EP1629157A1

EP1629157A1 - Device for the extraction of water from atmospheric air

Info

Publication number: EP1629157A1
Application number: EP04738571A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frank Thielow
Original assignee: Logos-Innovationen GmbH
Current assignee: Logos-Innovationen GmbH
Priority date: 2003-05-26
Filing date: 2004-05-26
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: MA27874A1; DE102004026334A1; US7722706B2; AU2004243388B2; AU2004243388A1; EG24147A; AU2004243388A2; US20060278089A1; WO2004106649A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the extraction of water from atmospheric air (8), with a flowing adsorbent or absorbent, in particular a saline solution (3), comprising a hygroscopic salt for the adsorption or absorption of the water, whereby the adsorption or absorption occurs along an adsorption or absorption path (7). A reduction in the assembly requirements and an increased yield of (potable) water per volume unit of the construction or absorbent/adsorbent (3) can be achieved, whereby the flowing adsorbent (3, 13) or absorbent (3, 13) is arranged, at least along the adsorption or absorption path (7), essentially on a guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) for guiding the adsorbent (3) or absorbent (3) particularly along a given track.

Description

"Device for obtaining water from atmospheric air"

The invention relates to a device for extracting water from atmospheric air according to the preamble of claim 1.

In many places on earth, especially in semi-arid or arid areas such as In parts of Israel, Egypt, the Sahel region or numerous hot deserts, which are located at a clear distance from the sea, there is no drinking water supply at least all year round. In addition to transporting drinking water, the only option here is to provide it from moist air.

In many ways, condensers for obtaining condensable water from atmospheric air with a coolable cold store are already known, the relatively humid atmospheric air being cooled below the dew point (cf. DE-PS-28 10 241, DD 285 142 A5).

In addition, devices are also known which bind atmospheric water in an absorption phase by means of an adsorptive or absorptive material such as a salt, for example sodium chloride, or the like. The salt or the corresponding brine solution is generally stored in a liquid container, the water level or the upper side of the salt or brine, viewed in the vertical direction, is to be regarded as a water-adsorbing or absorbing surface. In a desorption phase, this salt-water solution or brine is dehumidified to obtain the drinking water and the salt is made available again for absorption (see, for example, DE-PS 2 660 068, DE 198 50 557 AI).

A disadvantage of these methods and devices, however, is the comparatively large construction volume or the relatively low yield of drinking water per unit volume of the brine.

In contrast, the object of the invention is a device for extracting water from atmospheric air with a flowable adsorbent or absorbent, in particular a brine solution with a hygroscopic salt for the adsorption or absorption of the water, the adsorption at least along an adsorption or absorption path or absorption is provided to propose a high yield of (drinking) water per unit volume of the building or the absorbent / adsorbent and possibly stabilize the process.

Starting from a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible through the measures mentioned in the subclaims.

Accordingly, a device according to the invention is characterized in that the flowable adsorbent or absorbent essentially at least along the adsorption or absorption section on a guide element or an adhesive rail for guiding the adsorbent or absorbent, in particular on a predefinable path, is arranged. With the aid of a guide element according to the invention, the assembly and also adhesion or adhesion to the guide element are realized, so that disadvantageous blowing during the flow through the adsorption or absorption section is largely prevented by the action of wind.

In general, an adjustment or movement / flow of the adsorbent or absorbent is provided along the adsorption or absorption section, so that guiding or guiding the adsorbent or absorbing the movement or flow is realized.

Leadership in the sense of the invention is understood to mean that the adsorbent or absorbent is guided or guided in at least two, advantageously in three directions oriented orthogonally to one another. This means that, especially in the case of a guide element oriented at least in one direction, largely vertically, the adsorbent or absorbent is guided in the so-called Y direction due to gravity. Furthermore, the adsorbent or absorbent is guided or guided at least in the so-called X direction and / or in the so-called Z direction by means of the guide element. The Y, X and Z directions are each arranged orthogonally to one another in a generally known manner. For example, in the case of an almost vertically oriented and planar guide element, the adsorbent or absorbent is also guided or guided in addition to the Y direction and also in the X direction or in the Z direction. With e.g. Almost vertically aligned, linear guide element such as a rod, rope, etc., the adsorbent or absorbent is also guided or guided in addition to the Y direction and in the X direction and in the Z direction.

The adsorbent or absorbent is advantageously guided or formed on an outer surface or on the outside and / or as a sheathing of the guide element. This will allows an advantageous contact with the atmospheric air.

Optionally, an adhesion element with an adhesion surface for adhesion of the flowable adsorbent or absorbent is provided at least along the adsorption or absorption section. As a result, the adsorbent or absorbent adheres to the adhesive element in such a way that it cannot be removed from the adhesive element or is blown away, inter alia by wind power or the like.

In general, the adhesion element or guide element can be designed to be largely rectilinear as well as corrugated, bent and / or kinked, so that flexible adaptation to a wide variety of conditions or framework conditions can be achieved.

With the aid of this measure, according to the invention, a largely precisely defined path of the adsorbent or absorbent is achieved during the absorption of water from the air, the path of the adhesive element or guide element essentially corresponding to this or being predetermined by it. In this way, an adverse change in the adsorption or absorption path of the adsorbent or absorbent is effectively prevented without great effort, so that the best possible water absorption is realized.

The adhesive element or the adhesive rail or the guide element is advantageously designed as a cord and / or rope and / or wire and / or braid and / or chain and / or tube and / or rod and / or rod. As a result, an adhesion element or guide element that is particularly easy to manufacture or assemble can be realized. The adsorbent or adsorbent can be arranged in the form of a (partial) sheathing around the adhesion element or guide element, so that a particularly large water-actively adsorbing or absorbing surface is realized. This will make one possible large, actively water-absorbing surface of the brine solution.

