WO2021203155A1

WO2021203155A1 - Device for recovering water from ambient air

Info

Publication number: WO2021203155A1
Application number: PCT/AT2021/060117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Fuchs
Original assignee: Wolfgang Fuchs
Priority date: 2020-04-06
Filing date: 2021-04-06
Publication date: 2021-10-14
Also published as: AT523683A1; AT523683B1; EP4133133A1; AU2021253247A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for recovering water (2) from ambient air (3) having humidity, comprising at least one inlet (4), at least one outlet (7), an air channel (5) which connects the inlet (4) and the outlet (7) and which suctions the ambient air (3) via the inlet (4) and blows same out at the outlet (7), and a refrigeration machine (8), which has cooling surfaces (8a) in the air channel (5) and is designed to recover water (2) from the humidity of the suctioned ambient air (3) by drying same via the cooling surfaces (8a). A high degree of efficiency can be achieved by running the air channel (5) in an underground section (9) at least in the section upstream of the cooling surfaces (8a) of the refrigeration machine (8) in order to pre-cool the suctioned ambient air (3).

Description

Device for extracting water from ambient air

Technical area

The invention relates to a device for extracting water from ambient air which has a humidity level, with at least one inlet, with at least one outlet, with an air duct connecting the inlet and outlet, which sucks in the ambient air through the inlet and blows it out at the outlet, and with a refrigeration machine, which has cooling surfaces in the air duct and is designed to extract water from the humidity of the ambient air sucked in by drying it via the cooling surfaces.

State of the art

Devices for obtaining water, especially drinking water, from the humidity of an ambient air, are known from the prior art. These devices suck in ambient air via an inlet, dry it with the aid of a condenser of a refrigerant circuit, thereby extracting water, and blow this dried ambient air out via an outlet. Disadvantageously, such a device requires a comparatively high energy requirement, in particular for the operation of the refrigerant circuit. In addition, these devices are comparatively complex and limited due to the size in the amount of generated water.

Presentation of the invention

On the basis of the prior art described at the beginning, the invention has set itself the task of creating a device which has a reduced energy requirement can obtain a large amount of water from an ambient air. In addition, the device should be of simple construction and therefore inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention solves the problem posed by the features of claim 1.

If the air duct runs at least in the section in front of the cooling surfaces of the refrigeration machine in a subsurface, this ambient air can be pre-cooled, which can significantly increase the energy efficiency of the device. This is particularly due to the reduced power consumption of the refrigerant circuit. In addition, the use of the subsurface for accommodating the air duct enables the device to have increased dimensions, as a result of which, in terms of time, an increased volume of ambient air can be sucked in and thus the amount of water produced can be increased. The device according to the invention is therefore not only distinguished by its energy efficiency, but also by its comparatively high capacity for producing water. The refrigerating machine preferably has a refrigerant circuit with a condenser, the condenser forming the cooling surfaces.

The energy efficiency can be further improved if the air duct has a tubular heat exchanger that is embedded in the ground.

Further improvements result if the air flow runs essentially in the underground.

The inlet and / or outlet preferably protrudes from the ground in order to be able to suck in and blow out ambient air in a stable manner.

An increased amount of water can be withdrawn from the ambient air by condensation if the refrigeration machine has a cooling register that forms the cooling surfaces of the refrigeration machine. The condensation capacity can be increased if the air duct has a cooling tower in which the cooling surfaces of the refrigeration machine are provided.

A compact device can be created if the cooling tower has the outlet.

For this purpose, it is conceivable that the cooling tower has the outlet above the ground. This means that the dehumidified ambient air can be blown out above the ground and a kind of air cushion with cold air can be created.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the cooling tower has the outlet in the plane of the subsoil in order to further simplify the design of the cooling tower.

A compact and energy-efficient device can be made possible if several inlets are provided. The inlets are preferably arranged in a circle or in several concentric circles around the cooling tower.

A high cooling capacity can be given off to the ambient air if one inlet is connected to the cooling tower via a radially extending air path of the parallel air paths of the air duct.

Condensed water can be reliably collected if the air duct runs with a preferably constant gradient to the cooling tower.

