Atmospheric water generator

Abstract

An atmospheric water generator includes a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. The condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil, and preheats a flow of atmospheric air as the air is forced through the condenser coil before the air passes through the evaporator coil. Liquid water condensate from the preheated air is generated as the air passes through the evaporator coil and is accumulated in a water collection tank. A second condenser coil cooled by a second flow of atmospheric air supplies refrigerant to the evaporator coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atmospheric water generator comprising a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator coil and a condenser coil, wherein the condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil and is configured to preheat a flow of atmospheric air as the air is forced through the condenser coil and then through the evaporator coil, whereby liquid water condensate from the preheated air is generated as the air passes through the evaporator coil. 
     
     
         2 . An atmospheric water generator according to  claim 1  and further including a water collection tank configured to accumulate the liquid water condensate. 
     
     
         3 . An atmospheric water generator according to  claim 1  wherein the evaporator coil and the condenser coil have corresponding non-flat shapes. 
     
     
         4 . An atmospheric water generator according to  claim 1  further comprising a second condenser coil, wherein the second condenser coil is cooled by a second flow of atmospheric air and supplies refrigerant to the evaporator coil. 
     
     
         5 . An atmospheric water generator comprising:
 a. a chassis; and   b. a refrigeration circuit within the chassis, the refrigeration circuit comprising:
 i. a compressor; 
 ii. a primary condenser coil; 
 iii. a secondary condenser coil; 
 iv. an expansion valve; 
 v. an evaporator; 
 vi. at least one condenser fan; and 
 vii. at least one evaporator fan; 
   c. wherein the secondary condenser coil is positioned proximate to the evaporator coil and is configured to preheat atmospheric air before the air is forced through the evaporator by the evaporator fan;   d. wherein refrigerant is supplied from the compressor to both the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil; and   e. whereby liquid water condensate from the preheated atmospheric air is generated as the preheated air is forced through the evaporator coil.   
     
     
         7 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 5  wherein the condenser fan is configured to force a first flow of atmospheric air through the primary condenser coil and the evaporator fan is configured to force a second flow of atmospheric air through the secondary condenser coil and the evaporator coil. 
     
     
         8 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 5  further comprising at least one water collection tank configured to collect the liquid water condensate from the evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 8  further comprising at least one drain line to drain the liquid water condensate from the water collection tank. 
     
     
         10 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 9  further comprising at least one pump configured to pump the liquid water condensate from the drain line to a water storage location. 
     
     
         11 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 5  further comprising a divider panel which separates a condenser chamber and an evaporator chamber within the chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 11  further comprising at least one dried air duct configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber to the condenser chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 12  wherein the condenser fan is configured to exhaust both a first flow of air which passes through the primary condenser and the dried air which enters the condenser chamber from the evaporator chamber through the dried air duct. 
     
     
         14 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 12  wherein the evaporator fan is located at one end of the dried air duct. 
     
     
         15 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 12  further comprising a second water collection tank, wherein the dried air duct is configured to direct dried air from the evaporator chamber into the second water collection tank, and wherein the secondary water collection tank is arranged to collect liquid water condensate from the dried air. 
     
     
         16 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 15  further comprising at least one dried air vent configured to permit the dried air to enter the condenser chamber from the second water collection tank 
     
     
         17 . The atmospheric water generator according to  claim 5  wherein at least one of the primary condenser coil and the secondary condenser coil have a non-planar shape. 
     
     
         18 . A method of generating liquid water from atmospheric air containing water vapor, the method comprising:
 a. providing a refrigeration circuit having an evaporator;   b. preheating a flow of atmospheric air containing at least some water vapor;   c. passing the flow of preheated air through the evaporator to cause liquid water to condense from the preheated air; and   c. collecting the condensed liquid water.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein preheating the flow of atmospheric air comprises passing the flow of atmospheric air through a condenser coil of the refrigeration system before the air passes through the evaporator coil.