WO2002018859A1 - Procede et appareil d'extraction de l'eau a partir de l'air - Google Patents

Procede et appareil d'extraction de l'eau a partir de l'air Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002018859A1
WO2002018859A1 PCT/US2001/016663 US0116663W WO0218859A1 WO 2002018859 A1 WO2002018859 A1 WO 2002018859A1 US 0116663 W US0116663 W US 0116663W WO 0218859 A1 WO0218859 A1 WO 0218859A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air
compression chamber
moist air
water
moist
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/016663
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Barry L. Spletzer
Diane Schafer Callow
Lisa C. Marron
Jonathan R. Salton
Original Assignee
Sandia Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/023789 external-priority patent/WO2001036885A1/fr
Priority claimed from US09/804,709 external-priority patent/US6453684B1/en
Application filed by Sandia Corporation filed Critical Sandia Corporation
Priority to AU2001264849A priority Critical patent/AU2001264849A1/en
Publication of WO2002018859A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002018859A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D5/00—Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation
    • B01D5/0033—Other features
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
    • E03B3/00—Methods or installations for obtaining or collecting drinking water or tap water
    • E03B3/28—Methods or installations for obtaining or collecting drinking water or tap water from humid air
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of water-air interactions, specifically the extraction of water from moist air (a mixture of air and water vapor).
  • Potable water is a constant need. Obtaining potable water is a threshold requirement for most human and animal activity. Obtaining potable water can be especially problematic in arid areas. Tremendous effort and expense currently go to drilling wells, building water transport systems, and purifying and desalinating water.
  • Water is conventionally obtained by purifying existing liquid water. Reverse osmosis, distillation, and filtration are used to purify contaminated water. Desalination is used to produce potable water from sea water. These approaches can be energy-intensive, and require the presence of liquid water as the starting material.
  • the present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting liquid water from moist air using minimal energy input.
  • the method comprises compressing moist air under conditions that foster the condensation of liquid water (i.e., to a pressure where the water originally in the air is more than that representing a relative humidity of 1.0 at the increased pressure).
  • the liquid condensate can be removed for use.
  • Some of the energy required to compress the air can be recovered by allowing the remaining dry air to expand.
  • the decompressed, dried air can be exchanged for a fresh charge of moist air and the process repeated.
  • the apparatus comprises a compression chamber having a variable internal volume.
  • An intake port allows moist air into the compression chamber.
  • An exhaust port allows dried air out of the compression chamber.
  • a condensation device fosters condensation at the desired conditions.
  • a condensate removal port allows liquid water to be removed.
  • Figure 1 is a plot of representative values over normal environmental conditions.
  • Figure 2 is a graph of a thermodynamic cycle for dry air in a method according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a graph of a thermodynamic cycle for moisture in a method according to the present invention.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h) are schematic representations of the mechanical cycle of the apparatus, illustrated at the end and the midway position of each of four strokes.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting liquid water from moist air using minimal energy input.
  • the method comprises compressing moist air under conditions that foster the condensation of liquid water (i.e., to a pressure where the water originally in the air is more than that representing a relative humidity of 1.0 at the increased pressure).
  • the liquid condensate can be removed for use.
  • Some of the energy required to compress the air can be recovered by allowing the remaining dry air to expand.
  • the decompressed, dried air can be exchanged for a fresh charge of moist air and the process repeated.
  • the present invention takes advantage of several thermodynamic principles: 1. As moist air is compressed, water in the air condenses into liquid water (provided the temperature increase is not too great).
  • thermodynamic cycle of the present invention The energy required to compress the air can be recovered during subsequent expansion, plus additional mechanical energy resulting from the increased air temperature can be recovered.
  • the four principles characterize the thermodynamic cycle of the present invention. They allow liquid water to be extracted from air, and provide a simple way to convert the released heat of vaporization into mechanical work to assist in operating the extraction system.
  • the description below introduces principles and terms, describes the method of the present invention including the efficiency and tradeoffs involved, and describes an apparatus suitable for practice of the method.
