System and method for extracting atmospheric water

Abstract

The earth consists mainly of water and water exists on the earth's surface, in aquifers in the soil as groundwater, and in the atmosphere as water vapour. However, of all the water on earth, only less than 3 percent is fresh water. Due to factors such as climate changes, environmental pollution, as well as population growth, the available amount of fresh water sources is dwindling rapidly. In addition, there are many problems associated with provision of potable water using existing techniques. One way to overcome the aforementioned problems is to extract water from the atmosphere. However, hardware costs of current commercial systems are relatively high and they are not efficient in terms of performance. An embodiment of the invention provides a system and a method for obtaining potable water by extracting atmospheric water.

1 . An atmospheric water extraction system comprising:
 a passage having a condenser portion and a cooling portion inter-configured for cyclical passage of fluid therethrough;   a cooling unit in thermal communication with the cooling portion for extracting heat from liquid passaging through the cooling portion to thereby cool the liquid, the liquid being transportable to the condenser portion subsequent to passaging through the cooling portion; and   an ioniser for ionising ambient air into ionised air, the ionised air being charged for enhancing adhesion of water vapour thereto,   wherein the ionised air is transportable for thermal interaction with the condenser portion of the passage for condensing the water vapour into water droplets, the liquid passaging through the condenser portion receiving heat from the ionised air during thermal interaction of the ionised air with the condenser portion, the liquid being transportable to the cooling portion of the passage for re-cooling thereby subsequent to passaging through the condenser portion.   
   
   
       2 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid passaging through the passage is substantially isobaric. 
   
   
       3 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ventilator for displacing the ambient air into the atmospheric water extraction system, the ventilator being operable for controlling flow rate of the ambient air displaced.   
   
   
       4 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air filter for filtering the ambient air for being received by the ioniser.   
   
   
       5 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , wherein the cooling unit comprises a drive assembly for displacing the liquid from the cooling unit to the condenser portion of the passage. 
   
   
       6 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 5 , wherein the drive assembly comprises an actuator valve and one of a fluid pump, a displacement pump and a centrifugal pump. 
   
   
       7 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 5 , wherein the cooling unit further comprises a temperature measurement device for measuring the temperature of the liquid. 
   
   
       8 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 4 , wherein the cooling unit is couplable to an external cooling source, the external cooling source for extracting heat from the liquid. 
   
   
       9 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a water collection tray for receiving the water droplets from the condenser portion. 
   
   
       10 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 9 , further comprising a water collection tank for receiving the water droplets from the water collection tray. 
   
   
       11 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 10 , wherein the water collection tank comprises a water level measurement device and a water purifier. 
   
   
       12 . The atmospheric water extraction system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature measurement device for measuring ambient air temperature and a relative humidity measurement device for measuring relative humidity of the ambient air. 
   
   
       13 . An atmospheric water extraction method comprising:
 providing a passage having a condenser portion and a cooling portion inter-configured for cyclical passage of fluid therethrough;   extracting heat from liquid passaging through a cooling portion to thereby cool the liquid using a cooling unit, the cooling unit in thermal communication with the cooling portion, the liquid being transportable to the condenser portion subsequent to passaging through the cooling portion; and   ionising ambient air into ionised air using an ioniser, the ionised air being charged for enhancing adhesion of water vapour thereto,   wherein the ionised air is transportable for thermal interaction with the condenser portion of the passage for condensing the water vapour into water droplets, the liquid passaging through the condenser portion receiving heat from the ionised air during thermal interaction of the ionised air with the condenser portion, the liquid being transportable to the cooling portion of the passage for re-cooling thereby subsequent to passaging through the condenser portion.   
   
   
       14 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , wherein the liquid passaging through the passage is substantially isobaric. 
   
   
       15 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 displacing the ambient air using a ventilator, the ventilator being operable for controlling flow rate of the ambient air displaced.   
   
   
       16 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 filtering the ambient air for being received by the ioniser using an air filter.   
   
   
       17 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , wherein the cooling unit comprises a drive assembly for displacing the liquid from the cooling unit to the condenser portion of the passage. 
   
   
       18 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 17 , wherein the drive assembly comprises an actuator valve and one of a fluid pump, a displacement pump and a centrifugal pump. 
   
   
       19 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 17 , wherein the cooling unit further comprises a temperature measurement device for measuring the temperature of the liquid. 
   
   
       20 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 16 , wherein the cooling unit is couplable to an external cooling source, the external cooling source for extracting heat from the liquid. 
   
   
       21 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving the water droplets from the condenser portion using a water collection tray.   
   
   
       22 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving the water droplets from the water collection tray using a water collection tank.   
   
   
       23 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 22 , wherein the water collection tank comprises a water level measurement device and a water purifier. 
   
   
       24 . The atmospheric water extraction method as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing a temperature measurement device for measuring ambient air temperature and providing a relative humidity measurement device for measuring relative humidity of the ambient air.   
   
   
       25 . An atmospheric water extraction system comprising:
 an ioniser for ionising ambient air for obtaining ionised air therefrom, the ionised air being charged for enhancing adhesion of water vapour thereto; and   a condenser portion disposed alongside the ioniser for condensing water vapour in the ionised air into water droplets.