High-output atmospheric water generator

Abstract

An atmospheric water generator (AWG) may be used to extract water from ambient air. A compact screw compressor of the A WG may be used to compress refrigerant, a condenser of the A WG may be used to condense refrigerant, an expansion device, and an evaporator of the AWG may be used to transfer heat from ambient air to refrigerant, causing moisture in the air to condense. The condensed moisture may be collected in a water collection unit.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an atmospheric water generator comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress refrigerant; 
 a condenser configured condense the refrigerant to a liquid state; 
 an expansion device configured to reduce pressure and temperature of the refrigerant; 
 an evaporator configured to condense water from air by transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant; 
   a subcooling system for absorbing heat from the atmospheric water generator; and   a controller operable for controlling the atmospheric water generator and the subcooling system.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the subcooling system comprises one or more direct expansion heat exchangers.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the subcooling system comprises one or more heat rejection units.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the one or more heat rejection units comprises one or more fans.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 airflow of the subcooling system is isolated from the evaporator of the atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a container configured to collect the water condensed by the evaporator.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a water treatment system;   a pump for pumping water from the container and through the water treatment system;   a water line for passaging water from the water treatment system to an output of the apparatus; and   the controller further operable for controlling the pump.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water treatment system for receiving water condensed by the evaporator.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the water treatment system is operable to sterilize, filter, and mineralize the collected water.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the compressor comprises an inlet coupled to an outlet of the evaporator and an outlet coupled to an inlet of the condenser;   the expansion device comprises an inlet coupled to an outlet of the condenser;   the evaporator comprises an inlet coupled to an outlet of the expansion device; and   the subcooling system is coupled between the condenser outlet and the evaporator inlet.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the compressor comprises a compact screw compressor;   the condenser comprises microchannel coils; and   the evaporator comprises microchannel coils.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first atmospheric water generator comprising:
 a first compressor configured to compress refrigerant; 
 a first condenser configured to receive the refrigerant to a liquid state; 
 a first expansion device configured to reduce pressure and temperature of the refrigerant; 
 a first evaporator configured to condense water from air by transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant; 
   a second atmospheric water generator comprising:
 a second compressor configured to compress refrigerant; 
 a second condenser configured to receive the refrigerant to a liquid state; 
 a second expansion device configured to reduce pressure and temperature of the refrigerant; 
 a second evaporator configured to condense water from air by transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant; and 
   a container configured to collect water condensed by the first evaporator and water condensed by the second evaporator.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a water treatment system to treat the collected water from the first evaporator and the second evaporator.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the water treatment system is operable to sterilize, filter, and mineralize the collected water.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a controller operable for controlling the first atmospheric water generator and the second atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a subcooling system for cooling both the first atmospheric water generator and the second atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the subcooling system comprises:
 a first expansion device associated with cooling the first atmospheric water generator; and   a second expansion device associated with cooling the second atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the subcooling system further comprises: 
 a compact screw compressor; and   a single condenser.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a pump for pumping water through the water treatment system; and   a controller operable for controlling the pump, the first atmospheric water generator, and the second atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing the apparatus of  claim 1 ; and   operating the apparatus to produce water from the air.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 providing the apparatus of  claim 12 ; and   operating the apparatus to produce water from the air.   
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 providing an atmospheric water generator;   providing a subcooling system;   controlling a compressor and an expansion device of the atmospheric water generator and the subcooling system.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 collecting water condensed by the evaporator.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 sterilizing, filtering, and mineralizing the collected water.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 pumping water the collected water through a water treatment system;   passing water from the water treatment system to an output of the atmospheric water generator; and   the controlling further comprises controlling the pump.   
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 providing a first atmospheric water generator;   providing a second atmospheric water generator; and   collecting water condensed from both the first atmospheric water generator and the second atmospheric water generator in a container.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 treating the collected water.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the treating comprises sterilizing, filtering, and mineralizing the collected water.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 providing a subcooling system; and   cooling both the first atmospheric water generator and the second atmospheric water generator using the subcooling system.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the subcooling system comprises:
 a first expansion device associated with cooling the first atmospheric water generator; and   a second expansion device associated with cooling the second atmospheric water generator.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 pumping collected water through the water treatment system; and   using a controller to control the pump, the first atmospheric water generator, and the second atmospheric water generator.