Systems and methods for atmospheric vapor extraction
Systems and methods relating to a wearable atmospheric water generation device are described herein. Systems can comprise a sorbent material within a sorbent chamber configured to capture water vapor from ambient air and can be configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material. The systems can further comprise a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor.
1. A water generation device comprising:
a sorbent chamber comprising a sorbent material to capture water vapor from ambient air during a load cycle, the sorbent material being configured to absorb thermal energy;
a vacuum pump configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material during a release cycle, wherein the reduced pressure condition increases a ratio of vapor pressure of water captured by the sorbent material to water vapor partial pressure in the sorbent chamber; and
a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor received from the vacuum pump;
wherein an outlet of the vacuum pump is configured to exchange heat from emitted water vapor therefrom to the sorbent chamber, thereby increasing at least one of a rate and a vapor pressure of water vapor desorbed from the sorbent material.
2. The water generation device of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material is configured to absorb thermal energy from:
a wearer of the water generation device;
solar radiation impinging on the atmospheric water generation device; or a combination thereof.
3. The water generation device of claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured to cool the condenser.
4. The water generation device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump discharges:
the desorbed water vapor as steam at atmospheric pressure;
desorbed water vapor to a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure; or,
the desorbed water vapor to a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure via a compressor in combination with the vacuum pump.
5. The water generation device of claim 1 , further configured to operate in an open loop thermodynamic cycle.
6. The water generation device of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material comprises:
an ionic liquid;
a solvent-less ionic liquid epoxy resin;
an ionic liquid entrained into a porous solid;
a metal-organic framework; or a combination thereof.
7. A water generation device comprising:
a sorbent chamber comprising a sorbent material to capture water vapor from ambient air during a load cycle, the sorbent material being configured to absorb thermal energy;
a vacuum pump configured to produce a reduced pressure condition within the sorbent chamber, thereby desorbing water from the sorbent material during a release cycle, wherein the reduced pressure condition increases a ratio of vapor pressure of water captured by the sorbent material to water vapor partial pressure in the sorbent chamber; and
a condenser for producing liquid water from the desorbed water vapor received from the vacuum pump;
wherein the water generation device is configured to exchange:
heat from the vacuum pump to the sorbent material; or,
heat from the condenser to the sorbent material such that a power requirement of the vacuum pump is reduced, thereby increasing a coefficient of performance.
8. The water generation device of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent chamber comprises:
an inlet for inputting a gas leak during the release cycle; or,
an inlet for inputting a carrier gas leak comprising ambient air during the release cycle.
9. The water generation device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
communicate with one or more sensors;
maximize a water production rate in the condenser by adjusting the reduced pressure condition during a release time;
maximize a water production rate of the condenser by maintaining the reduced pressure condition below a predetermined setpoint in the sorbent chamber;
maintains the reduced pressure condition below the predetermined setpoint in the sorbent chamber by adjusting power input to the vacuum pump; or,
adjust a flow rate of a gas leak to maintain the reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber.
10. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle;
forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle; wherein forming the reduced pressure condition comprises:
adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a vacuum pump rate; or,
adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a flow rate of a carrier gas into the sorbent chamber;
desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle; and
condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the load cycle and the release cycle operate in an open loop thermodynamic cycle.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
inputting a gas leak into the sorbent chamber during the release cycle; or,
inputting ambient air into the sorbent chamber.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle comprises:
exposing the sorbent material to a low grade heat source;
exposing the sorbent material to thermal energy from a wearer of the water generation device;
exposing the sorbent material to passive ambient heat;
exposing the sorbent material to solar energy; or, a combination thereof.
14. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle;
forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle;
desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle;
condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle;
determining a wearer's body condition; and,
adjusting the reduced pressure condition based on the determined body condition.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wearer's body condition comprises the wearer's body heat, temperature, metabolic rate, or a combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method comprises determining the wearer's body condition has increased above a predetermined threshold; and, reducing an amount of energy input to form the reduced pressure condition based on the determined wearer's body condition.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method comprises determining the wearer's body condition has decreased below a predetermined threshold; and reducing a pressure within the sorbent chamber based on the determined wearer's body condition.
18. A method for operating a water generation device comprising:
capturing water vapor, by a sorbent material in a sorbent chamber, from ambient air during a load cycle;
determining an amount of water in the sorbent material;
determining a sorbent chamber pressure setpoint based on the determined amount of water;
forming a reduced pressure condition in the sorbent chamber during a release cycle;
desorbing water from the sorbent material during the release cycle during the release cycle; and,
condensing water vapor output from the sorbent chamber into liquid water during the release cycle.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a vacuum pump rate; or, adjusting the reduced pressure condition by adjusting a flow rate of a carrier gas into the sorbent chamber.
20. The method of claim 18 , where the sorbent material comprises a porous desiccant, a silica gel, a metal-organic framework (MOF) or an ionic liquid.