  • Moist air is a mixture of air and water vapor. Moist air and its components (dry air and water vapor) behave as an ideal gas until condensation occurs. Consequently, the law of partial pressures is applicable to much of the analysis of the present invention. Under the law of partial pressures each component of a mixture behaves as though it occupies the entire volume. The amount of water vapor contained in air is commonly expressed as the percent relative humidity. The percent relative humidity is defined as the percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount that the air can hold at that temperature and pressure. A more convenient expression for analysis is the use a variable ⁇ that ranges from 0 to 1 rather than a percentage. By the law of partial pressures, the partial pressure of the water vapor (or vapor pressure p v ) is the product of the relative humidity and the saturation pressure p sat of water at the air temperature, as shown in equation 1.
  • Table 1 is a table of saturation pressures.
  • variable p a is the partial pressure of dry air. Since the moisture content in the air at ordinary conditions is about one percent, using the total air pressure rather than the dry air pressure will result in insignificant error. At elevated temperatures this is not necessarily true.
  • the dry air pressure and the total air pressure are used interchangeably.
  • Condensation of water vapor from the atmosphere begins when the vapor pressure reaches the saturation pressure of the water. This corresponds to a relative humidity of 1.0. Any excess water (water in excess of a relative humidity of 1.0) will condense. The amount of water condensed depends on the initial and final conditions of the atmosphere. At the end of condensation, the relative humidity of the atmosphere will be 1.0. The amount of water condensed as a fraction of the amount of air processed is the difference in initial and final specific humidity, as shown in equation 4.
  • the amount of water condensed depends on the initial conditions of humidity, temperature, and pressure (subscripted / ' in equation 4) and the final conditions of temperature and pressure (subscripted f in equation 4).
  • Equation 4 makes evident another way to condense available water vapor. Minimizing the ratio of saturation pressure at final temperature to final pressure maximizes condensation. This can be done by lowering the saturation pressure as in a conventional dehumidifier, and by raising the final pressure. The method of the present invention relies on raising the final pressure to allow condensation without requiring refrigeration. Heat can be removed from the moist air being compressed to further foster condensation. Condensation can be further encouraged by reducing the temperature of the moist air during compression, although requiring refrigeration can greatly increase the energy required to extract water.
  • the method of the present invention requires less energy to extract water than does refrigeration.
  • the amount of energy required to compress the moist air Since the objective is condensation, and lower temperatures allow more ready condensation, non- adiabatic compression is desirable. Adiabatic compression can result in significant temperature increases, to the extreme that condensation will not occur.
  • a bound on the work required can be evaluated by considering isothermal compression and applying the ideal gas law which states that, for isothermal conditions, the pressure-volume product is constant.
  • the analysis below provides an estimate of the compression work required using a simplifying assumption of isothermal compression; the invention does not require isothermal operation.
  • the compression work is a function of the relative humidity and the pressure ratio. Further, the compression work is minimized with respect to the water condensed with the condition of equation 9 is met.
  • the compression ratio for minimum work is 7.5 and the specific work is 22 MJ/kg of water condensed. This seems large in comparison to the heat of vaporization of water (2.5 MJ/kg), but is offset by several considerations.
  • Reversibility of isothermal compression means that the mechanical work of compression can be recovered in expansion. Friction and flow losses will consume some of the compression energy.
  • With a 90 percent efficient compressor the amount of energy lost equals the heat vaporization of water.
  • the heat vaporization energy is released, having the potential to use the heat vaporization energy to generate mechanical work (other thermodynamic cycles generate work from heated air, e.g. Otto, Brayton, Deisel).
  • One view of the method of the present invention is as evaporative cooling in reverse: instead of hot dry air plus water producing cool moist air as in evaporative cooling, the present invention takes cool moist air and produces hot dry air plus water.
  • thermodynamic cycle of the present invention can be difficult to achieve in practice, but aids in understanding the principles underlying the present invention.
  • the complete thermodynamic cycle can be viewed as four distinct steps:
  • thermodynamic cycle For a closed thermodynamic cycle the fourth step is the equivalent of evaporating the condensed moisture back into the air.
  • this is an open cycle where dry air is exhausted and moist air introduced.
  • the heat of vaporization extracted during the rest of the cycle is provided by solar evaporation of water into the atmosphere outside the water extraction system.
  • the cycle can be drawn as a classic thermodynamic cycle. Cycle diagrams are required for each component (air and water). IDEAL THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE FOR DRY AIR
