STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses and systems for the collection, production and generation of water. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatuses and systems for generating liquid water from the atmosphere. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to apparatuses and systems that utilize condensation modules which capture and condense water vapor in moisture-laden air to produce fresh water therefrom.

B. Background

As is well known, water is a precious resource that is necessary for life on our planet. Water is available to humans through the hydrological cycle and is most commonly withdrawn from lakes, rivers and underground reservoirs for use in homes, farms, businesses and various other personal and industrial uses. Despite the fact that the majority of the Earth's surface is covered by water, it is generally well known that clean fresh water is or may be a relatively scarce resource in many areas of the world. People who live in geographic areas that are near or otherwise have regular and adequate access to clean, fresh water from rivers, lakes and wells are fortunate in that these areas, at least presently, may not have issues with regard to having sufficient fresh water to meet the personal, business, industrial and/or agricultural needs of the area at a certain level of use. Unfortunately, many people live in areas that do not have such access, or at least easy access. to clean fresh water. Even people who live in areas that presently have access to clean fresh water via the traditional sources of fresh water have legitimate concerns that they should not take such availability for granted. Due to the potential for drought conditions, whether in the short term or potential long term due to climate change, many people live, work and produce crops or materials in areas where the future supply of fresh water cannot be guaranteed. In particular, contamination of fresh water sources due to human activities (including waste disposal, by-products of manufacturing and other human population pressures), climate change events that may reduce snow, melt glaciers or otherwise eliminate some presently relied upon sources of water and/or political disputes over the control of fresh water sources are ever present concerns with regard to the availability of fresh water. In addition, most areas of the world have the opportunity to beneficially utilize more fresh water if that water was made available for people, agriculture and industrial uses.

Individuals use fresh water for drinking, cleaning, cooking, bathing and other personal uses, for their pets and other animals and to water lawns, plants, trees and the like. Cities, states and other municipalities provide the fresh water to their residents and to other customers, as well as for their own uses, through water supply systems, comprising treatment plants, pipes and the like, that connect one or more of the traditional sources of water to the homes, parks and other locations where the fresh water is needed. The agricultural industry utilizes freshwater to grow crops that are consumed by animals and people, to provide water to animals and to grow trees and other plants for use for a wide variety of purposes, including lumber, clothing and the like. Industrial uses of fresh water, including water used by businesses at their offices, stores, restaurants and the like or by mines to mine minerals and energy, are used to produce products, food and other items that are used by people, businesses, governments and the military.

Unfortunately, the amount of available water is generally considered insufficient for all of the uses for which water is desired. As such, in the past there was a constant need to obtain additional water supply by building infrastructure such as dams, canals and the like to increase the storage of water and to move that water to make it available for the uses for which water is currently utilized, including various personal, agricultural and industrial uses. Over time, most easily identifiable and relatively cost effective locations for building dams and impounding water have been utilized and the building of new dams is unlikely due to the cost and, recently understood, environmental impacts of such dams. Other than taking water from rivers and lakes, including those created by building dams, another traditional method of obtaining fresh water comprises digging or drilling wells into underground sources of fresh water. Unfortunately, this method of generating a supply of fresh water is becoming much more difficult and, therefore, costly and is often less likely to produce sufficient amounts of cost effective clean fresh water due to the need to dig or drill deeper to find desirable fresh water aquifers. In fact, the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves is a major concern for many areas, particularly agricultural areas. In addition, the cost of electricity or fuel to operate the pumps to pump water from the underground aquifers is often very expensive.

A relatively recent method of generating fresh water is the desalination of water from the ocean or other high salt concentration water supplies, including some surface and groundwater supplies. In addition to generally only being useful for areas that are adjacent an ocean or near another source of salt water, due to the expense of transferring water away from such sources, desalination of sea water to generate fresh water generally requires facilities that are very expensive to build and require significant amounts of electricity and/or other energy sources to operate. Because of the complex technology and high costs, desalination does not presently produce any significant quantities of fresh water. Yet another method of generating fresh water involves the reclamation of waste water into fresh water. As with desalination, reclamation of waste water generally requires complex systems that are relatively expensive to build and operate and, as such, in most areas these systems do not produce significant quantities of fresh water.