In a special variant of the invention, the adhesion element or guide element or the adhesive rail can be designed as a U-shaped and / or V-shaped element or rail. With the help of this variant of the invention, a particularly exact steering of the adsorbent or absorbent on the predetermined path can be realized during the adsorption / adsorption.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the adsorbent / absorbent or the brine solution is arranged at least on the adhesive rail or on the adhesive element / guide element as a liquid film or liquid wetting. This enables a comparatively large-area water-absorbing surface to be realized. In addition, an advantageous ratio of liquid volume to the actively water-absorbing liquid surface is achieved. This leads to a particularly effective water extraction by the device according to the invention.

In general, there is a connection that the larger the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution, the more advantageous or larger the water absorption and / or the efficiency of the device according to the invention. In general, the aim is to maximize the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution, in particular per unit volume.

The adhesive element / guide element or the adhesive rail preferably has at least one distributor element for the area-wide distribution or for increasing the surface area of the brine solution. With this, the two-dimensional formation of the liquid film or the wetting of the wall can advantageously be realized. Corresponding designs of the adhesion element or guide element are implemented in a particularly simple manner a correspondingly advantageous water-absorbing surface.

In a special development of the invention, the distributor element is designed as a spherical and / or cube and / or cone and / or oval and / or cuboid and / or polygonal body. Such a body arranged on the adhesive element or guide element or on the adhesive rail is flowed around by the absorbent / adsorbent or the brine solution, so that its or its surface area is decisively enlarged and thus the water absorption is improved.

The distributor element advantageously comprises a net and / or a fleece and / or a braid and / or a leather skin and / or hairs and / or fibers and / or pores and / or grooves and / or craters and / or hollows. For example, in the case of a nonwoven, fabric, leather or the like, the large-area design of the surface according to the invention is advantageously realized in particular by means of capillary forces and / or surface effects, etc.

The distributor element can e.g. made of plastic, clay and / or glass. For example, the distributor element or the body can be glued, sprayed on, pressed on, or comparably simply fixed onto the adhesion element or guide element. Spacers such as sleeves or the like may possibly be provided between two distributor elements.

If appropriate, the distributor element is realized as a porous, sponge-like or comparable permeable body. The surface of the distributor element can possibly be roughened or made microporous. In general, it is advantageous to adapt the adhesive element or guide element and / or the distributor element to the adsorbent / absorbent or the brine solution, for example to the viscosity, surface tension, etc. In an advantageous variant of the invention, the adhesion element or guide element is designed as a so-called pearl cord with numerous bodies. With a correspondingly large number of bodies which are arranged along the guide element, an advantageously simple surface enlargement can be achieved.

The adhesive element or guide element or the adhesive rail may be designed with advantageous guide structures, in particular as a rod with numerous furrows and / or grooves and / or grooves oriented in the direction of the rod axis. A e.g. Correspondingly grooved rod also has a comparatively large surface area and is also easy to manufacture, e.g. as an injection molded or deep drawn element. In addition, the guide structures improve the guidance or adhesion of the adsorbent / absorbent to the guide element according to the invention.

Above all, as an alternative to this, the adhesion element or guide element or the adhesive rail can be designed with advantageous guide structures, in particular as a corrugated plate with numerous corrugations and / or grooves and / or grooves. A corresponding plate can be produced at least as easily and also has a relatively large surface area.

In general, the shafts and / or furrows and / or grooves and / or grooves may have depressions and / or bulges and / or humps or the like, so that the surface of the corresponding guide element is additionally enlarged, which leads to an even better water absorption by the adsorbent / Absorbent leads.

In addition, the body, troughs, bulges or cusps of the adhesion element or guide element according to the invention extend the adsorption / absorption section and thus advantageously the dwell time of the Adsorbent / Absorbens, which results in an improved water absorption of the device. In principle, other, alternative and / or further, advantageous measures or elements which enlarge the surface can also be used according to the invention.

The transport direction of the adsorbent or absorbent along the adhesive element or guide element or the adhesive rail is preferably oriented essentially in the vertical direction. This allows the flowable adsorbent / absorbent or the brine solution to be transported advantageously along the adsorption path by means of gravity. This measure enables a particularly simple operation of the device according to the invention.

In a special variant of the invention, numerous adhesion elements or guide elements or adhesive rails are provided. As a result, the water-absorbing surface according to the invention can advantageously be enlarged to a particularly large extent or in a simple manner.

If appropriate, a plurality of vertically or horizontally oriented adhesion elements or guide elements are arranged next to one another in the horizontal direction. Numerous distributor elements are preferably arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. In this way, an advantageous cascade can be implemented, the brine solution from a first distributor element to a second distributor element arranged underneath, etc. by means of gravity flows or is transported. For example, the brine solution flows along the surface of the adhesion element or guide element, one distributor element or body according to the invention being flowed over by the adsorbent / absorbent or the brine solution.

In a special development of the invention, brine drops for transporting the brine solution are at least provided along the adsorption or absorption path. This can mean, among other things, that the brine solution, for example from at least one brine storage device, preferably arranged in the upper region of the device according to the invention, drips on the adhesive element / guide element or the numerous adhesive elements / guide elements with as many drops as possible, which drip along the adhesive element or guide element slide down. The brine of the brine storage is generally designed as an almost saturated brine solution.

In the variants according to the invention, the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution advantageously comprises at least the droplet surface. For example, with several million drops per cubic meter, this advantageous measure results in a significant increase in the water-absorbing surface, which further improves the yield and the efficiency of the device according to the invention.

