Device for extracting water from the air, and system for the production of drinking water

Abstract

A device for extracting water contained in the air by condensation is provided. The device includes: a fan for creating an air flow; a heat transfer fluid evaporator for condensing the water in the air flow created by the fan; and a compressor for compressing the heat transfer fluid evaporated by the evaporator, which compressor is placed in the air flow downstream of the evaporator. A system for producing drinking water from the air is also provided, which includes the aforementioned water extraction device. The system can be used to produce water from the air, with an improved performance.

1 . A device for extracting water contained in the air by condensation, the device comprising:
 a fan for creating an air flow;   a heat transfer fluid evaporator for condensing the water in the air flow created by the fan; and   a compressor for compressing the heat transfer fluid evaporated by the evaporator, which compressor is placed in the air flow downstream of the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan pushes the air flow onto the evaporator. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , comprising a sealed pipe for the air flow created by the fan, the pipe channeling the air flow between the fan, the evaporator and the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3  comprising:
 a heat exchange fluid condenser for condensing the fluid compressed by the compressor; 
 a heat exchange fluid inlet upstream of the evaporator; and 
 a heat exchange fluid outlet downstream of the condenser; 
 the heat exchange fluid inlet and outlet being provided to be connected to a circuit returning the heat exchange fluid from the outlet toward the inlet. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 a condenser for condensing the fluid compressed by the compressor;   a dehydrator for dehydrating the fluid condensed by the condenser downstream of the condenser;   an expander for expanding the fluid dehydrated by the dehydrator; and   a pressure switch for determining the clogging of the dehydrator as a function of the pressure of the heat transfer fluid expanded by the expander.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the device is arranged in a block adapted to be installed interchangeably, in a system for producing drinking water from the air. 
     
     
         7 . A system for producing drinking water from the air, comprising:
 a device for extracting water contained in the air by condensation, the device comprising:
 a fan for creating an air flow; 
 a heat transfer fluid evaporator for condensing the water in the air flow created by the fan; and 
 a compressor for compressing the heat transfer fluid evaporated by the evaporator, which compressor is placed in the air flow downstream of the evaporator; 
   the device being arranged in a block adapted to be installed interchangeably in the system for producing drinking water from the air;   (b) sensors for measuring the temperature and the hygrometric degree of the air outside the system; and   a control unit controlling the extraction of water contained in the air as a function of temperature and hygrometry measurements provided by the sensors.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the device for extracting water contained in the air comprises a heat transfer solenoid valve between the evaporator and the compressor, for selectively returning heat transfer fluid upstream of the evaporator, the solenoid valve being controlled to adjust temperature of the evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , including a filter, the filter comprising a portion for physical filtering of the air flow and a portion for sanitary treatment of the air flow, the sanitary treatment portion being chosen from among the group made up of the physical filter treated to avoid bacterial or microbial development, a plasma filter, and an ultraviolet light-emitting diode filter. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , also including:
 a collection tub for collecting the extracted water, the collection tub collecting the extracted water by gravity;   a storage tub for storing the water collected by the collection tube;   a pump for pumping the water stored in the storage tub; and   the pump being provided for consumption of the stored water by a user, the actuating time of the pump determining a pumped volume of water;   the control unit controlling the extraction of water contained in the air by the extraction device as a function of the volume of water pumped for consumption.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a refrigeration circuit for the water stored in the storage tub, the refrigeration circuit further comprising:
 a heat exchanger outwardly wound on the storage tub for refrigeration of the stored water; and   the rest of the refrigeration circuit to provide the heat exchanger with the heat transfer fluid with a temperature lower than the stored water.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a set of filters for treating the stored water, the set of filters including at least one filter chosen from among the group made up of a sediment filter, a compressed activated carbon filter, and an ultrafiltration membrane, the set of filters filtering the water pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a discharge circuit, in the storage tub, for the water filtered by the set of filters; and   a solenoid valve for switching the filtered water between the discharge circuit and a consumption circuit for consumption of the filtered stored water by the user.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising an ultraviolet lamp for the sanitary treatment of the water stored in the storage tub. 
     
     
         15 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the system is divided heightwise into three parts, including a lower part including the storage tub, an intermediate part including the extraction device, and an upper part including the control unit; the system further comprising a structure including hollow plastic tubes for the passage of cables of the system to the different parts. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , further comprising a device for remotely transmitting information to centralized information storage on the server or a remote troubleshooting unit, the remote communication device including a remote communication member chosen from among the group made up of a transmitting/receiving carrier current outlet, GPRS transmitter/receiver, WIFI transmitter/receiver. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 the control unit including a member collecting data on the operating and malfunction state of the system;   a device remotely transmitting information, the device being outside the system and provided to communicate by carrier current with the data collection member, the device including a modem for remotely sending data collected by the collection member and received by the device; and   software stored in non-transient computer memory, processing the data transmitted by the transmission device using the modem.   
     
     
         23 . A method for remotely processing information from a system for producing drinking water, the method comprising:
 (a) using a device method for extracting water contained in the air by condensation, the device comprising:
 a fan for creating an air flow; 
 a heat transfer fluid evaporator for condensing the water in the air flow created by the fan; and 
 a compressor for compressing the heat transfer fluid evaporated by the evaporator, which compressor is placed in the air flow downstream of the evaporator; 
 the device being arranged in a block adapted to be installed interchangeably, in the system for producing drinking water from the air; 
   (b) using sensors for measuring the temperature and the hygrometric degree of the air outside the system;   (c) using a control unit for controlling the extraction of water contained in the air as a function of temperature and hygrometry measurements provided by the sensors, and including a member collecting data on the operating and malfunction state of the system;   (d) remotely transmitting information from a device outside the system and provided to communicate by carrier current with the data collection member, the device including a modem for remotely sending data collected by the collection member and received by the device;   (e) using software for processing the data transmitted by the transmission device using the modem;   (f) using a collection tub for collecting the extracted water, the collection tub collecting the extracted water by gravity;   (g) using a storage tub for storing the water collected by the collection tube;   (h) using a pump for pumping the water stored in the storage tub; the pump being provided for consumption of the stored water by a user, the actuating time of the pump determining a pumped volume of water; the control unit controlling the extraction of water contained in the air by the extraction device as a function of the volume of water pumped for consumption; and   (i) the system comprising three heightwise parts, including a lower part including the storage tub, an intermediate part including the extraction device, and an upper part including the control unit;   (j) using a structure including hollow plastic tubes for the passage of cables of the system to the different parts;   (k) collecting data on the operating and malfunction state of the system by the data collection member of the system;   (l) communicating to the transmission device, via carrier current, of the data collected by the data collection member; and   (m) remotely transmitting data by the transmission device via its modem, and processing the data by the processing software.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising after processing of the data transmitted remotely, adapting the control from the system by sending instructions to adapt the control from the system to the transmission device for transmitting the information remotely.