A source of fresh water that has not been commonly or very frequently accessed to generate fresh water for human uses is the atmosphere. Although the Earth's atmosphere contains a relatively significant amount of water, in the form of water vapor that is measured in humidity, apparatuses and systems for generating fresh water from the atmosphere are not very common. Most such apparatuses and systems utilize one or more condensing methods to produce liquid water from the water vapor. Unfortunately, the presently available apparatuses and systems are generally not able to efficiently and effectively produce sufficient fresh water so as to be very useable, particularly on any large or industrial scale. One problem with many atmospheric water generating apparatuses and systems is that they require excessive amounts of electricity or other energy sources to operate the various components of the apparatus and/or system. Another problem with many of these apparatuses and systems is that they are not very efficient at removing water vapor from the atmosphere and, as such, do not produce a sufficient amount of fresh water for that water to be widely utilized.

What is needed, therefore, is an improved apparatus and system for generating fresh water from atmospheric air. The improved apparatus and system should be structured and arranged to effectively and efficiently remove water vapor from the atmosphere to produce fresh water that can be utilized for a wide variety of uses. More specifically, an improved apparatus and system for generating fresh water from atmospheric air should be configured so as to effectively and efficiently separate water vapor from atmosphere air in order to generate fresh water that can be beneficially utilized for a variety of human-related activities, including personal, agricultural and industrial uses. In preferred configurations, an improved apparatus and system for producing water from the atmosphere should be adaptable to being able to produce large quantities of fresh water. In one configuration, an improved apparatus and system for generating fresh water from atmospheric air should be structured and arranged, at least in a preferred configuration, to not require any external sources of electricity or electrical systems to operate, which can reduce the cost of producing the water and allow the system to operate to produce fresh water in case of an electrical grid failure or other system-wide loss of electricity. In the preferred configurations, the new apparatus and system should be configured to be easy to operate and relatively inexpensive to build.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention to the reader. As such, this Summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it may not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this Summary is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.

The use of terms such as “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element or feature of an element from another. The term “and/or,” when used herein with a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed.

The new apparatus and system of the present invention provides the various benefits and solves the problems that are identified above. That is to say, the present invention is directed to a new and improved system for producing fresh water from moisture-laden air, such the atmosphere. More specifically, the new atmospheric water generating apparatus and system of the present invention is beneficially structured and arranged to economically, efficiently and effectively condense water vapor in moisture-laden air to produce fresh water from such air that can be utilized for a wide variety of fresh water uses, including for personal, agricultural and industrial purposes. In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the new apparatus and system for producing water from moisture-laden air is able to produce large quantities of fresh water. In one configuration, the apparatus and system for generating fresh water from moisture-laden air of the present invention utilizes on-site production of power, such as electricity from solar panels, so as to not require any external source of electricity or electrical systems to operate. The on-site production of electricity to operate the system reduces the cost of producing the fresh water and allows the system to operate to produce fresh water in situations where there is an electrical grid failure or other system-wide loss of electricity. In the preferred configurations, the new apparatus and system are easy to operate and relatively inexpensive to build.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the new atmospheric water generating apparatus for producing fresh water from moisture-laden air generally comprises a frame having a plurality of frame members that define an upper end and a lower end of the apparatus, a condensation panel having a panel body which is supported by the frame, at least one condensation surface that is associated with the condensation panel and a flow channel disposed in the panel body of the condensation panel so as to define a flow path through the panel body between an inlet and an outlet of the condensation panel. The panel body of the condensation panel has an upper end and a lower end. The condensation surface of the condensation panel is structured and arranged with a surface area that will contact the moisture-laden air when the condensation panel is exposed to the moisture-laden air. The inlet is connected to a source of cooled fluid, with the flow channel being sized and configured to allow a cooled fluid from the source of cooled fluid to flow through the flow channel from the inlet to the outlet of the condensation panel. Preferably, the outlet is also connected to the source of cooled fluid to direct the cooled fluid thereto to provide a closed-loop cooling system. The flow path through the condensation panel is selected so the cooled fluid will cool the condensation surface of the condensation panel when the cooled fluid is flowing through the flow channel in a manner which produces condensate on the condensation surface when the condensation surface is in contact with the moisture-laden air. The condensation panel is configured for the condensate to flow downward to the lower end of the condensation panel and toward the lower end of the apparatus to collect as the fresh water on a water collecting surface that is associated with the apparatus. In a preferred configuration, the frame supports a plurality of condensation panels, with each of the plurality of condensation panels having a pair of opposite facing condensation surfaces that are in spaced apart relation to the condensation surfaces of any adjacent condensation panel or other surface so as to define an air gap therebetween to improve contact between the various condensation surfaces and the moisture-laden air.

