Granted Patent B2

US 12,276,091 · App. 17/736,027 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Inventors: Cody Friesen (Scottsdale, AZ); Jonathan Goldberg (Scottsdale, AZ); Grant Friesen (Scottsdale, AZ)

Assignee: Source Global, PBC

E03B3/28B01D53/1412B01D5/009B01D2257/80

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A system for managing production and distribution of water extracted from air comprising:

a plurality of water generation units arranged in an array, each comprising a controller configured to control a production rate of water extracted from the air based on one or more operational parameters for water production;

a water supply unit comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with each of the plurality of water generation units, wherein the reservoir is configured to store at least part of the water extracted from the air by the plurality of water generation units;

an array communications unit configured to communicate to a communications channel and each of the plurality of water generation units;

wherein the one or more operational parameters for water production are communicated across the communications channel via the array communications unit; and,

wherein the system is configured to maintain a water level of the reservoir based on the one or more operational parameters for water production.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications channel is established by a cloud network, a local area network, Internet, a satellite, a serial bus, wired connections, a cellular tower, or a combination thereof.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the array communications unit is configured to establish a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each controller of the plurality of water generation units is configured to receive one or more commands via the communications channel.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more commands comprise: a start water production command, a stop water production command, a start transfer of water to the reservoir command, a stop transfer of water to the reservoir command, a read configuration command, a write configuration command, a reboot command, a memory programming command, an upgrade command, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each controller of the plurality of water generation units is configured to send data indicative of the one or more operational parameters for water production via the communications channel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to transmit a signal to at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir via one or more water conduits based on the one or more operational parameters for water production.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system is configured to transmit the signal to the at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir via based on a water level in the reservoir, a water usage rate, a water production rate or combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to generate one or more signals indicative of: an ambient temperature, an ambient relative humidity, a solar insolation, a photovoltaic voltage, a photovoltaic current, a photovoltaic power, a water extraction efficiency, an accumulated water count, a water production rate, a water reservoir level, a water reservoir usage, a water dispensing rate, or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more operational parameters for water production are based on the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein each controller of the plurality of water generation units is configured to vary operation of the water generation unit based on the one or more operational parameters communicated over the communications channel.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein each controller of the plurality of water generation units is configured to vary operation of the water generation unit based on real-time variations in ambient conditions, forecast variations in ambient conditions, or a combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the variations in ambient conditions change an amount of thermal energy generated by a thermal unit, a level of electrical power provided by a solar power unit, or a combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of water generation units comprise a PV panel configured to provide power to the water generation unit; and, wherein each controller of the plurality of water generation units is configured to control the water generation unit in response to diurnal variations in an amount of electrical power generated by each of the PV panels.

15. A system for managing production and distribution of liquid water extracted from air comprising:

a first water management area comprising a first array of water generation units and a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first array of water generation units, wherein the first reservoir is configured to store at least part of the water extracted from the air by the first array of water generation units;

a second water management area comprising a second array of water generation units and a second reservoir in fluid communication with the second array of water generation units, wherein the second reservoir is configured to store at least part of the water extracted from the air by the second array of water generation units;

wherein each water generation unit comprises a controller configured to control a production rate of water extracted from the air based on one or more operational parameters for water production;

wherein the one or more operational parameters for water production are communicated across a communications channel connecting the first and second water management areas; and,

wherein the system is configured to maintain a water level of the reservoir based on the one or more operational parameters for water production.

16. A method for managing production and distribution of water extracted from air comprising:

establishing a communications channel to communicate to a plurality of water generation units arranged in an array;

determining one or more operational parameters;

transmitting the one or more operational parameters via the communications channel;

controlling, by a controller of each of the plurality of water generation units, a production rate of water extracted from the air based on the one or more operational parameters;

transferring, via at least one water conduit, a volume of water to a reservoir of a water supply unit from at least one of the plurality of water generation units; and,

transmitting a signal to at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir via one or more water conduits based on the one or more operational parameters for water production;

transmit the signal to at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir via based on a water level in the reservoir, a water usage rate, a water production rate or combinations thereof.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein determining the one or more operational parameters comprises: determining a water level of the reservoir, determining an accumulated water count of at least one of the plurality of water generation units, or a combination thereof.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein transferring the volume of water to the reservoir comprises transferring the volume of the water based on the water level of the reservoir, an accumulated water count of at least one of the plurality of water generation units, or a combination thereof.

19. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

sensing one or more signals from one or more sensors; and,

determining the one or more operational parameters comprises determining the one or more operational parameters based on the one or more signals from the one or more sensors.

20. A system for managing production and distribution of water extracted from air comprising:

a plurality of water generation units arranged in an array, each comprising a controller configured to control a production rate of water extracted from the air based on one or more operational parameters for water production;

a water supply unit comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with each of the plurality of water generation units, wherein the reservoir is configured to store at least part of the water extracted from the air by the plurality of water generation units;

an array communications unit configured to communicate to a communications channel and each of the plurality of water generation units;

wherein the one or more operational parameters for water production are communicated across the communications channel via the array communications unit;

wherein the system is configured to transmit a signal to the at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir via one or more water conduits based on the one or more operational parameters for water production;

and,

wherein the system is configured to transmit the signal to the at least one controller of the plurality of water generation units to pump water to the reservoir based on a water level in the reservoir, a water usage rate, a water production rate or combinations thereof.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (387)