CA-3176415-C - DEVICE AND METHOD TO EXTRACT WATER FROM HUMID AMBIENT AIR

Abstract

Device for extracting water from humid ambient air, the device (1) comprising a conduit (2) in which successively is incorporated : a compressor (3) to compress the humid ambient air into compressed ambient air, a first condenser (5) to dry the compressed ambient air into dry compressed air, an expansion valve or expander (7) for expanding the dry compressed air into dry expanded air and a second condenser (8), characterized in that the first condenser (5) is further configured to direct the humid ambient air through it as coolant for extracting water from the compressed ambient air in a first stage via an outlet (12), and wherein the second condenser (8) is configured to direct the dry expanded air through it as coolant for extracting the water from the humid ambient air in a second stage by means of an outlet (15).

Inventors

• Robert Mikulandric

Assignees

• ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210603

Priority Date

20200616

Claims (1)

1. 21 CLAIMS. ______ 1.- A device for extracting water from humid ambient air, the device comprising a conduit in which successively is 5 incorporated: a compressor to compress the humid ambient air into compressed ambient air, a first condenser to dry the compressed ambient air into dry compressed air, an expansion valve or expander for expanding the dry compressed air into dry expanded air and a second condenser, the first condenser 10 is further configured to direct the humid ambient air through the first condenser as coolant for extracting water from the compressed ambient air in a first stage via a first outlet, wherein the second condenser is configured to direct the dry expanded air through the second condenser as coolant for 15 extracting the water from the humid ambient air in a second stage by means of a second outlet. 2.- The device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan configured to create a flow of the humid ambient air 20 through at least one of the first and second condensers. 3.- The device according to claim 2, further comprising a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between on the one hand: 25 - the dry expanded air after the second condenser and/or the humid ambient air after extraction of water in the second stage; and on the other hand: - the humid ambient air before extracting water in the second 30 stage. CA 3176415 22 4.- The device according to claim 3, further comprising a second heat exchanger, configured to exchange heat between on the one hand: - the dry expanded air after the second condenser and before 5 the first heat exchanger; and on the other hand: - the humid ambient air before the second condenser and after the first heat exchanger. 5.- The device according to claim 4, wherein the fan is further configured to create a flow of the humid ambient air by at least one of the first and second heat exchangers. 6.- The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further 15 comprising a generator coupled to the expansion valve or the expander and configured to generate energy during the expansion of the dry compressed ambient air. 7.- The device according to claim 6, wherein the generator 20 is coupled to a drive of the compressor. 8.- The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the compressor is an oil-free compressor. 9.- A method for extracting water from humid ambient air, the method comprising the steps of: - compressing the humid ambient air into compressed ambient air; - drying the compressed ambient air into dry compressed 30 ambient air; CA 3176415 23 - expanding the dry compressed ambient air into dry expanded air; - extracting water in a second stage from the humid ambient air by cooling the humid ambient air by means of the dry expanded air; and 5 - extracting water in a first stage from the compressed ambient air by cooling the compressed ambient air by means of the humid ambient air. 10.- The method according to claim 9, further comprising the 10 step of: - exchanging heat between on the one hand: o the dry expanded air in combination with the humid ambient air after extracting water in the second stage; and on the other hand: 15 o the humid ambient air before extracting water in the second stage. 11.- The method according to claim 10, wherein exchanging heat further comprises: 20 - exchanging heat between on the one hand: o the dry expanded air; and on the other hand o the humid ambient air. 12.- The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, 25 further comprising the step of: - adjusting a pressure of the compressed ambient air based on a relative humidity of the humid ambient air. 13.- The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, 30 further comprising the step of: CA 3176415 24 - adjusting a pressure of the dry expanded air such that the pressure of the dry expanded air exceeds a pressure of the humid ambient air. 14.- The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, 5 further comprising the step of: - controlling a fan for cooling the compressed ambient air and/or the humid ambient air, wherein a rotational speed of the fan depends on a temperature of the humid ambient air and a dew point of the humid ambient air. 10