  • Figure 2 is a graph of a thermodynamic cycle for the dry air.
  • the cycle begins as condition 1 with the air at ambient pressure and density.
  • the dotted line extending towards condition 2 is the isotherm for ambient conditions.
  • Isothermal compression and expansion are shown for ease of illustration and analysis. Isothermal operation is not required, however, so long as the compression ends at a temperature/pressure condition where the original mass of water exceeds that required for a relative humidity of 1.
  • condition 2 the dry air begins to deviate from isothermal conditions. This is due to condensation, which raises the temperature by releasing the heat of vaporization into the air. Compression continues, causing more condensation and further increasing temperature until condition 3 is reached. At this point the liquid water is removed from the system and the warm dried air begins to expand.
  • Figure 3 is a graph of a thermodynamic cycle for the moisture.
  • the ambient temperature, specific volume and vapor pressure of the moisture are at condition 1.
  • Isothermal compression proceeds to condition 2 where the isotherm enters the liquid- vapor region of the phase diagram - the point at which condensation begins.
  • Isothermal compression and expansion are shown for ease of illustration and analysis. Isothermal operation is not required, however, so long as the compression ends at a temperature/pressure condition where the original mass of water exceeds that required for a relative humidity of 1. From condition 2 to condition 3 the condensation and compression proceed and the temperature increases due to the release of the heat of vaporization. The pressure increases with decreasing specific volume.
  • Liquid water can be extracted at condition 3, represented on the diagram as a split in the cycle.
  • condition 3L there is liquid as condition 3L and vapor at condition 3V.
  • the extracted liquid does not appear further in the cycle.
  • the remaining vapor at condition 3V has a much larger specific volume (lower density) that the liquid-vapor mixture.
  • the saturated vapor is then expanded isothermally with the expanding dry air.
  • the result of the expansion is condition 4 with lower vapor pressure and greater specific volume than the initial conditions.
  • the greater specific volume of caused by the earlier removal of the liquid water so that a smaller quantity of water vapor now occupies the same initial volume.
  • the remaining water vapor is exhausted with the dried air and a fresh charge of ambient air is introduced, returning the cycle to condition 1.
  • Treating the dry air and moisture separately according to the law of partial pressures can simplify the analysis of work during the compression stage (since condensation occurs). Analyzing the cycle under isothermal compression conditions can also simplify the analysis; other compression conditions can change the result of the analysis.
  • the convention used here for the algebraic sign of work is that positive work is done on the working fluid and negative work is done by the fluid. Accordingly, negative work can be extracted from the system and positive work must be provided to the system.
  • the dry air behaves as an ideal gas throughout the compression process so the compression work done on the dry air is given by equation 11.
  • the total compression work is the sum of equations 11 , 12, and 13, shown simplified in equation 14.
  • the total work done over the cycle is the sum of the compression and expansion work, given by equation 17.
  • the example conditions above reflect typical daytime temperature and humidity.
  • the present invention can be even more efficient at night. Specific humidity tends to remain substantially constant, while lower evening and nighttime temperatures reduce the saturation pressure of the water vapor. For example, if in the example conditions the temperature drops 10 degrees C while specific humidity remains constant, the relative humidity rises to 75%.
  • the new conditions allow water to be extracted at much lower compression ratios, requiring less total work.
  • An example apparatus is similar to a conventional four stroke internal combustion engine.
  • the apparatus shown schematically in Figure 4, comprises a compressor 10, an intake/exhaust valve 20, a relief valve 30, and a condensation medium 40.
  • the compressor 10 comprises a body 11 defining a compression chamber 12 with a piston 13 movable relative to the body 11 and varying the volume of the compression chamber 12.
  • Figure 5(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h) show the mechanical cycle of the apparatus, illustrated at the end and the midway position of each of the four strokes.
  • the enclosed volume is at the minimum and the intake/exhaust valve is open.
  • the piston moves to enlarge the chamber volume, drawing moist air into the compression chamber, as in Figure 5b.
  • Figure 5c the intake/exhaust valve closes and the compression stroke begins.
  • the piston moves to reduce the chamber volume, Figure 5d, compressing the moist air and condensing water vapor.
  • Figure 5e the water vapor has condensed into liquid water, which is removed from the chamber.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a single cylinder compressor; multiple cylinders can allow a compression stroke in one chamber to be offset by an expansion stroke in another chamber. Combining extraction cylinders with internal combustion cylinders can simplify the addition of energy, if required. Automotive eight cylinder engines have been modified to make high capacity compressors by converting some of the internal combustion cylinders to compression cylinders.