The performance of the device can be further increased if an annular space is provided between the pipe heat exchanger and the cooling tower, which forms a collecting basin for the condensed humidity of the ambient air drawn in.

The air duct preferably has fans in order to be able to suck in a sufficient amount of ambient air. If, in addition, a closed surrounding wall is provided around the inlets on the outside, the blown dry and cooled ambient air can be kept in the area of the device. This promotes soil condensation, fog formation, drizzle, etc., and as a further consequence also the vegetation around the device, in particular in the area with high daytime temperatures, for example in deserts.

Ambient air with a temperature greater than or equal to 20, preferably 30, degrees Celsius is preferably sucked in via the inlet.

The ambient air is preferably blown out via the outlet at a temperature of less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius.

A comparatively high degree of efficiency can thus be achieved.

The air duct preferably has a non-return valve in front of the cooling surfaces. This means that the ambient air can be pre-cooled firmly in front of the cooling surfaces. In addition, the ambient air can thus be guided steadily through the device.

The amount of water recovered can be increased if a drainage is provided for a water that has seeped into the subsoil below the section of the air duct in the subsoil. Preferably, the drainage formed as a drip pan is arranged along the tubular heat exchanger.

Preferably, the inlet is followed by an inlet chamber in the air duct, which has a flow switch for optionally lengthening the length of the section in front of the cooling surfaces of the refrigerating machine by extending it in the underground. In this way, the ambient air can be cooled even more deeply and thus the energy efficiency of the device can be further increased.

The device can have a water pipe running underground, which is preferably provided in the underground near the surface. This allows the underground to be cooled back, which further increases the energy efficiency of the device. The energy efficiency of the device can be further improved if the refrigeration machine has a high temperature side, a heat-current converter and a thermally insulated chamber, in which chamber at least part of the high-temperature side and a warm side of the heat-current converter are provided , and that the cold side of the heat-current converter is vorgese hen outside the chamber.

Brief description of the drawing

In the drawings, for example, the subject matter of the invention is based on several

Embodiments shown in more detail. Show it

1 shows a schematic side view of the device,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1 after a first game Ausführungsbei,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Fig. 1 with a cooling tower modified from Fig. 3 according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows a representation of the non-return valves of FIG. 1,

6 shows a schematic illustration of the refrigeration machines 8 from FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 7a and 7b show an enlarged view of an inlet chamber from FIG. 1.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device 1 for obtaining water 2 from an ambient air 3 which has air humidity can be seen. This device 1 has several inlets 4 for sucking in the ambient air 3, which inlets are connected to an air duct 5. Fans 6 in the air duct 5 ensure a stronger flow of the ambient air 3 towards the outlet 7, through which the ambient air 3 is blown out. The device 1 also has a first refrigeration machine 8, which has cooling surfaces 8a in the air duct 5. The humidity of the ambient air 3 that is sucked in condenses on the cooling surfaces 8a. Water 2 is thus obtained from the ambient air 3 by drying it. The refrigerating machine 8 is preferably based on a refrigerant circuit or is a compression refrigerating machine.

The device has a high energy efficiency, since the air duct 5 in the section in front of the cooling surfaces 8a of the refrigeration machine 8 in a substrate 9, which significantly pre-cooled the ambient air 3 sucked in. This in particular because the device 1 is preferably set up in hot areas of the earth. The ambient air sucked in has a temperature of greater than or equal to 20 degrees Celsius in such areas. As a result of this pre-cooling (via a so-called air / geothermal heat exchanger), water 2 is to be withdrawn from the ambient air 3 with less cooling power for the refrigerating machine 8.

Sufficient pre-cooling of the ambient air 3 is achieved in that the air guide 5 has a tubular heat exchanger 10. The tubular heat exchanger 10 is embedded in the underground 9 and consists of parallel guided tubes 10a.

In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the entire air duct 5 runs in the substrate 9. Only the inlet and outlet 4, 7 protrude from this substrate 9, which further improves the energy efficiency of the device 1.