There is preferably at least one metering unit with at least one metering opening for metering the brine drops into a guide element. In this case, the brine solution is metered in, in particular from the brine store, by means of the metering opening of the adhesion element or guide element. A dosing unit, especially together with a control or Control unit a largely automated operation of the device according to the invention. For this purpose, a wide variety of sensors and actuators are to be provided, which eats at least one air humidity, temperature, flow rate, brine concentration, flow rate, an air pressure and / or brine pressure.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metering unit has at least one pressure generating unit for pressurizing the brine solution arranged in a brine store. With the help of an appropriate Pressure generating unit, such as a pump, for example, the brine solution in the brine storage can be pressurized in such a way that the metered amount of brine solution can be adapted, in particular, to the air humidity.

The metering is preferably carried out in such a way that the brine solution delivers numerous drops in a pulsed manner through numerous metering openings to a correspondingly large number of adhesion elements or guide elements. For this purpose, the pressure generating unit acts on the brine solution in pulsed or alternating fashion with a high and a lower pressure. This ensures that largely individual drops slide down the adhesion elements or guide elements one behind the other and thus form an advantageously large, active surface or slide from distributor element to distributor element, in particular from body to body, according to the invention.

For example, the number of brine drops per unit of time is adapted to the relative humidity of the atmospheric air, the more brine drops being generated or the higher the atmospheric humidity, the more the adhesive elements / guide elements are added. This adaptation, in particular the regulation of the pressure generated by the pressure generating unit, can advantageously be combined with a wind energy generating unit such as a wind turbine or the like.

In a special development of the invention, at least one air filter is provided for filtering the atmospheric air flowing into the device. This can at least partially prevent or reduce contamination of the adsorbent by dust, flying sand or the like, which enables the device according to the invention to operate more smoothly. The air filter preferably has flow openings, the flow openings having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the metering openings. With the aid of this measure, impairment or blockage of the metering openings by particles introduced with the atmospheric air, such as flying sand or the like, can be largely avoided. This crucially increases the operational safety of the device according to the invention, without any significant effort. This measure is also of particular advantage in the case of a device according to the applicant's application 103 09 110.6.

Basically, the brine solution flowing down along the adhesion element / guide element or the distributor element generally / automatically cleans it of dirt such as dust deposits, flying sand, etc., whereby a self-cleaning system can be implemented. This further increases the operational safety of the system.

A holding device of the adhesion elements or guide elements advantageously has at least one support column. The adhesion elements or guide elements are preferably arranged in at least one flow element designed as a wing, the wing in particular being pivotable with the holding device or about an axis of rotation. Two wing elements are preferably provided which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and / or holding device or support column arranged therebetween.

For example, the support column is arranged in the central area of the system or in the area of an axis of rotation. If necessary, the support column is designed as an extrusion element, as a result of which a relatively economical design of the holding device can be implemented.

In principle, the system or the blades can be designed to be pivotable depending on the wind direction. Therefor there is an advantageous control unit in particular with a wind direction detection element. For example, in the case of relatively large wind strengths such as during a storm, etc., this can place the system or the wing (s) with a comparatively small, in particular closed cross-sectional area in the wind. If the wind strength is relatively low or there is almost no wind, the system or the wing (s) must be placed in the wind with a comparatively large cross-sectional area through which the air can flow.

The brine solution is preferably supplied from the brine reservoir with a first, in particular almost saturated, salt concentration of the adhesion element or guide element. For example, the holding device, in particular the support column, comprises the brine store. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one discharge element is provided for discharging the brine solution with a second salt concentration, the second salt concentration being substantially smaller than the first salt concentration.

Optionally, a plurality of adhesion elements or guide elements are serially flowed through or acted upon by the brine solution and stored or collected with the second salt concentration in a collecting element or second brine storage. The series-connected adhesion elements or guide elements form an advantageous module at least with the brine feed and the collecting element. Advantageously, several modules are provided, possibly arranged one above the other and / or next to one another when viewed in the vertical direction. The modules are advantageously connected in parallel or through which brine solution flows. In this case, the modules or individual brine solutions are generally brought together, the brine solutions of the individual modules intermixing and possibly being stored temporarily in a supply store. At least one concentration unit is preferably provided for concentrating the brine solution from the second salt concentration to the first salt concentration. For example, the desorption of the water is at least partially implemented. With the help of this measure, advantageous water or drinking water is separated from the brine solution and can be used or recycled. The water obtained in this way is often used as drinking and / or irrigation water.

The concentration unit advantageously comprises at least one mechanical filter, sieve or the like, as a result of which dirt or particles, in particular in the flow direction, are effectively removed or retained before the concentration stage.

The concentration unit may have at least one cyclone and / or a semipermeable membrane for extracting the water or drinking water. The concentration unit preferably comprises at least one evaporator for at least partially evaporating the brine solution. In this case, there is in particular a coolable one

Condensation unit provided for condensing the water vapor and extracting the water.

The use of an evaporator has the particular advantage that, in arid or semi-arid regions, thermal energy or solar energy is available in a simple manner in sufficient quantity and using tried and tested techniques. Corresponding energy stores in a wide variety of variants are often used here.

In general, e.g. a largely continuous day and / or night operation of the device according to the invention can be realized.

Basically, with the help of the invention, the active atmospheric water can be significantly enlarged absorbing surface can be achieved, which leads to a decisive improvement in the yield per unit volume of the device. A much larger throughput or flow rate of atmospheric air quantity per unit time can possibly be realized, so that the yield per unit time can be increased accordingly. This leads to a considerable increase in the efficiency or economy of the device according to the invention.

A skin for sheathing or for protecting the device and / or the adhesion elements / guide elements or modules is preferably at least partially designed as a skin which can be oriented in a wind direction. This measure can be used to adapt to unfavorable atmospheric conditions such as storms, etc. For example, at least part of the skin is made up of numerous, rotatably mounted slats. These slats are generally aligned in the wind direction, so that the wind or the air to be dehumidified can be advantageously steered.