  • Piston rings and journal bearing friction in a conventional internal combustion cylinder can reduce the efficiency of water extraction if internal combustion cylinders are used unmodified as compression cylinders. Modification for greater efficiency as a compression cylinder is possible; the absence of combustion products and high temperatures can allow lower friction designs and materials. Suitably low temperature swings can allow a lapped piston to wall seal, eliminating friction due to piston ring sealing. Sideload on the piston can also generate efficiency-reducing friction.
  • An antifriction bearing can be used between the piston and a crank connecting rod as shown in Figure 6. Linear bearing 601 bears the sideload from the motion of connecting rod 602, reducing friction between piston 603 and walls 604.
  • the example apparatus can provide a compression regime suitable for condensation. Temperature elevation increases the saturation pressure of the water vapor, reducing the amount of vapor condensed. At the extreme, strict adiabatic compression can result in temperature increases of 350 degrees C at a compression ratio of 7.0. This corresponds to a vapor pressure of about 150 bars, making it doubtful that any condensation can be achieved unless the apparatus provides for cooling subsequent to compression. Fortunately, the thermal mass of the air is low relative to the surroundings, and compression can be achieved at modest increases in temperature. Tests have shown that a temperature gradient from the compressed air to a condensation region within the apparatus can encourage condensation.
  • the condensation region can be a portion of the volume occupied by the air kept cooler than the rest, surfaces of the apparatus that are cooler than the air, or a condensation medium designed for appropriate heat transfer to maintain a temperature gradient.
  • a condensation medium such as a sponge can provide thermal mass to discourage temperature elevation. Additionally, the sponge can be adapted to provide heat transfer appropriate for maintaining a temperature differential.
  • the condensation medium's properties can be tailored to accommodate the desired heat transfer and the desired compression speed.
  • a porous structure such as a sponge can facilitate rapid heat transfer, allowing short cycle times.
  • the condensation medium can comprise a sponge, with mean pore size of over 1 millimeter.
  • the water's surface tension can also pose a barrier to condensation. Nucleation sites can encourage condensation by reducing the effect of the surface tension barrier. For example, smoke or fog in the compression chamber can provide nucleation sites.
  • the condensation medium can also provide nucleation sites.
  • a sponge having hydrophilic surfaces can provide a large surface area for water to condense. The large surface area, however, can allow excessive evaporation during expansion. Accordingly, a sponge with only selected portions made hydrophilic can reduce the evaporation surface area and can encourage condensation in advantageous portions of the chamber (e.g., near water removal ports).
  • Heat transfer that is recovered on expansion does not unduly reduce the efficiency. Unrecovered heat transfer, however, reduces the efficiency.
  • heat can transfer from the air to the cylinder walls and be lost to the surroundings, reducing the overall efficiency. Insulating the cylinder walls can mitigate this loss, for example by using a double wall cylinder with a vacuum between the walls.
  • Scavenging of the condensed water is also important to the operation of the apparatus.
  • the fog generated by compression must not be allowed to significantly evaporate when the air is expanded. As the fog begins to condense, it collects into large droplets due to the surface tension of the water. The large droplets have a lower surface to volume ratio that the initial fog and consequently evaporate slowly on expansion. Accordingly, the expansion is not necessarily an equilibrium process. Accomplishing the expansion in a relatively short time can prevent significant evaporation of condensate.
  • a volume of liquid water in the compression chamber or as part of a condensation medium can serve as a scavenging device by providing an even lower surface to volume ratio.
  • a simple relief valve can be used to retrieve condensate from the chamber.
  • a relief valve coupled with a trap (e.g., like traps in conventional steam systems) to ensure that only condensate escapes, can vent the condensate from the compression chamber.
  • a filter can also be placed in the exhaust path to trap water that might be lost in the exhaust.
  • a filter made of material such as GORETEXTM can allow water vapor into the chamber and trap liquid water, allowing combination of intake and exhaust paths. Centrifugal force can also help scavenge water.
  • a coiled exhaust path can use exhaust motion to agglomerate water droplets on the tube wall.
  • spinning the chamber or the condensation medium can move liquid water to the walls of the chamber or the outside of the thermal mass.
  • configuring the inlet or exhaust paths to provide swirling of the air in the chamber or the exhaust path can provide centrifugal force that encourages liquid water to the walls of the chamber or the exhaust path.

