Portable water-generating and filtering apparatus

Abstract

A portable water-generating device for obtaining water from ambient air including a thermoelectric cooling device having a cold side and a hot side, a thermally-conductive cold sink having multiple cold sink fins of a first size thermally coupled to the cold side and a thermally-conductive heat sink with multiple heat sink fins of a second size thermally coupled to the hot side. Air-movement devices move ambient air into the device and over the cold sink fins. The ambient air is cooled as it passes over the cold sink fins causing water to condense on the cold sink fins and to collect into a collecting tray. The water is then pumped through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization system and into a dispensing water reservoir for immediate or later use.

1 . A portable water-generating device for obtaining water from ambient air, the improvement comprising:
 a thermoelectric cooling device including a cold side and a hot side;   a thermally-conductive cold sink having multiple cold sink fins of a first size thermally coupled to the cold side and a thermally-conductive heat sink including multiple heat sink fins of second size thermally coupled to the hot side; and   a cold sink block sized to receive the cold sink and a separate heat sink block sized to receive the heat sink;   an air passage having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being a passage connected to a chamber housing the cold sink, the air outlet being a passage through which air flows through the chamber and into a chimney; and   a plurality of air-movement devices mounted on the chimney to increase the ability to move heated air from the chimney and out of the device resulting in ambient air being pulled into the device through an air inlet and over the cold sink fins resulting in cooled air, the cooled air being directed over the heat sink fins to remove heat from the heat sink fins thereby increasing the efficiency of the device;   
       whereby the ambient air is cooled as it passes over the cold sink fins causing water to condense on the cold sink fins and to collect into a collecting tray, the water being pumped through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization system and into a dispensing water reservoir for immediate or later use. 
     
     
         2 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the cold sink includes a cold sink base plate and the heat sink includes a heat sink base plate, the cold sink fins being positioned on the cold sink base plate at a 45° angle and the heat sink fins being positioned on the heat sink base plate at a 90° angle to increase surface area and air velocity. 
     
     
         3 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  further including a thermally-conductive spacer block mounted between the (1) cold sink and the thermoelectric cooling device and the (2) heat sink and the thermoelectric cooling device, the spacer block having a thermal conductivity of ≧166 W/mK and having a dimension of 0.125 inches to 0.750 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 3  further including insulation material between the cold sink and heat sink to maximize the efficiency of the device. 
     
     
         5 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 4  wherein the insulation material is foam, glass wool, foam rubber or other suitable insulating material with a thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.040 W/mK. 
     
     
         6 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the portable water-generating device is coupled to one or more portable water-generating devices thereby creating a modular system. 
     
     
         7 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the multi-stage filtration and mineralization system further includes sediment filters, ultraviolet light sterilization and mineral filters. 
     
     
         8 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  further including a power supply, wherein the power supply to an electrical system is 90-240 AC, 50-60 hertz, a 12-volt DC electrical supply, battery or a solar-electrical generating panel system, whereby the rate of water generation is controlled by the power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  further including a water-cooling block connected to a municipal water source for increased efficiency. 
     
     
         10 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the heat sink is replaced by a water-cooling block. 
     
     
         11 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 2  wherein a thermally conductive grease is applied between the spacer block and the thermoelectric cooling device, cold sink and heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the air-movement devices are fans. 
     
     
         13 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 7  wherein the ultraviolet light sterilizes the water. 
     
     
         14 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  further including a radiator in place of the chimney, the radiator being (1) mounted on the device; or (2) mounted remotely from the device and including a cooling fan for cooling the heat sink. 
     
     
         15 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 1  wherein the cold sink fins are plated with silver (Ag+) to prevent the formation of bacteria. 
     
     
         16 . A portable water-generating device for obtaining water from ambient air, the improvement comprising:
 at least one thermoelectric cooling device including a cold side and a hot side;   two thermally-conductive cold sinks each having multiple cold sink fins of a first size thermally coupled to the cold side and a thermally-conductive heat sink including multiple heat sink fins of second size thermally coupled to the hot side; and   two cold sink blocks sized to receive the cold sinks and a separate heat sink block sized to receive the heat sink;   an air passage having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being a passage connected to a chamber housing the cold sinks, the air outlet being a passage through which air flows through the chamber and into a chimney; and   a plurality of air-movement devices mounted on the chimney to increase the ability to move heated air from the chimney and out of the device resulting in ambient air being pulled into the device through an air inlet and over the cold sink fins resulting in cooled air, the cooled air being directed over the heat sink fins to remove heat from the heat sink fins thereby increasing the efficiency of the device;   
       whereby the ambient air is cooled as it passes over the cold sink fins causing water to condense on the cold sink fins and to collect into a collecting tray, the water being pumped through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization system and into a dispensing water reservoir for immediate or later use. 
     