Alternatively or in combination with this, a rotatably mounted outer skin with a / a generally immovable adsorption / absorption area or adsorption / absorption section can also be used. In this case, the outer skin can advantageously have flaps which can be aligned with the wind flow and which can be closed or opened for the sorption section.

In a preferred development of the invention, viewed across the cross section, the device has a largely equal flow depth, so that when flowing through, the moist air generally flows over a comparable number of or equally wide adhesive rails over the entire cross section. As a result, the air within the device according to the invention is dehumidified comparatively uniformly. The skin preferably has flaps or wing elements which, as collecting elements, direct atmospheric air into the device according to the invention. If necessary, the adhesion elements or wing elements can be designed such that they close one side of the device in the case of adverse climatic conditions. For example, in the event of a sandstorm or the like, in particular together with the skin, protection of the adhesive rails, air filters, etc. from impairments can be achieved. As already described above, these can optionally be aligned in the direction of the wind flow.

At least one air control unit is advantageously provided for the controlled inflow of air to at least one guide element. Relatively moist air can hereby generally be supplied to the guide elements, in particular when the wind is calm or wind speeds are too low, so that the water production is further improved.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the adhesion element / guide element or the adhesive rail is designed as a flat fabric, mesh or the like in particular. This allows existing elements, preferably commercially available fabrics such as fabric panels, nets, etc., to be used. For example, these fabrics or nets can consist of plastic fibers and / or if necessary also of natural fibers. With this variant according to the invention, a particularly flat adhesion element or guide element with countless individual longitudinal and transverse rails as well as nodes can be realized, whereby a particularly large, active surface of the adsorbent / absorbent or brine solution is realized. Here, the individual threads of the fabrics or nets can be formed in such a way that the brine solution, as far as possible, by means of capillary forces or the like full-surface wetting of the adhesive element or guide element guaranteed.

The distributor element may be designed as a fabric, mesh or the like, which is arranged in particular on a plate according to the invention, e.g. on the back and / or front of the plate. In this way, a layer-like adhesive element or guide element can be realized. For example, three layers are provided, two outer fabric or mesh layers and an inner, stabilizing, optionally shaping layer arranged between them, which e.g. made of metal, plastic, etc. A heat exchanger may be provided in an inner layer, which reduces the enthalpy of reaction released, e.g. which provides desorption.

In principle, an adhesive element / guide element or an adhesive rail can have at least one branching element or a switch, so that in the direction of flow of the adsorbent / absorbent or the brine solution, a single-lane, two or more-lane adhesive element or guide element is formed. In this way, an advantageous adaptation to the increase in volume of the brine solution resulting from the water absorption along the adsorption / absorption section can be achieved. The cross-section of the device according to the invention viewed in the vertical direction may have a broadening from top to bottom, so that the cross-sectional area of the area of the adhesion / guide element or adhesion / guide elements is adapted to the increase in volume of the brine solution. For example, the cross-sectional area has the shape of a cone, truncated cone, triangle, trapezoid, etc., at least in the region of the adhesion element or guide element. It is conceivable that a largely horizontally oriented disc is used as the branching element. In the variant of the invention, in which a fabric, mesh, etc. is used as the adhesion element or guide element, a branching element or switch can be implemented particularly easily. For example, two guide elements or fabric webs or nets are fixed to one another or sewn together. Optionally, at different heights of the device, ie after different sticks in the direction of the flow, guide elements or nets or fabric webs are fixed or sewn onto a largely continuous fabric web or web.

Flat adhesive elements or guide elements such as plates, fabrics or nets can advantageously be oriented at least during the adsorption / absorption phase in the direction or somewhat angled to the air flowing through. As a result, the air flowing through can flow past both the front and the back of the plate, fabric web or network and release water to the brine solution.

In general, a wide variety of substances are available as hygroscopic salt of the brine solution, e.g. Sodium chloride, potassium acetate or lithium chloride. The advantageous lithium chloride can partially remove water from atmospheric air. still absorb at up to approx. 12% humidity. In addition, lithium chloride absorbs water from the atmospheric air even when the salt is covered with water or brine. The absorption of the atmospheric water by the brine solution ends with a salt to water ratio of about one to four weight units.

Advantageously, at least one heat exchanger unit for using thermal energy for desorption is provided in a device according to the preamble of claim 1 to achieve the object of the invention. For example, the thermal energy of the atmospheric air and / or the enthalpy of reaction of the adsorption / absorption is determined by means of the heat exchanger for the concentration unit or used the evaporator, power supply of the device or the like. This enables an advantageous energy management system to be implemented so that only very little external energy needs to be supplied to the device according to the invention by means of wind, sun, a network connection to the public network, CHPs, etc.

For example, at least one heat exchanger can be arranged between two adhesive element / guide element plates, within an adhesive rail rod and / or around numerous adhesive elements / guide elements or adhesive rails, in particular in the area of the outer skin of the device.

Basically, in the device according to the invention, a fluid or liquid, i.e. flowable absorbent used. A correspondingly flowable or liquid absorbent or brine solutions with different salt concentrations are distinguished by a particularly simple means of transportation. For example, commercially available transport devices such as pumps or the like can be used to actively transport the brine solution.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the preamble of claim 1 to achieve the object of the invention, a flexible adhesion element or guide element, in particular a cord, rope, wire, fabric, etc., is provided and / or the device is adjustable in height and / or width educated. With this, the device according to the invention can, if necessary, in particular for mobile applications during the transport phase, be designed to be foldable, foldable or foldable. The device may be designed as a telescopic device, e.g. currently known tent trailers for cars, etc.

