water distribution valve and a water distribution pump, said desiccant distribution pump and said water distribution pump communication with the desiccant container and one or more supply reservoirs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein an amount of liquid from the one or more desiccant containers is added into the one or more supply reservoirs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein liquid from the one or more desiccant containers circulates between the one or more desiccant containers and the one or more supply reservoirs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more desiccant containers further include one or more desiccant distribution lines, the one or more desiccant distribution lines communicating with the one or more supply reservoirs, the one or more desiccant distribution lines further including one or more openings for adding the amount of liquid at various locations throughout the desiccant container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a controller; and one or more devices operable to provide to the controller, an indication of a concentration of a desiccant in the desiccant solution; wherein in response to receiving the indication provided by the one or more devices, the controller controls an amount of liquid added into one or more desiccant containers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid in the one or more supply reservoirs comprises a liquid desiccant solution that increases the concentration of the desiccant in the desiccant solution when added into the one or more desiccant containers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the liquid in the one or more supply reservoirs comprises water, wherein the water decreases the concentration of the desiccant in the desiccant solution when added into the one or more desiccant containers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; wherein the desiccant stack further comprises a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the water recovery device operated in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber, the device being further operated in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate. ### Claim 12 A water recovery system comprising: a water recovery device including: a desiccant stack including one or more desiccant containers, each of the one or more desiccant containers including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant solution placed within the desiccant container and being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge; one or more supply reservoirs communicating with the one or more desiccant containers, the one or more supply reservoirs containing an amount of liquid; wherein liquid from the one or more supply reservoirs is added into the one or more desiccant containers; a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; wherein the water recovery device is operated in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber, the device being further operated in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a controller, wherein the controller is operable to receive an indication of a concentration of a desiccant in the desiccant solution, the controller controlling an amount of liquid added into one or more desiccant containers in response to receiving the indication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid in the one or more supply reservoirs comprises a liquid desiccant solution. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The water recovery device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid in the one or more supply reservoirs comprises water.