Description

1 DEVICE AND METHOD TO EXTRACT WATER FROM HUMID AMBIENT AIR The present invention to a device extractinq :5 ,'liater from humid ambient. air. More specifically, the invention is intended for generating potable water using ambient air. 10 Devices are already known for generating potable water, such as, for example, water purifica LL on plants or desalination plants. Such known installations have the drawback that, for this 1-5 pLl.Y.'f1C)Sej imp1.1re liquid vJater is r.---eql1.ir:eci~ Atmospheric water generators are also known, which require energy and humid ambient air to generate saline and/or potable water" This has the advantage that such generators can be used on locations wher;:_, there is li.ttle or no impure liquid water presento 25 Passive systems are known which do not require electrical or mechanical external energy. A disadvantage is that they require a large space and surface arear making them unsu.i.ta.b.1.e for large-scale water 30 production, Active systems are also known, whi.ch are able to generate a 2 Active systems are also known, which are able to generate a cooling capacity using electrical or mechanical energy to cooJ_ ambient air to below the dew point. 5 Such systems use a cooling c:Lrcuit comprisir::_g a coolant or refriqerant, such as, for example, fluorocarbons. The eff~ciency of such a cooling circuit decreases sharply when the difference between the ambient temperature and the 10 cooling temperature increases. In environments with high ambient temperatures and low humidity and hence a low dew point, the efficiency of such systems is therefore relatively low. In addition, the liquid coolants used are often harmful to the environment. The present invention aims to provide a solution to at least 20 one of the afore~'flentioned and other drawbacks. The present invention has as object a device for extracting water from humid arnb:i.ent air according to the first claim, <'ind has as object a method for extracting- water from hurnid 25 ambient. air ac:cording· to t~l1e n.-l.r1.tJ·1 cJ.a.irr1 .. Al Lernatively formulated, the device cornprises a conduit in. which f::1uccessively is incorporated : a compx_·essor hav-1_ng arr lnlet for humid ambient a.1r~ a primary portion of a first 3D condenser~ a_r1 expander and secondary portion of a st=c:cond condenser, wherein a secondary portion of the first condenser 3 i.s configured to direct humid ambient a.1x through it as coolant, wherein a primary portion of the second condenser is configured to direct hmnid, ambient air to be dried through In this device v>Jater will be generated. at two .l.ocat..ic:ms, namely in a first stage and in a second stage. The air drawn in and compressed by the compressor will be cooled in the first condenser by the a,nbient air, whereby water w.-i.11 be 10 separated off. This is possible because, together with the pressure, also the temperature of the ambient air increases due the cornprcs:sion. The cornpres sect ambient air will t:.herefore have a higher temperature compared. to the noncompressed ambient air. This non-c;ornp.r:es~"'ed. ambient a..i. r can subsequently be coolant to cool the compressed ambient air. The cooling will continue until the dew point such U1at water is extracted fro.:.n the comprescJed ambient air in a first stage. The compressed ambi.ent. a,j_ .r is thereby dried :Lnto dried compressed a.1.r. It should therefore be further understood that preferably no phase change occurs dur.Lng the compression of the humid c"11n.i").i.er1t. air .. 25 In a next step1 U·1e dried compressed air is expanded into dry expanded air. Due to the expansion, the temperature will decrease again, that is, the terr~erature of the expanded air will be lower than the dried compressed air. 30 After expansion, this dried and expanded air is then used as cooling air or coolant in the second condenser, separating 4 off water from the again humid ambient air flowing- through this second condenser. An advantage is that no liquid, b"Llt that ambient air is used harmful coolant i.s required, for cooling. The device is therefore safer for man and environment. Another advantage is that the performance or efficiency of such a device is compa-cable to known devices, even when the 10 ambient temperature L, high, but that the proposed sc:-luticn is much cheaper and thus economically much more interesting. Yet another advantage consists in th.at c:1uch a device is very simple and cheap to produce. :Mo.reover ~ the cost per generated 15 amount of water is al.so lower. This is, on the one hand, because there is no need for a liquid harmful c;()CJ1ar1t.t which entails strict safety requ..irernents, but on the other hand also because the device 20 aoes not comprise a closed cycle. Acco.rdJ.ng to an embodiment, an inlet conduit is connected to 2,n inlet of the primary portion of the second condenser, wherein a pri.ma :cy port.1.on of a first heat exchanger is 25 incorporated, wherein an outlet of the primary portion of the second conde