Water production system and method with auxiliary refrigeration cycle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for condensing water vapor in air to extract liquid water in which a refrigeration system defines a closed-loop refrigerant path. The refrigeration system includes a main portion, a first branch portion and a second branch portion. The first branch portion and the second branch portion each have an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion. The first branch portion includes a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator. The second branch portion includes a second evaporator. A first water vessel is positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator. A second water vessel is positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator. A conduit transports water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel.

1 . An apparatus for extracting water from air, the apparatus comprising:
 a refrigeration system defining a closed-loop refrigerant path, the refrigeration system including:
 a main portion; 
 a first branch portion; and 
 a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion each having an entrance and an exit in fluid communication with the main portion; 
 the first branch portion including a first evaporator operable at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first evaporator to cause liquid water to condense on an exterior surface of the first evaporator; 
 the second branch portion including a second evaporator; 
   a first water vessel positioned proximate to the first evaporator for collecting water from the exterior surface of the first evaporator;   a second water vessel positioned proximate to the second evaporator for holding water chilled by the second evaporator; and   a conduit for transporting water from the first water vessel to the second water vessel.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second evaporator operates at a temperature less than the ambient air temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first water vessel is positioned below the first evaporator to collect the water dripping from the exterior surface of the first evaporator. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises:
 a compressor in the main portion of the closed loop refrigerant path;   a condenser in the main portion of the closed loop refrigerant path;   a first expansion valve in the first branch portion of the closed loop refrigerant path; and   a second expansion valve the second branch portion of the closed loop refrigerant path.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a refrigerant in the closed loop refrigerant path, the refrigerant passing sequentially during operation from the compressor to the condenser, to both of the first and second branch portions in parallel, thereafter returning to the compressor. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system further comprises an air movement device for moving air over the exterior surface of the first evaporator. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first sensor, the first sensor being used to determine an amount of water in the first water vessel; and   a switch operable to shut off the air movement device when the amount of water in the first water vessel is at least equal to a predetermined amount.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the switch is further operable to shut off the refrigeration system when the amount of water in the first water vessel is at least equal to the predetermined amount. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second sensor, the second sensor being used to determine a temperature of water in the second water vessel; and   a switch to activate the refrigeration system when the temperature of water in the second water vessel is less than a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a switch to shut off the refrigeration system when the temperature of water in the second water vessel is not more than a second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined temperature substantially equals the freezing temperature of liquid water. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ozonator and an ozone diffuser for purifying liquid water in the second water vessel. 
   
   
       13 . A method of extracting water from air using a water production system, the water production system including an air movement device, a first water vessel, a second water vessel and a refrigeration system having a first cooling element and a second cooling element, the method comprising:
 operating the air movement device to cause air to flow and contact the first cooling element;   operating the refrigeration system to:
 cause the first cooling element to have a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first cooling element during operation; and 
 cause the second cooling element to have a temperature less than the temperature of a fluid contacting the second cooling element during operation; 
   condensing liquid water from the air on an exterior surface of the first cooling element;   collecting the water in the first water vessel;   moving a portion of the water from the first water vessel into the second water vessel;   cooling the water in the second water vessel using the second cooling element; and   shutting off the air movement device if an amount of water in the first water vessel exceeds a predetermined amount.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 shutting off the refrigeration system if a temperature of water in the second water vessel is not greater than substantially to the freezing temperature of water.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 resuming operation of the air movement device if an amount of water in the first water vessel is less than a predetermined amount.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the fluid contacting the second cooling element is air. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the fluid contacting the second cooling element is water in the second water vessel. 
   
   
       18 . A method of extracting water from air using a water production system, the water production system including an air movement device, a first water vessel, a second water vessel and a refrigeration system having a first cooling element and a second cooling element, the method comprising:
 monitoring an amount of water in the first water vessel;   monitoring a temperature of water in the second water vessel; and   operating the air movement device to cause air to flow and contact the first cooling element when the amount of water in at least one of the first water vessel and the second water vessel is below a predetermined amount;   operating the refrigeration system to:
 cause the first cooling element to operate at a temperature of at most a dew point of air contacting the first cooling element; 
 cause the second cooling element to refrigerate the second water vessel; 
   condensing liquid water from the air on an exterior surface of the first cooling element;   collecting the water in the first water vessel;   moving a portion of the water from the first water vessel into the second water vessel when the amount of water in the first water vessel exceeds a predetermined amount.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 operating the air movement device and shutting off the refrigeration system if a temperature of water in the second water vessel is not greater than substantially the freezing temperature of water.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein shutting off the air movement device reduces a rate of condensation of liquid water on the first cooling element.