Method and apparatus for generating drinking water by condensing air humidity

Abstract

A system and method are shown which utilize a hybrid mechanical and evaporative air conditioning system to produce potable drinking while cooling an enclosure. The system operates on direct current, making it suitable for use in areas effected by natural disaster, power outage, or simply rural locations without access to electricity. The conditioning system includes both evaporative air conditioning and mechanical air conditioning functioning components to produce a water discharge. The system is operated to cool an enclosure. A portion of the water discharge is then drawn off and purified for use as drinking water.

1 . A method for generating potable drinking water from humidity in the air, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an air conditioning system that includes both evaporative air conditioning and mechanical air conditioning functioning components and which produces a water discharge, the mechanical air conditioning component of the system being operable entirely off direct current supplied from a direct current energy source;    operating the air conditioning unit to cool an enclosure;    drawing off a portion of the water discharge; and    purifying the portion of water discharge for drinking water.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical air conditioning component of the system includes a compressor for pumping a compressible refrigerant in a closed loop and wherein the evaporative air conditioning component of the system includes a vortex cooling chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the evaporative air conditioning component of the system includes a liquid sump and wherein a liquid conduit is run from the liquid sump to a water cooler.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a positive displacement pump is connected to the liquid conduit, wherein the pump propels the liquid from the liquid sump to the water cooler; and 
 wherein at least one filter element is located in series with the liquid conduit, whereby the filter unit purifies the liquid before reaching the water cooler.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the water in the water cooler is maintained at a desired level, and wherein the level of water in the water cooler is automatically adjusted by means of a float and an associated valve between the pump and the water cooler.  
   
   
       6 . A system for generating drinking water, the system comprising: 
 a stacked chamber arrangement having a centrally located, forced-air evaporative cooling chamber which separates an exhaust air plenum located above the cooling chamber from an air intake plenum located below the cooling chamber, the cooling chamber having a top wall and a bottom wall and surrounding sidewalls and a plurality of vertically arranged riser tubes which connect the intake plenum with the exhaust air plenum, the bottom wall creating a cold water sump region;    an intake fan, located within the air intake plenum, for drawing air upwardly through the plurality of vertical riser tubes which connect the intake plenum with the exhaust air plenum to thereby produce a cooled stream of air;    a liquid distributing member located in the cooling chamber adjacent the top wall thereof;    a pump for pumping water from the sump region of the cooling chamber to the liquid distributing member;    a pair of oppositely arranged fans mounted on the cooling chamber sidewalls for moving air through the cooling chamber from different locations to produce a humidified mass of turbulent air within the cooling chamber;    a discharge outlet for discharging air from the cooling chamber;    a mechanical refrigeration unit including a compressor and an associated refrigeration manifold, the refrigeration manifold being located within the sump region of the cooling chamber for refrigerating water contained therein;    a liquid conduit running from the liquid sump to a cooler;    a pump connected to the liquid conduit, wherein the pump propels the liquid from the liquid sump to the water cooler; and    a filter in series with the liquid conduit, wherein the filter purifies the liquid before reaching the water cooler.    
   
   
       7 . A method of generating potable drinking water in an area affected by lack of electricity, the steps comprising: 
 providing an evaporative air conditioning unit that produces a water discharge;    providing a direct current power supply to the air conditioning unit;    operating the air conditioning unit to cool an enclosure;    drawing off a portion of the water discharge; and    purifying the portion of water discharge for drinking water.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the direct current power supply is a battery.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the direct current power supply is a solar panel.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the water discharge from the air conditioning unit is fed to a self-filling water cooler.