The new apparatus has a panel support mechanism that is associated with the frame, with the panel support mechanism being structured and arranged to support each of the plurality of condensation panels in or on the frame. The panel support mechanisms can comprises one or more panel support members that are structured and arranged to position each of the condensation panels in the frame in corresponding relation to the frame with the upper end of each of the condensation panels directed toward the upper end of the apparatus and the lower end of each of the condensation panels directed toward the lower end of the apparatus. In one embodiment, each of the one or more panel support members comprise a support post that is connected to the frame, with the support post being cooperatively sized and configured with a support aperture in the panel body of the condensation panel so as to allow the support post to pass through the support aperture and support the condensation panel in the frame. In one configuration of this embodiment, the support aperture is positioned in a support tab that is attached to or integral with the upper end of the panel body so as to suspend the panel body downward from the support post in a hanging type arrangement.

In certain preferred embodiments, the condensation surface or surfaces of the condensation panel have a shaped surface that is configured to increase the surface area of the condensation surface so as to increase the condensate on the condensation surface and the amount of fresh water that is produced by the condensation panels. In one configuration, the shaped surface comprises a plurality of outwardly extending members and/or a plurality of concave areas, with each of the outwardly extending members and/or concave areas being sized and configured to increase the surface area of the condensation surface.

In one configuration, the fresh water produced by the condensation panels interacting with the moisture-laden air drains onto the floor of a building or other structure in which one or more apparatuses are housed. Alternatively, the apparatus can comprise a channel member which is attached to, integrally formed or otherwise associated with the frame and the water collecting surface, which may also be associated with the frame, is configured to direct the fresh water from the condensation panels to the channel member. The fresh water from the floor, channel member or other water collecting surface can be directed to a collection area that delivers the fresh water to a pipeline, canal, pond, reservoir or the like or directly to a field, orchard, business, home or mine where it will be utilized.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the atmospheric water generating system generally comprises a plurality of the above-described water generating apparatuses, moisture-laden air having water vapor associated therewith, a source of cooled fluid that produces a cooled fluid, one or more pumps interconnecting the source of cooled fluid and each of the apparatuses, one or more fans that are configured to direct the moisture-laden air to and around each of the apparatuses and to direct dried air away from each of the apparatuses, a source of power connected to at least one of the source of cooled fluid, the one or more pumps and the one or more fans, a water collecting surface associated with each of the apparatuses to collect the fresh water produced by the apparatuses, and at least one collection area to collect the fresh water and direct the fresh water to a pipeline, canal, pond, reservoir or the like or directly to a field, orchard, business, home or mine where it will be utilized. As set forth above, each of the apparatuses have a frame with a plurality of frame members that define an upper end and a lower end of the apparatus, at least one panel support mechanism associated with the frame and a plurality of condensation panels that are supported by the panel support mechanism on or in the frame. Each of the condensation panels have a panel body, a condensation surface associated with each of a first side and a second side of the panel body, a surface area associated with each of the condensation surfaces that will contact the moisture-laden air when the condensation panels are exposed to the moisture-laden air, and a flow channel in the panel body of each of the condensation panels that defines a flow path through the panel body between an inlet and an outlet of the condensation panel.