A liquid reservoir for the adsorbent or absorbent, in particular the brine solution, used, wherein a water-absorbing or adsorbing surface of the brine solution is advantageously arranged on at least two opposite sides of a wall of the liquid reservoir. With the help of this measure, a significant increase in the surface actively absorbing the atmospheric water is achieved, which leads to an improvement in the yield per unit volume of the device. It is possible that a significantly greater throughput or flow rate of atmospheric air quantity per unit time can be realized than in the prior art, so that the yield per unit time can be increased accordingly. This leads to a considerable increase in the efficiency or economy of the device according to the invention.

For example, the liquid or brine solution is stored or arranged in a liquid store or on / above a wall of the liquid store. Here, the brine liquid is also arranged on the outside or below the wall of the liquid reservoir, so that the water-absorbing surface is advantageously large.

If necessary, the water-absorbing surface corresponds to approximately 30% or 50% or 80% of one side surface or the entire wall. The water-absorbing surface of the brine solution or brine liquid advantageously extends at least over almost an entire side surface or the entire wall. This creates the largest possible surface of the brine solution that actively absorbs water. In general, there is a connection that the larger the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution, the more advantageous or larger the water absorption and / or the efficiency of the device according to the invention. In general, the aim is to maximize the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution, in particular per unit volume. In a special development of the invention, the brine solution is designed as a liquid film or liquid wetting at least on one or preferably on both side surfaces of the liquid store. This enables a comparatively large-area water-absorbing surface to be realized. In addition, an advantageous ratio of liquid volume to the actively water-absorbing liquid surface is achieved. This leads to a particularly effective water extraction by the device according to the invention.

If appropriate, the water-absorbing surface of the brine solution to be provided on opposite sides of the wall of the liquid reservoir is realized by an overflow or brine solution overflowing over an edge and / or end face of the wall and flowing along the outer wall. Alternatively or in combination with this, the wall has numerous flow openings for flowing through the brine solution from a first side to the side of the wall opposite this. This measure advantageously forms a large-area water-absorbing surface, in particular in the form of a liquid film, on the side opposite the first side.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wall is designed as a grid, a perforated plate, a net, a fleece, a mesh, a membrane and / or a leather skin. Corresponding designs of the wall realize a correspondingly advantageous water-absorbing surface in a particularly simple manner. For example, in the case of a nonwoven, fabric, leather or the like, the large-area design of the surface according to the invention is advantageously realized primarily by means of capillary forces, surface effects, etc.

Advantageously, at least on one side, for example on the outside and / or underside of the wall of the Liquid storage arranged a distributor element for the flat distribution of the brine solution. As a result, the flat formation of the liquid film or the wetting of the wall is advantageously realized.

As an alternative or in combination with the correspondingly designed wall of the liquid storage device, the distributor element is designed as a grid, a perforated plate, a net, a fleece, a mesh, a membrane and / or a leather skin. If necessary, the layered or layered wall is layered with the distributor element. For example, the distributor element is detachably or non-releasably fixed, in particular, to the wall. Possibly at least one distributor element is arranged on the two opposite sides of the wall according to the invention.

The liquid storage device can often be designed as a vessel, container or the like at least partially enclosing the brine solution. Advantageously, the liquid reservoir is essentially designed as a flat, largely flat or flat disk. Here, the brine solution is realized, among other things, by means of its surface tension, capillary forces or the like. For example, the storage on the top side viewed in the vertical direction takes place primarily through the surface tension or flowability of the brine solution.

In the case of a liquid reservoir designed as a disk, a relatively large-area, water-absorbing surface is formed in a particularly simple manner. In this case, the water-absorbing surface according to the invention can correspond to approximately twice the area of one side of the wall or approximately the entire wall area, for example including the end faces. In addition, a liquid storage device designed as a disk can minimize the construction volume required or can per the water-absorbing surface Maximize volume. The brine solution can preferably be designed as a liquid film or wetting on all sides, for example both above and below the disk.

In principle, the wall of the store can at least partially consist of porous, in particular sintered material, so that the volume enclosed or formed by the wall is realized as a store.

In general, devices according to the invention can be integrated in a commercial container for trucks, ships, etc., especially for mobile applications. For example, a part of the container can at least be extended or ^'are (width or height) is designed adjustable so that the adsorption / absorption path during the sorption phase in comparison with the downtime of the plant is advantageously extended. For example, mobile systems for the (drinking) water supply after natural disasters, accidents or other impairments or destruction of the general water supply can be used very flexibly locally and in terms of time.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

Show in detail:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention with pearl-string-like adhesive rails,

Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective

Representation of a grooved rod trained adhesive rail according to the invention,

Figure 3 is a schematic, perspective

Representation of an adhesive rail designed as a corrugated disc according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an adhesive rail designed as a perforated plate with balls according to the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of three system variants of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a further system variant according to the invention,

FIG. 7 shows a schematic top view of the plant variants according to FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a guide element designed as a fabric provided with tensioning elements according to the invention,

FIG. 9 shows schematic views of a further device according to the invention with pearl-string-like adhesive rails which has grooved beads,

FIG. 10 shows schematic arrangements of different pearl-string-like adhesive rails according to the invention, FIG. 11 shows schematic top views of a further device according to the invention at different wind strengths,

Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of a

Figure 11 alternative device according to the invention at different wind speeds and

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of an alternative to Figure 11 or 12 device according to the invention at different wind speeds.

FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention with a plurality of adhesion elements / guide elements 1 or adhesive rails 1 designed as a pearl cord 1. Here, the entire system can be designed and / or combined, for example, in a comparable manner with the system or the system according to the device or application 103 09 110.6 specified in the prior art.