     
         17 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 16  wherein the cold sinks each include a cold sink base plate and the heat sink includes a heat sink base plate, the cold sink fins being positioned on the cold sink base plates at a 45° angle and the heat sink fins being positioned on the heat sink base plate at a 90° angle to increase surface area and air velocity. 
     
     
         18 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 16  further including a thermally-conductive spacer block mounted between (1) the cold sinks and the at least one thermoelectric cooling device; or (2) the heat sink and the at least one thermoelectric cooling device, the spacer block having a thermal conductivity of ≧166 W/mK and having a dimension of 0.125 inches to 0.750 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         19 . A portable water-generating device for obtaining water from ambient air, the improvement comprising:
 a plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices each including a cold side and a hot side;   a thermally-conductive cold sink having multiple cold sink fins of a first size thermally coupled to the cold side and a plurality of thermally-conductive heat sinks each including multiple heat sink fins of a second size thermally coupled to the hot side; and   a cold sink block sized to receive the cold sink and a plurality of separate heat sink blocks sized to receive the heat sinks;   an air passage having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being a passage connected to a chamber housing the cold sink, the air outlet being a passage through which air flows through the chamber and into a chimney; and   a plurality of air-movement devices mounted on the chimney to increase the ability to move heated air from the chimney and out of the device resulting in ambient air being pulled into the device through an air inlet and over the cold sink fins resulting in cooled air, the cooled air being directed over the heat sink fins to remove heat from the heat sink fins thereby increasing the efficiency of the device;   
       whereby the ambient air is cooled as it passes over the cold sink fins causing water to condense on the cold sink fins and to collect into a collecting tray, the water being pumped through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization system and into a dispensing water reservoir for immediate or later use. 
     
     
         20 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 19  wherein the cold sink includes a cold sink base plate and the plurality of heat sinks each includes a heat sink base plate, the cold sink fins being positioned on the cold sink base plate at a 45° angle and the heat sink fins being positioned on the heat sink base plates at a 90° angle to increase surface area and air velocity. 
     
     
         21 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 19  further including a thermally-conductive spacer block mounted between (1) the cold sink and the plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices; or (2) the heat sinks and the plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices, the spacer block having a thermal conductivity of ≧166 W/mK and having a dimension of 0.125 inches to 0.750 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         22 . A portable water-generating device for obtaining water from ambient air, the improvement comprising:
 a plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices each including a cold side and a hot side;   a plurality of thermally-conductive cold sinks each having multiple cold sink fins of a first size thermally coupled to the cold side and a thermally-conductive heat sink including multiple heat sink fins of a second size thermally coupled to the hot side; and   a plurality of cold sink blocks sized to receive the cold sinks and a separate heat sink block sized to receive the heat sink;   an air passage having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being a passage connected to a chamber housing the cold sinks, the air outlet being a passage through which air flows through the chamber and into a chimney; and   a plurality of air-movement devices mounted on the chimney to increase the ability to move heated air from the chimney and out of the device resulting in ambient air being pulled into the device through an air inlet and over the cold sink fins resulting in cooled air, the cooled air being directed over the heat sink fins to remove heat from the heat sink fins thereby increasing the efficiency of the device;   
       whereby the ambient air is cooled as it passes over the cold sink fins causing water to condense on the cold sink fins and to collect into a collecting tray, the water being pumped through a multi-stage filtration and mineralization system and into a dispensing water reservoir for immediate or later use. 
     
     
         23 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of cold sinks each include a cold sink base plate and the heat sink includes a heat sink base plate, the cold sink fins being positioned on the cold sink base plates each at a 45° angle and the heat sink fins being positioned on the heat sink base plate to increase surface area and air velocity. 
     
     
         24 . The portable water-generating device of  claim 22  further including a thermally-conductive spacer block mounted between (1) the cold sinks and the plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices; or (2) the heat sink and the plurality of thermoelectric cooling devices, the spacer block having a thermal conductivity of ≧166 W/mK and having a dimension of 0.125 inches to 0.750 inches in thickness.