GB1112524A - Improvements in or relating to the recovery and/or extraction of fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

1,112,524. Recovering water from humid air. SPECTRA INTERNATIONAL Inc. 18 May, 1966 [21 May, 1965], No. 22076/66. Heading B1L. Apparatus (see Fig. I) for extracting liquid water from the water vapour contained in humid air comprises a series of cone-shaped elements 3 suspended by cords 3.1 from the lids 1.1 and 2.1 of outer and inner containers 1.2 and 2.2. On replacement of the lids as in Fig. 2 (not shown), the whole set of perhaps 500 elements compacts down into the inner receptacle to leave a minimum free space. The outer container is of glass while the inner container is suitably of blackened metal. In the open form shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus is exposed all night; it is then closed at sunrise so that exposure to the sun during the day causes the apparatus to be heated and the absorbed moisture to be expelled as vapour through silvered tube 2.4 where the vapour condenses to droplets. The elements (see Fig. 3b, not shown) have ridges 3.2 for retaining the desiccant, and perforations 3.4 which allow the passage of vapour but not of desiccant. Alternatively, a central hole may suffice. In other embodiments illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown), flat elements, instead of conical ones, are used, and the outer container is dispensed with. Specified adsorbents are charcoal, silica gel and soap, but is most preferably magnesium sulphate hydrate. The apparatus may be applied to the recovery of other condensibles such as alcohol, benzene and ammonia from industrial atmospheres.