The efficiency in drying and cooling the ambient air 3 is increased if the refrigerating machine 8 has a cooling register 11 which forms the cooling surfaces 8 a of the refrigerating machine 8. The cooling register 11 is located in a cooling tower 12 in the middle of the device 1. In addition, the cooling tower 12 also forms the outlet 7 of the device 1. The outlet 7 has a plurality of radial outlet openings, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the cooling tower 12, 12a according to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the outlet 7, 7a with its radially blowing outlet openings is arranged above half of the subsurface.

In the cooling tower 12, 12b according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the outlet 7, 7b with its radially blowing outlet openings is arranged in the plane of the substrate 9.

Both cooling towers 12, 12a, 12b ensure an advantageous distribution of the dehumidified ambient air 3 in the area of the device 1.

According to FIG. 2 it can also be seen that the device 1 has a plurality of inlets 4 arranged in a circle around the outlet 7. The air duct 5 is divided into parallel air paths 5a to 5j, which each run radially from an inlet 4 to a common outlet 7 and form a star-shaped device 1 provided in the substrate 9. A tubular heat exchanger 10 is provided in each air path 5a to 5j, as can be seen in the figures.

In addition, the air duct 5 runs with a constant gradient to the cooling tower 12, with an annular space 14 being provided between the tubular heat exchanger 10 (as an example of an air / geothermal heat exchanger) and the cooling tower 12, which forms a collecting basin for the condensed humidity of the ambient air 6 drawn in. The condensation water from the annular space 14 and also the condensation water collected from the cooling tower 12 is cleaned if necessary and then placed in a water tank 15.

Outside around the inlets 4 around a closed circumferential wall 13 is vorgese hen to keep the blown and cooled ambient air 6 in the area of the system.

In addition, the dried ambient air 3 with a temperature of less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius is blown out into the open via the outlet 7. This cold air 3 sinks to the floor and forces the hot ambient air above it to Condensation (in the form of fog, drizzle). The cold air cushion 17 formed by the device 1 is delimited by the wall 13 and thus held in the area of the device 1.

The amount of precipitation decreases towards the outside as seen from the cooling tower 12. The mixing with the hot air takes place slowly and a fine precipitation occurs, which leads to the greening of the area and subsequently enables the area to be used for agriculture.

In addition, the water 16 that condenses in the process seeps into the subsurface 9 and cools the air duct 5 in front of the cooling surfaces 8 a of the refrigerating machine 8. A drainage not shown in detail also uses this seeped into the ground What water 16 and this leads to the water tank 15 after cleaning.

The device according to FIG. 1 preferably has non-return flaps 18, as these have been shown enlarged in FIG. 5. These non-return flaps 18 are provided at the end of the tubular heat exchanger 10 on each of its tubes 10a and stel len the direction of flow of the ambient air 3 through the device 1 safe. This non-return valve 18, for example designed as a double wing, has two wings 18a, 18b on which spring-loaded bearings can assume a wide variety of positions.

In addition, it can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 that a collecting trough 19 is provided below the section of the air duct 5 in the subsurface 9 as a drainage for a water 16 that has seeped into the subsurface 9. This drainage extends over the entire length of the tubular heat exchanger 10. In addition, this drainage is connected to the annular space 14 in order to supply the seeped water 16 to the water 2 obtained there. For this purpose, the collecting trough 19 runs towards the annular space 14 with a gradient. This collecting trough 19 is preferably provided in the subsurface 9 at a depth of 30 meters.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the inlet 4 connects to an inlet chamber 20. The tubular heat exchanger 10, for example, adjoins this inlet chamber 20. The inlet chamber 20 has a flow switch 21 to the sucked ambient air 3 either in the section, namely Rohrwärmetau shear 10, in the substrate 9 (see. Fig. 1 or Fig. 7a) or in an extension 22 in the substrate 9 (see. Fig. 7b). The length of the section in front of the cooling surfaces 8 a of the refrigerating machine 8 in the subsurface 9 can thus be lengthened. Depending on the Be may or alternatively, the precooling of the ambient air 3 that is sucked in can thus be increased.

