Dual-function water-vapor capture device
View Patent ↗An apparatus that dehumidifies an enclosed airspace by compressing air into a first reactor, where the water-vapor component of the air accelerates liquefaction of calcium-chloride granules, and by also compressing air into a second reactor where a saturated solution of calcium chloride from the first reactor absorbs water vapor from the air through a sparging process, which enables a continuous absorption of water vapor by an increasingly diluted solution to a point of diminished marginal utility.
1 . An apparatus to dehumidify air within an enclosed space wherein the apparatus comprises:
(a) a hygroscopic substance,
(b) at least one liquefaction reactor which comprises a function to enable water vapor to react with the hygroscopic substance to yield an aqueous solution,
(c) at least one dilution reactor which comprises a function to enable water vapor to react with the aqueous solution to yield a more diluted aqueous solution,
(d) at least one source of compressed air,
(e) a primary channeled air stream which comprises an upstream connection to the at least one source of compressed air and a downstream connection to the at least one liquefaction reactor,
(f) a secondary channeled air stream which comprises an upstream connection to the at least one source of compressed air and a downstream connection to the at least one dilution reactor, and
(g) a configuration which comprises the primary channeled air stream and the secondary channeled air stream both connecting to the at least one source of compressed air directly or by way of an intermediate duct, which intermediate duct comprises an upstream opening that is connected to the at least one source of compressed air and a downstream opening which is connected to the primary channeled air stream and to the secondary channeled air stream.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one source of compressed air comprises at least one electric air pump.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , which further comprises a dehumidistat that energizes the at least one electric air pump when a relative humidity of an airspace becomes greater than a relative humidity indicated by a set point upon the dehumidistat and de-energizes the at least one electric air pump when the relative humidity of the airspace becomes less than the relative humidity indicated by the set point upon the dehumidistat.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one liquefaction reactor comprises:
(a) a chamber comprising a casing that envelops a space,
(b) a loading port which comprises a function to enable an insertion of the hygroscopic substance into the chamber,
(c) a transfer port which comprises either the loading port or a discrete port and also comprises a function to enable the aqueous solution to exit from the chamber by operation of a valve or by operation of a passive drainage assembly,
(d) an upstream pneumatic port which comprises a function to enable the primary channeled air stream to enter into the chamber, and
(e) a downstream pneumatic port which comprises a function to enable the primary channeled air stream to exit from the chamber.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the passive drainage assembly comprises:
(a) a seal which comprises an axial hole, a configuration to entirely overlay the transfer port, and a hermetic interface with the casing,
(b) a drainage duct which comprises a longitudinal shape, an impermeable wall, openings at both extremities, an orientation characterized by partial insertion through the axial hole into the chamber, and a hermetic interface with the seal at the axial hole, which hermetic interface with the seal either fixes the drainage duct to the seal or allows for adjustment of distances of the two extremities from the seal, and
(c) a filter which comprises permeability to liquid, impermeability to particles exceeding a certain girth, and a configuration to completely envelop the partial insertion of the drainage duct through the axial hole into the chamber.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dilution reactor
(a) a vessel which comprises a continuous and impermeable encasement of a space, except at locations where transfers of substances occur by volition, and a shape and a size that enable a repose of a volume of liquid,
(b) at least one inflow aperture which comprises a function to enable an insertion of liquid into the vessel,
(c) at least one aerial diffuser which comprises a location of low elevation within the vessel, an inlet that is connected through a pneumatic port upon the vessel to the secondary channeled air stream, an outlet that divides the secondary channeled air stream into a plurality of smaller air streams, and a function that enables the plurality of smaller air streams to flow into and through a liquid reposed within the vessel,
(d) at least one pneumatic port which comprises a function to enable air to exit from the vessel and to merge with air external to the apparatus, and
(e) at least one drainage aperture which comprises a function to enable liquid to exit from the vessel.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one drainage aperture comprises a valve.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the valve comprises a function to automatically open when a surface of a liquid reposed within the vessel reaches a certain maximum high elevation and to automatically close when the surface of the liquid reposed within the vessel reaches a certain minimum low elevation.