The almost saturated brine solution 3 is stored in an upper brine store 2. The brine solution 3, such as LiCl, is filled into the store 2 through a first inlet 4. By means of a second inlet 5, a pressurized medium, for example compressed air or the like, is connected to the brine solution 3. The pressure generating unit, not shown in particular, generates a pulse-like overpressure in the store 2, so that the brine solution 3 passes through metering openings 6, for example as drops, and flows downward through the adhesion elements 1 or guide elements 1 into an adsorption / absorption area 7 the adhesion elements 1 or guide elements 1 are guided downwards. The adsorption / absorption area 7 forms the adsorption / absorption section 7 the absorption of water from the atmospheric air 8 takes place. Some dehumidified air 9 flows out of the device.

The adhesive rails 1 have distributor elements 10 or bodies 10 which ensure an enlargement of the active, water-absorbing surface of the brine solution 3. The pearl cords 1 or guide elements 1 are e.g. fixed or tensioned by means of springs 11, so that the exact alignment or stabilization of the guide elements 1 is ensured even at very high flow velocities of the air 8, 9. Without a more detailed illustration, a guide element 1 can also only be clamped at the top or bottom with a spring 11.

The beads 10 or body 10 can be formed as balls, ovals, etc. and can be provided with or without grooves, depressions, fibers, hairs, pores, etc. for better adhesion of the brine solution 3. Alternatively or in combination, they can also be roughened or microporous. The bodies 10 can be formed from plastic, clay, silica gel, metal, ceramic and / or glass. The exact design of the body 10 can be used to adjust the dwell time of the brine solution 1 on its surface.

A second brine reservoir 12 is provided in the lower area of the device for storing or collecting the brine solution 13, which is somewhat diluted by the water absorption. The memory 12 thus collects the brine solution 13 of the numerous adhesive rails 1 and passes this 13 on to an concentrating unit, such as an evaporator, membrane unit, cyclone, etc., which is not shown in detail, by means of an outlet 14. If necessary, a pump can advantageously be used for this. Possibly the brine solution 13 is at least partially freed of dirt particles in particular in front of the concentration unit by means of a fine filter or the like. In addition, the device has air filters 15 that largely retain particles such as dust, flying sand, etc. or filter them out of the air 8. The pore width of the air filter 15 is advantageously smaller than the width of the passage between the guide elements 1 and the opening 6. This measure largely prevents the opening 6 from clogging.

FIG. 2 shows an adhesive rail designed as a corrugated rod 16. The rod 16 has numerous furrows 17 in which brine solution 3 flowing down is guided. The furrows 17 also have a plurality of curvatures 18 which increase the active surface area and lead to an extension of the absorption path or increase the dwell time in the absorption region 7. A part of a heat exchanger 23 is provided within the rod 16 and removes the heat of reaction released for the desorption.

FIG. 3 shows a corrugated plate 19 which has numerous grooves 17 in which the brine solution 3 is guided. The grooves 17 in turn have curvatures 18 so that the active surface is increased and the residence time of the solution in the absorption area is increased or the flow rate is advantageously reduced.

According to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the air 8 flows largely along the plate 19, so that the brine solution 3, which preferably flows down on both sides of the plate 19, can absorb water. Corresponding flat adhesion elements 19 or guide elements 19 can generally be aligned or rotated in the respective wind direction. The brine 2 is preferably metered into the adhesion elements / guide elements or adhesive rails 1, 16, 19 as drops 3 and flows downward into the reservoir 12 due to the gravity of the path predetermined by the adhesive rails. For reasons of clarity, no drops are shown. Air 8 with a certain air humidity flows past or along the adhesive elements / guide elements 1, 16, 19, the hygroscopic brine 3 partially absorbing the water contained in the air 8 and thus being diluted by the dehumidification of the air 8. This means that a salt concentration of the brine 3 on the absorption section drops due to the water absorption. The salt concentration represents the ratio of an amount of salt per unit volume (unit: g / cm ³ ). Lithium chloride is preferably used as the salt, which can remove water from the air 8 up to a humidity of approx. 12%. In addition, lithium chloride can absorb water up to a ratio of one part by weight of salt to four parts by weight of water.

The water vapor of the air 8 is absorbed on a surface of the brine 3. Because of the relatively large area of the adhesive element / guide elements 1, 16, 19 and the comparatively small storage volume of the latter, an advantageous surface-volume ratio is realized, so that the absorption of the water takes place particularly efficiently. For example, the brine 3 is stored here as a comparatively thin liquid film or wetting on the surface of the adhesive element / guide elements 1, 16, 19 or body 10. If necessary, the brine solution 3 is temporarily stored within a porous or permeable adhesion element / guide element 1, 16, 19 or body 10. In addition, the surface F _{3 of} the drops is designed as an active, water-absorbing surface, so that the absorption is further improved.

The rod 16 or the plate 19 or the body 10 may each have a nonwoven, etc., not shown. As a result, the brine solution 3 is distributed as uniformly as possible over the entire surface. This ensures that the water-absorbing surface is realized as large as possible. In general, the device according to FIG. 1 or 6 can have a roof without a more detailed illustration. Commercially available elements for the generation of solar energy or energy supply for the device can already be provided on the roof, for example photovoltaic elements and / or solar collectors. In addition, any rain water that may accumulate can advantageously be collected by means of the roof and fed to a water reservoir (not shown). The roof, which is designed, for example, as a pulpit or the like, may include a viewing platform, a restaurant, a technology and / or control room.

The brine solution may possibly contain 3 additives e.g. to prevent verkeiung, to influence the surface tension, etc. The brine 3, 13 is generally circulated or recirculated and the water taken up is advantageously separated from the brine 3, in particular by means of an evaporator and / or cyclone, as it passes along the adhesive elements / guide elements 1, 16, 19.

In addition, in principle the air 8 can be flowed through the device by means of natural flow or movement or along the adhesion elements / guide elements 1, 16, 19 and / or by means of at least one advantageous pressure or flow generation unit such as a fan, a turbine, a blower or the like flow. In the latter variant, at least one flow control device is preferably to be provided.

