Apparatus and Method For Generating Water From an Air Stream

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating water from an air stream is disclosed. The apparatus has an inlet for receiving an air stream, a condensing element located in the air stream, a collector for gathering water vapor condensate that is formed on the condensing element when the condensing element temperature drops below the dew point temperature of the ambient air stream, and an ozone generator that precisely generates ozone required to disinfect the water vapor condensate. In some embodiments of the invention, the ozone is also added to the air stream for disinfecting the air stream and associated elements of the apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for generating water from an air stream, the apparatus comprising: 
 An inlet for receiving an air stream;    a condensing element located in the air stream, the condensing element capable of reaching a temperature that is less than or equal to a dew point temperature of the air stream;    a collector for gathering water vapor condensate that is formed on the condensing element;    an ozone generator that uses a portion of the water vapor condensate to generate ozone; and    a first reservoir for mixing the generated ozone with the water vapor condensate.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ozone generator is a fuel cell.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a connection between the ozone generator and the inlet for receiving an air stream.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second reservoir for storing water vapor condensate, the second reservoir operatively coupled to the collector.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a connection between the first reservoir containing ozone enhanced water vapor condensate and the second reservoir containing water vapor condensate.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the connection is modulated by a controller that dynamically adjusts the ratio of ozone enhanced water vapor condensate from the first reservoir to the water vapor condensate from the second reservoir.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a re-mineralization device for adding minerals to the water vapor condensate.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for generating water from an air stream, the apparatus comprising: 
 An inlet for receiving an air stream;    a condensing element located in the air stream, the condensing element capable of reaching a temperature that is less than or equal to a dew point temperature of the air stream;    a collector for gathering water vapor condensate that is formed on the condensing element;    an ozone generator that uses a portion of the air stream to generate ozone; and    a first reservoir for mixing the generated ozone with the water vapor condensate.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the ozone generator is a high voltage discharge device.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a connection between the ozone generator and the inlet for receiving an air stream.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a second reservoir for storing water vapor condensate, the second reservoir operatively coupled to the collector.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a connection between the first reservoir containing ozone enhanced water vapor condensate and the second reservoir containing water vapor condensate.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the connection is modulated by a controller that dynamically adjusts the ratio of ozone enhanced water vapor condensate from the first reservoir to the water vapor condensate from the second reservoir.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a re-mineralization device for adding minerals to the water vapor condensate.  
     
     
         16 . A method for generating water from an air stream, the method comprising: 
 cooling a condensing element to a temperature that is below the dew point of an air stream;    receiving the air stream at the condensing element;    collecting vapor condensate from the condensing element;    directing a portion of the water vapor condensate through a ozone generator for generating ozone; and    mixing the ozone with the water vapor condensate to produce disinfected water.    
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the ozone generator is a polymer electrolyte membrane.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the ozone generator is a high voltage discharge device.  
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including the step of adding minerals to the disinfected drinking water.  
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further including the step of directing a portion of the generated ozone into the air stream.