The inlet of each of the condensation panels of each apparatus is connected to the source of cooled fluid so as to receive the cooled fluid in the flow channels of the condensation panels. The outlet of each of the condensation panels is, preferably, connected to the source of cooled fluid to direct the cooled fluid thereto so as to define a closed-loop cooling system. The pumps are utilized to pressurize the cooled fluid and direct the cooled fluid to and through the flow channels of the condensation panels from the inlet to the outlet thereof and to pull the cooled fluid back to the source of cooled fluid for re-cooling. The collection area is in fluid flow connection with the water collecting surface so as to receive the fresh water from the water collecting surface. The flow path through each of the condensation panels is selected so the cooled fluid from the source of cooled fluid will cool each of the condensation surfaces of the condensation panels when the cooled fluid is flowing through the flow channels thereof so as to produce condensate on each of the condensation surfaces of each of the condensation panels when each of the condensation surfaces are in contact with moisture-laden air. Preferably, each of the condensation panels are configured for the condensate to flow downward to a lower end of the condensation panels and toward the lower end of each of the apparatuses to collect as fresh water on the water collecting surface. The panel support mechanism of each of the apparatuses comprises a plurality of panel support members. In one configuration, each of the plurality of panel support members are structured and arranged to position each condensation panel in the frame in corresponding relation to the frame with an upper end of each of the condensation panels directed toward the upper end of the apparatus and the lower end of each of the condensation panels directed toward the lower end of the apparatus. In one embodiment, each of the one or more panel support members comprise a support post that is connected to the frame, with the support post being cooperatively sized and configured with a support aperture in the panel body of the condensation panel so as to allow the support post to pass through the support aperture and support the condensation panel in the frame. In a possible preferred embodiment, the condensation surfaces of each of the condensation panels have a shaped surface, with the shaped surfaces being configured to increase the surface area of the condensation surfaces to increase the condensate on the condensation surface and the fresh water produced thereby. The apparatuses can be located in a building having a floor that functions as the water collecting surface. The source of cooled fluid can comprise one or more chilling mechanisms, which may also be located inside the building or other structure.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus and system for producing fresh water from the atmosphere and/or other moisture-laden air that has the advantages set forth above and which overcomes the various disadvantages and limitations which are associated with presently available methods, apparatuses and systems for producing fresh water from moisture-laden air.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new apparatus and system that is structured and arranged to produce fresh water from water vapor in moisture-laden air, including atmospheric air, in a manner which is able to produce relatively large quantities of fresh water therefrom for use of the fresh water for a wide variety of personal, agricultural and industrial uses.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a new apparatus and system that is structured and arranged to produce fresh water from moisture in the atmospheric air in a manner which is cost effective.

An important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new atmospheric water generating apparatus and system which accomplishes the objectives set forth above and elsewhere in the present disclosure.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new apparatus and system for producing fresh water from moisture-laden air which is structured and arranged to economically, efficiently and effectively condense water vapor that is present in the atmosphere or other moisture-laden air as condensate on one or more condensation surface so as to produce fresh water which can be utilized for a wide variety of fresh water uses, including for personal, agricultural and industrial purposes.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an atmospheric water generating apparatus and system for producing fresh water from the atmosphere and/or other moisture-laden air that can be structured and arranged so as to be able to produce large quantities of fresh water.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an atmospheric water generating apparatus and system for producing water from moisture-laden air that can be structured and arranged, in one or more preferred configurations, for the on-site production of power, such as electricity from solar panels, so as to not require any external source of electricity or electrical systems to operate, which will reduce the cost of producing the fresh water and allow the system to produce fresh water in situations where there is an electrical grid failure or other system-wide loss of electricity.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an improved atmospheric water generating apparatus for producing fresh water from the atmosphere and/or other moisture-laden air which comprises a frame that supports a plurality interconnected spaced apart condensation panels which are each configured to allow a cooling fluid to pass through a flow channel inside the panel body along a flow path in order to cool condensation surfaces each of the condensation panels so as to condense water vapor which is removed from the moisture-laden air as condensate on the outer condensation surfaces of the panels that will drip or flow downward to produce fresh water.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an improved atmospheric water generating system for producing fresh water from the atmosphere and/or other moisture-laden air which comprises a plurality of specially configured atmospheric water generating apparatuses that each have a plurality of interconnected spaced apart condensation panels through which a cooling fluid is passed to condense water vapor in the moisture-laden air on the outer surfaces of the panels and then drain the fresh water to a water collection basin for further distribution to any of a wide variety of fresh water uses.

Yet another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new atmospheric water generating apparatus and system for producing fresh water from moisture-laden air which, in the preferred configurations, is easy to operate and relatively inexpensive to build.

As will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiments which follow, the above and other objects and aspects are accomplished or provided by the present invention. As set forth herein and will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims. The description of the invention which follows is presented for purposes of illustrating one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims which follow after the discussion.