FIG. 4 shows a further variant, not to scale, of a guide element 22, FIG. 4a showing a top view of a spherical plane and FIG. 4b a sectional side view of several spherical planes. This adhesive element 22 or guide element 22 is implemented as a multi-interrupted row of balls 22, the balls 24 being arranged in space by plates 25. The Balls 24 are arranged or fixed on a largely planar plate 25 aligned in an almost horizontal plane with numerous holes 20 or punched-outs 20. The holes 20 have webs 21, by means of which the balls 24 can be fixed. For example, the balls 24 are pressed and / or glued into the holes 20.

In this variant, the air 8 can flow through the free space between the ball 24. In this case, the brine solution 3 is guided along the adhesion elements 1 or guide elements 1 by means of the balls 24 and distributed over the ball surface, so that, in particular, a significant increase in the active surface is achieved. The comparatively small vertical distances between two spherical planes and the spherical shape ensure that the brine drops 3 dripping from a sphere 24 meet a sphere 24 arranged underneath and thus the vertical guidance according to the invention is realized.

In Figure 5, three variants of the construction of a device according to the invention are shown in a schematic plan view. According to variant 5a, the device has a rectangular cross section. The outer skin advantageously has rotatable flaps 26 which e.g. can be used both to close the side walls in climatically unfavorable conditions such as sandstorms, etc. and to direct or collect the air currents.

Corresponding systems (cf. FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c; in some cases without a more detailed illustration) are advantageously mounted so that they can be rotated about a vertical axis 27, in particular in the case of flat adhesion elements or guide elements such as vertically arranged plates, fabric webs, etc.

According to FIGS. 5b and 5c, round cross sections of the sorption region are provided, both round (see FIG. 5b) and square (see FIG. 5c) outer skins are realizable. The shape of the flaps 26 is adapted to the design of the outer skin. Especially with these two variants, the outer skin can be rotated together with the flaps 26 and the absorption area can be made immobile if necessary.

Another variant of a system according to the invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7. This essentially comprises two wings 28 and a support column 29. Numerous adhesion elements / guide elements or adhesive rails according to the invention are present in the structures 28 designated as wings 28. For example, the wings 28 have a depth of a few centimeters to a few meters and / or a width or a height of possibly several meters. The wings may have closure flaps or the like, for example comparable to those from FIG. 5 and / or as lamella-like strips, etc.

The system or the wings 28 are advantageously rotatably mounted with or around the column 29 or axis 27. In this case, a pivoting range of approximately 90 ° is preferably provided, so that (inflowing) air 8 can flow in relation to a cross-sectional area 30 of the vanes 28 almost perpendicularly or parallel to the vanes 28.

The vertical direction of inflow is advantageously provided in the operating case of dehumidification of the air 8 and, in the case of very high wind speeds, the parallel flow orientation of the vanes 28. Depending on the wind speed, an (acute) angular alignment of the vanes 28 to the wind direction may be advantageous. The outer ends are advantageously designed to be streamlined or have corresponding wind deflection or wind deflection elements.

A further, special variant of the adhesion element 31 or guide element 31 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 8 Shown in sections. The adhesive element 31 or guide element 31 is designed here as a fabric 31 which is traversed or fixed with tensioning elements 32. The mesh

31 essentially consists of textile fabric 31, a net 31, fiber composite 31 or the like. In this case, commercially available fabric 31 may be used, so that an economically particularly favorable embodiment can be realized.

The tensioning elements 32 are e.g. designed as tensioning ropes or wire ropes, rods or the like, which partially penetrate the fabric 31 and / or rest against the fabric 31 or support / fix it laterally. The fabric 31 may be between two opposing elements

32 arranged. The tensioning elements 32 are advantageously fixed at the bottom and also at the top or braced in the directions Z without a more detailed illustration.

In the case of tensioning elements 32 braced under tension, it is advantageous that these can optionally be at least partially flexible or elastic. As a result, these are comparatively easy to assemble and / or can be made thin, although they still ensure advantageous lateral stabilization of the fabric 31 by means of the bracing. In this way, comparatively elastic or flexible fabrics 31 can be used in particular.

FIG. 9 shows a further variant of the invention, the bodies 10 being designed as balls 10 with grooves 33. The grooves 33 are preferably realized in a spiral, which is particularly evident in the top view in FIG. 9c. In this way, a spin or the like of the flowing down adsorbent or absorbent can be generated, so that a relatively strong wind does not blow the brine solution exclusively onto one side of the body. This produces a relatively large active surface of the brine solution even in the case of comparatively strong wind, which means that the drinking water is obtained from atmospheric air improved. FIG. 9a shows a “pearl necklace” with bodies 10 which have rectilinear grooves 33. FIG. 9b shows a section through a body 10 with grooves 33.

In FIG. 10, guide elements 1 with different bodies 10 arranged as blocks A, B, C, D are shown by way of example. In the above-mentioned variants of the invention, essentially spherical bodies 10 are listed by way of example. The bodies 10 of the block A have an oval cross section. The bodies 10 of the block B are arranged asymmetrically on the guide element 1. The bodies 10 of the block C are of different sizes. The bodies 10 and the guide element 1 of the block D are produced using a rolling process and preferably have cross sections with different widths. For example, helical or helical guide rails 1 can be produced in particular in the latter variant.

In general, guide elements 1 or body 10 can be used with any structure or shape and / or can be manufactured with any manufacturing method. In the case of bodies 10 which have a cross section with different dimensions and / or are arranged asymmetrically on the guide element 1 and / or are of different sizes, it is particularly advantageous that the brine solution mixes in an advantageous manner when it flows down. This further improves the absorption / adsorption of the atmospheric water.