The extension 22 starts from the inlet chamber 20 and at its end opens into this inlet chamber 20 again. According to FIG. 7b, the flow diverter 21 first forces the ambient air into the extension 22 and then via the inlet chamber 20 into the tubular heat exchanger 10. The flow diverter 21 is constructed simply as a rotatable plate 21a, as shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. The flow switch 21 can be used as an alternative or in addition to a heat exchanger 23 in the inlet chamber 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drainage 19 is also located below the extension 22.

In addition, the device has a water conduit 24 provided with openings and running close to the surface in the subsurface 9. In this way, re-cooling of the underground 9 can be initiated. The water line 24 is supplied with the obtained What ser 2, which has not been shown in detail. In this way, the ground can be moistened with cool water between the inlets 4, which actively cools back the ground heated by the device 1. The water from the water pipe 24 emitted into the subsoil is collected by the drainage 19.

In FIG. 6, the refrigeration machine 8 is shown in more detail, which has refrigerant circuit 801 with a high-temperature side 802 and a low-temperature side 803. The high-temperature side 802 comprises a condenser 804, which gives off heat to the environment, and the low-temperature side 803 an evaporator 805, which absorbs heat from the environment or gives off cold. The evaporator 805 is assigned the cooling surfaces 8a in the air duct 5, on which cooling surfaces 8a the humidity of the ambient air 3 sucked in condenses. A compressor 809 in the refrigerant circuit 801 ensures the circulation of the refrigerant. The refrigerant, which is strongly heated by the compression, is then fed to the condenser 804 of the high-temperature side 802. A corresponding expansion valve 811 allows the refrigerant to expand again and cool down considerably, whereupon it flows through the evaporator 805.

In addition, a heat-current converter 806 formed as a thermoelectric generator is provided in the refrigerant circuit 801, which has a warm side 807 and a cold side 808 in order to generate electrical energy as a function of the temperature difference between the warm and cold sides 807, 808. The warm side 807 of the heat-current converter 806 is thermally coupled to the high-temperature side 2 of the refrigerant circuit 801, whereby it is fed by the waste heat energy of the Käl temittelkreislaufs 801, in particular the condenser 804. The cold side 808 of the heat-current converter 806 is in turn thermally coupled to a colder energy reservoir, such as the ambient air. In order to achieve the most efficient possible supply of the heat-current converter 806 with the waste heat from the condenser 804, the condenser 804 is - at least partially - provided in a thermally insulated chamber 812. The warm side 807 of the heat-current converter 806 is also provided in the thermally insulated chamber 812 - its cold side 808, however, outside the chamber 812. This allows a controlled drainage path for the heat energy emitted by the condenser 804 via the heat-current converter 806 created and its efficiency and performance increased. It is also possible to provide the compressor 809 within the thermally insulated chamber 812 as well. It is conceivable to significantly reduce the net energy consumption of the refrigeration machine 8 and thus to improve the energy efficiency of the device 1.

For example, the invention can enable:

Ambient air 4 at 65 ° C. and 30% relative humidity has about 50 ml of water / m ³ . That means with 400 million m ^{3 of} air sucked in per day - cooled to approx. 8 ° C (degrees Celsius) by utilizing the subsoil, approx. 20 million liters of drinking water (water) per day. Another 280 million liters of drinking water will be over Leachate obtained through soil condensation using the drainage system. This is done by blowing out the cooled ambient air from the device and thus falling below the dew point of the warm air above it in a radius of up to approx. 800 m.

In cooler areas (or on cooler days / nights in deserts) with, for example, ambient air 4 at 20 ° C. and 30% relative humidity, this has about 5 ml of water / m3. With 400 million m ^{3 of} air sucked in per day - cooled to approx. 0 degrees Celsius - by using the subsoil, this means approx. 2 million liters of drinking water per day. In order to achieve (guarantee) a daily amount of drinking water of 300 million liters, a further 298 million liters of drinking water are obtained via the seepage water through soil condensation with the help of the drainage system. This is done by blowing out cold air from the device and thus falling below the dew point (at these outside temperatures approx. 2 ° C) of the warmer air above it over a radius of approx. 400 m.