Abstract

L'invention (10) concerne un procédé et un appareil d'extraction d'eau liquide à partir d'air humide utilisant une entrée d'énergie minimale. Le procédé consiste à comprimer l'air humide dans des conditions qui favorisent la condensation d'eau liquide. L'air peut être décomprimé dans des conditions qui ne favorisent pas la condensation de l'eau liquide. L'air séché décomprimé peut être échangé contre une charge d'air humide frais, ce procédé pouvant être répété plusieurs fois. On peut retirer le condensat liquide pour l'utiliser. Cet appareil peut comprendre une chambre de compression (12) à volume interne variable. Un orifice d'entrée (20) permet à l'air humide d'entrer dans la chambre de compression (12). Un orifice de sortie (20) permet à l'air sec de sortir de la chambre de compression (12). Un dispositif de condensation (40) favorise la condensation dans les conditions souhaitées. Un orifice de retrait de condensat permet d'évacuer l'eau liquide.
PCT/US2001/016663 2000-08-28 2001-05-22 Procede et appareil d'extraction de l'eau a partir de l'air WO2002018859A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001264849A AU2001264849A1 (en) 2000-08-28 2001-05-22 Method and apparatus for extracting water from air

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2000/023789 WO2001036885A1 (fr) 1999-11-12 2000-08-28 Procede et appareil d'extraction d'eau a partir de l'air
USPCT/US00/23789 2000-08-28
US09/804,709 2001-03-12
US09/804,709 US6453684B1 (en) 2001-03-12 2001-03-12 Method and apparatus for extracting water from air

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002018859A1 true WO2002018859A1 (fr) 2002-03-07

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111700631A (zh) * 2018-09-21 2020-09-25 河南大学 心理学注意力训练装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4050262A (en) * 1975-08-09 1977-09-27 Firma "Technico Development and Financing S. A." Apparatus for extracting water from the atmosphere
US4665715A (en) * 1985-01-18 1987-05-19 Abg Semca Method of air conditioning and air-conditioner for carrying out the same
US5259203A (en) * 1992-05-14 1993-11-09 Engel Daniel R Apparatus and method for extracting potable water from atmosphere
US5857344A (en) * 1994-08-10 1999-01-12 Rosenthal; Richard A. Atmospheric water extractor and method
US6230503B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-05-15 Sandia Corporation Method and apparatus for extracting water from air

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4050262A (en) * 1975-08-09 1977-09-27 Firma "Technico Development and Financing S. A." Apparatus for extracting water from the atmosphere
US4665715A (en) * 1985-01-18 1987-05-19 Abg Semca Method of air conditioning and air-conditioner for carrying out the same
US5259203A (en) * 1992-05-14 1993-11-09 Engel Daniel R Apparatus and method for extracting potable water from atmosphere
US5857344A (en) * 1994-08-10 1999-01-12 Rosenthal; Richard A. Atmospheric water extractor and method
US6230503B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-05-15 Sandia Corporation Method and apparatus for extracting water from air

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111700631A (zh) * 2018-09-21 2020-09-25 河南大学 心理学注意力训练装置

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