The guide element 1 advantageously comprises a mixing structure for mixing the absorbent / adsorbent at least during the absorption / adsorption phase or on the absorption / adsorption path. If necessary, the mixed structure is formed in the manner mentioned above.

In principle, it can be advantageous that in the direction of the wind flow different or per base area different numbers of guide elements 1 and / or blocks A, B, C, D are arranged and / or different brine flows or different numbers of brine drops per time unit and / or different brine concentrations are provided. This enables an advantageous adaptation, for example, to the changing wind strengths and / or quantities of the water contained in the air. For example, a comparatively large number of brine drops per time unit are provided for guide elements 1 facing the wind, and relatively few brine drops facing away from the wind. This means, for example, that relatively much brine flows at the front and relatively little brine flows downward at the guide elements 1 or bodies 10 at the rear.

Preferably, on the windward side of the device of the invention or the wing 28, a lower density of the guide elements 1 than on the windward side of the device of the invention or the wing 28 is provided. On the one hand, this can be used to adapt to changing atmospheric humidity levels due to water extraction. On the other hand, the comparatively densely arranged guide elements 1 can collect brine drops that may have drifted away on the side facing away from the wind.

A catch device for drifted brine is advantageously provided on the side of the device of the invention or the wing 28 facing away from the wind. This increases the efficiency of the device of the invention and also reduces environmental degradation due to blown brine. The safety gear may be implemented in the manner mentioned above.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show different variants of adjustable or changeable blades 28 for the device according to the invention in the case of wind a, b, c (storm or strong wind: a; medium wind: b; weak wind or calm) : c) shown schematically. The blades are advantageously adaptable to both the wind direction and the wind strength. When the wind is strong, the cross-sectional area of the vanes 28 through which the wind flows can be made relatively small, and when the wind is weak, it is made relatively large. On the other hand, the vanes 28 can be aligned in the wind direction by turning and / or by turning the column 29. These measures protect the wings 28 in particular from damage caused by the wind.

The variant according to FIG. 11 has wings 28 which are rotatably fixed to the column 29 by means of a joint or hinge. The column 29 is preferably rotatably mounted.

In the variant according to FIG. 12, the wings 28 are rotatably fixed to the column 29 by means of a joint or hinge and also have wing sections which are rotatably fixed to one another by means of a joint or hinge. In this case, the rotatability of the column 29 can optionally be dispensed with.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 13, the wings 28 are formed from wing sections which are displaceable or adjustable relative to one another. For example, these are wings 28 in the manner of a sliding door or the like. The column 29 is preferably rotatably mounted in this variant. In general, the wings 28 can be guided or supported on the floor in certain applications.

In principle, the entire device according to the invention or the so-called “alpha spring system” can be largely optimally adapted to the local climatic and energy conditions by means of computer-controlled measurement and process control. For this purpose, in particular sensors are at least for detecting a temperature and / or one Pressure and / or humidity and / or flow rate and / or wind direction and / or strength and / or Ready for operation of individual elements of the device, etc. provided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 adhesive splint

2 memory

3 brine solution

4 inlet

5 admission

6 opening

7 area

8 air

9 air

10 bodies

11 spring

12 memories

13 Brine solution

14 outlet

15 air filters

16 staff

17 furrow, groove

18 curvature

19 plate

20 holes

21 bridge

22 adhesive rail

23 heat exchanger

24 bullet

25 plate

26 flap

27 axis

28 wings

29 pillar

30 area

31 tissues

32 tension rope

33 groove

P pressure

Z direction of pull

Claims

Expectations:

1. Device for extracting water from atmospheric air (8) with a flowable adsorbent (3, 13) or absorbent (3, 13), in particular a brine solution (3, 13) with a hygroscopic salt for the adsorption or absorption of the water , wherein at least along an adsorption or absorption section (7) the adsorption or absorption is provided, characterized in that the flowable adsorbent (3, 13) or absorbent (3, 13) at least along the adsorption or absorption section ( 7) is essentially arranged on a guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) for guiding the adsorbent (3) or absorbent (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is designed as a cord, rope, wire, braid, chain, tube, rod and / or rod.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is designed as a U- and / or V-shaped guide element (16, 19).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brine solution (3) is arranged at least on the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) as a liquid film.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) has at least one distributor element (10, 24) for the area-wide distribution of the brine solution (3).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distributor element (10, 24) as a spherical, cube, cone, oval, egg, cuboid and / or polygonal body (10, 24) is trained.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distributor element (10, 24) comprises a net, a fleece, a mesh, a leather skin, hairs, fibers, pores, grooves, craters and / or hollows.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is designed as a string of pearls (1) with numerous bodies (10).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is designed as a rod (16) with numerous furrows (17), grooves and / or grooves aligned in the direction of the rod axis is.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is designed as a corrugated plate (19) with numerous shafts (17), grooves and / or grooves.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport direction of the adsorbent (3) or absorbent (3) along the guide element

(1, 16, 19, 22, 24) is oriented substantially in the vertical direction.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that numerous guide elements (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) are provided.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that brine drops for transporting the brine solution (3) are provided at least along the adsorption or absorption section (7).

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one dosing unit

(2) with at least one metering opening (6) for metering the brine solution (3) into the guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24).

15. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering unit (2) has at least one pressure generating unit for pressurizing the brine solution (3) arranged in a brine store (2).

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one heat exchanger unit is provided for the use of thermal energy for the desorption.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed to be height and / or width adjustable.

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is at least partially rotatable about an axis (27).

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one outer shell is rotatably mounted about an axis (27).

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one air filter (15) is provided for filtering the atmospheric air (8) flowing into the device.

21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air filter (15) has flow openings, the flow openings having a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the metering openings (6).

22. A method for obtaining water from atmospheric air (8) with an adsorbent (3, 13) or absorbent (3, 13), characterized in that at least one device according to one of the preceding claims is used.