The device can guarantee a constant daily amount of drinking water (300 million liters per day), regardless of whether it is 65 ° C or just 20 ° C in this desert area, because, for example, most of the water comes from ground condensation (fog and drizzle) . The system will be in operation day and night and the daily amount of drinking water will not depend on the air temperature (as is the case with existing systems).

At higher temperatures or outside temperatures, the air flow in the underground produces more water. At lower outside temperatures, more water is extracted by the drainage system. The daily constant amount of drinking water is balanced / regulated in that water pipes 24 of the device direct less water to a planting, for example forest outside the wall, and thus more can seep into the ground. The forest needs less water on cooler days - the forest needs more water on hotter days.

The water seeps to the drainage system at a depth of, for example, 30 meters (this is where this water is collected). In this way, the seepage water cools the warmed underground back. The heat is transferred to the water tank via the drained water. With this, approx. 3-5 degrees of heat are added to every liter of water obtained, which means that around 400 million m3 of heated air can be cooled and dehumidified every day. This also reduces waste heat from the refrigeration machine.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Device for obtaining water (2) from an ambient air (3) which has an air humidity, with at least one inlet (4), with at least one outlet (7), with an inlet (4) and outlet (7) connecting air duct (5), which sucks in the ambient air (3) via the inlet (4) and blows it out at the outlet (7), and with a refrigeration machine (8) which has cooling surfaces (8a) in the air duct (5) and for extraction of water (2) from the humidity of the ambient air (3) sucked in by drying it over the cooling surfaces (8a), characterized in that the air duct (5) at least in the section in front of the cooling surfaces (8a) of the refrigerating machine (8) runs in a substrate (9) for pre-cooling the sucked in ambient air (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air duct (5) has a tubular heat exchanger (10) which is embedded in the substrate (9).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air guide (5) runs essentially in the substrate (9).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inlet and / or outlet (3, 7) protrude from the substrate (9).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the refrigeration machine (8) has a cooling register (11) which forms the cooling surfaces (8a) of the refrigeration machine (8).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the air duct (5) has a cooling tower (12) in which the cooling surfaces (8a) of the Käl temaschine (8) are provided.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cooling tower (12) has the outlet (7).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the cooling tower (12, 12a) has the outlet (7, 7a) above the ground (9) or that the cooling tower (12, 12b) the outlet (7, 7b) in the Has level of the ground (9).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that several inlets (4), preferably arranged in a circle or in several concentric circles around the cooling tower (12), are provided.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that one inlet (4) is connected to the cooling tower (12) via a radially extending air path (5a to 5j) of the mutually parallel air paths (5a to 5j) of the air duct (5) .

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the air duct (5) runs with a, preferably constant, slope to the cooling tower (12).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that between the tubular heat exchanger (10) and cooling tower (12) an annular space (14) is provided, which forms a collecting basin for the condensed humidity of the sucked ambient air (3).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the air duct (5) has fans (6).

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that outside around the inlets (4) around a closed circumferential wall (13) is seen in front.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that ambient air (3) with a temperature greater than or equal to 20, preferably 30, degrees Celsius is sucked in via the inlet (4) and / or ambient air (3) with a Temperatures of less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius are blown out via the outlet (7).

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the air duct (5) in front of the cooling surfaces (8a) has a non-return valve (18) which are provided in particular after the tubular heat exchanger (10).

17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that below the section of the air duct (5) in the underground (9), in particular along the tubular heat exchanger (10), a drainage, in particular collecting trough, (19) for an in the Underground (9) infiltrated water (16) is provided.

18. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the inlet (4) is connected to an inlet chamber (20) in the air duct (5) which has a flow switch (21) for optionally extending the length of the section in front of the Has cooling surfaces (8a) of the refrigeration machine (8) through an extension (22) in the base (9).

19. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the device (1) has a water line (24) running in the underground (9), which is preferably provided close to the surface in the underground (9).

20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the refrigeration machine (8) has a high-temperature side (802), a heat-current converter (806) and a thermally insulated chamber (812), in which chamber ( 812) at least a part of the high-temperature side (802) and a warm side (806) of the heat-current converter (806) are provided, and that the cold side (808) of the heat-current converter (806) outside the chamber (812) is provided.