System and method for extracting potable water from atmosphere

Abstract

A system for producing potable water from atmosphere includes an enclosure with at least one intake port and exhaust port. The system includes a plurality of panels arranged within the enclosure substantially parallel to each other along a central axis. Each of the panels is made of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure. The system includes a plurality of conduits arranged to pass through the panels. A cooling fluid is passed through the conduits to cool the panels. The amount of water condensate formed on surfaces of the panels in response to cooling is detected. The panels are rotated about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the surfaces of the panels when the detected amount of water condensate exceeds a predetermined threshold.

1 . A system for producing potable water from atmosphere, comprising: an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises: at least one sealable intake port; and at least one sealable exhaust port; a plurality of panels arranged within the enclosure substantially parallel to each other along a central axis, wherein each of the plurality of panels is comprised of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure; and a plurality of conduits arranged to pass through the plurality of panels, wherein a cooling fluid is passed through the plurality of conduits to cool the plurality of panels, wherein an amount of the water condensate formed on surfaces of the plurality of panels in response to cooling is detected, and wherein the plurality of panels are configured to be rotated about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the surfaces of the plurality of panels when the detected amount of the water condensate exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising: a sensor circuit located proximate to the plurality of panels, wherein the sensor circuit is configured to detect the amount of the water condensate formed on the surfaces of the plurality of panels in response to cooling. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising: an atmosphere flow regulator, wherein the atmosphere flow regulator is configured to pass the atmosphere through the at least one sealable intake port into the enclosure and over the surfaces of the plurality of panels. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising: a control circuit in communication with the atmosphere flow regulator, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the atmosphere flow regulator to control a passage of the atmosphere over the surfaces of the plurality of panels, and wherein a volume of atmosphere passed over the surfaces of the plurality of panels is dependent upon a humidity of the atmosphere detected by the sensor circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conduits penetrate the plurality of panels substantially perpendicular to the plurality of panels, and wherein the plurality of conduits are arranged substantially parallel to the central axis. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of panels is separated from an adjacent panel by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conduits is separated from an adjacent conduit by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of panels comprises metal. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conduits comprises metal. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid comprises water. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of panels comprises two pairs of opposing edges, wherein a first pair of opposing edges is curved, and wherein a second pair of opposing edges is substantially straight. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conduits are in fluid communication with each other. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising: an atmosphere filtration device, wherein the atmosphere filtration device is configured to filter the atmosphere passed into the enclosure via the at least one sealable intake port. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising: a collector, wherein the collector is configured to hold collected water condensate removed from the surfaces of the plurality of panels that is passed out of the at least one sealable exhaust port, after rotation of the enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising: a sterilizer, wherein the sterilizer is configured to sterilize the collected water condensate to produce the potable water. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising: a cooling fluid supplier, wherein the cooling fluid supplier is configured to supply the cooling fluid through the plurality of conduits to cool the plurality of panels. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises: a rotation device in connection with the central axis, wherein the rotation device is configured to turn the central axis to rotate the plurality of panels within the enclosure. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising: an enclosure support configured to support the enclosure. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central axis comprises a supply conduit, wherein the supply conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of conduits, wherein the cooling fluid enters the enclosure through a first end of the supply conduit to be passed through the plurality of conduits, and wherein the cooling fluid exits the enclosure from the plurality of conduits through a second end of the supply conduit. 
   
   
       21 . A method of producing potable water from atmosphere, comprising the steps of: a.) cooling a plurality of panels arranged within an enclosure substantially parallel to each other along a central axis, wherein each of the plurality of panels is comprised of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure; b.) passing atmosphere through the enclosure and over surfaces of the plurality of panels to form the water condensate on surfaces of the plurality of panels; c.) detecting an amount of the water condensate formed on the surfaces of the plurality of panels in response to cooling; d.) determining whether the amount of the water condensate formed on the surfaces of the plurality of panels exceeds a predetermined threshold; and e.) rotating the plurality of panels about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the surfaces of the plurality of panels when the amount of the water condensate formed on the surfaces of the plurality of panels exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising the step of: f.) detecting a humidity of the atmosphere; and g.) controlling an amount of atmosphere passed through the enclosure and over the plurality of panels based upon the humidity of the atmosphere detected in step (f). 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising the step of: f.) filtering the atmosphere passed into the enclosure and over the plurality of panels. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising the step of: f.) collecting the water condensate removed from the surfaces of the plurality of panels. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising the method of: g.) sterilizing the collected water condensate to produce the potable water. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising the step of: f.) supplying a cooling fluid into the enclosure to cool the plurality of panels. 
   
   
       27 . A system for producing potable water from atmosphere, comprising: an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises: an intake port; and an exhaust port; a plurality of cooling surfaces arranged within the enclosure about a central axis wherein the plurality of cooling surfaces are comprised of a material on which water condensate from the atmosphere forms in response to a temperature differential between the material and the atmosphere passed through the enclosure; and a plurality of conduits arranged within the enclosure, wherein the plurality of conduits are arranged to pass through the plurality of cooling surfaces, wherein a cooling fluid is passed through the plurality of conduits to cool the plurality of cooling surfaces, wherein an amount of the water condensate formed on the plurality of cooling surfaces in response to cooling is detected, and wherein the plurality of cooling surfaces are configured to be rotated about the central axis within the enclosure to remove the water condensate from the plurality of cooling surfaces when the detected amount of the water condensate exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of cooling surfaces comprises interlacing meshes of cooling strands.