System and method of water recovery including automated monitoring and control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9126142-B2
Application number	US-201313746824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2013
Priority date	Jun 4, 2012
Publication date	Sep 8, 2015
Grant date	Sep 8, 2015

Abstract

A device recovers water from an ambient airstream. The device includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant. A foam media element in each tray absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. An integral heat exchanger adds heat to the chamber during the extraction cycle. A controller is used to integrate and control device operation. The desiccant trays may be selectively configurable in an array to best suit the intended installation. The trays may be arranged in column and row configurations, along with adjustable airflow patterns between each of the trays. User interfaces are provided to monitor and control operation of the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring and control of a water recovery device comprising:
providing (i) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant placed within the desiccant tray and being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge; (ii) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack; (iii) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack; (v) a controller incorporated in the water recovery device for controlling functioning of the water recovery device to include a charge cycle and an extraction cycle, the water recovery device further including a plurality of sensors as inputs to the controller, and a plurality of valves and fans, a source of energy for operating the water recovery device, and a heating element of said heat exchanger as outputs of the controller,
operating the water recovery device in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and retaining water vapor in the chamber, the water recovery device being further operated in an extraction cycle to remove the retained water vapor within the chamber, the condenser providing a cooling source to condense the water vapor and thereby producing an amount of water condensate; and
providing a plurality of user interfaces generated by programming instructions associated with a software implementation communicating with said controller, said user interfaces providing visual displays for a user to conduct monitoring and control of the water recovery device.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said user interfaces include a first visual display showing an operation mode to display a cycle being performed.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:
said operation mode further includes a description of the cycle being performed, and a system status as to whether the device is experiencing errors.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:
said operation mode further includes a summary listing of conditions, said conditions including at least one of an ambient temperature, and ambient relative humidity, a power consumption of the device, a percentage of desiccant material that is saturated, an estimated time to the next cycle, and an amount of water captured in the present cycle.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:
said user interfaces include a second visual display showing a menu mode providing function options for a user to select.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:
said menu mode includes a function for selecting display of a troubleshooting interface, said troubleshooting interface, including an active error option for displaying errors that are occurring in monitored components of the device, a history option for displaying a historical listing of component or overall device errors, a shutdown option for shutting down the device, a reset option for resetting a component for which an error has been reported, and a system schematic diagram for displaying monitored components of the device, including an indication where a reported error has occurred.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:
said menu mode includes a function for selecting display of a troubleshooting interface, said troubleshooting interface, including an active warning option for displaying warnings that are occurring in monitored components of the device, a history option for displaying a historical listing of component or overall device warnings, a data logger option for establishing a data logger function for monitoring components of the device, a reset option for resetting a component for which a warning has been reported, and a system schematic diagram for displaying monitored components of the device, including an indication where a reported warning has occurred.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:
said menu mode includes a function for selecting display of a device diagnostic features, said display of diagnostic features including an option for selecting a diagnostic test associated with one or more components of the device, a data export function for selectively exporting recorded data from the device, the data including measured performance parameters of the device, and a data logger option for manipulating data logger functionality of the device, the device including a data logger element for recording data regarding measured performance parameters of the device.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:
said user interfaces include a third visual display showing a set up interface for configuring the device, the display including options for selecting set up of components of the device to meet installation specific requirements.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:
said set up interface includes further user options including at least one of configuring a number of trays, a required photovoltaic arrangement to produce adequate power for the device, a number and arrangement of fans, baffles and valves to meet expected airflow requirements through the device, and an amount of desiccant material to be used within respective trays of the device.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:
said user interfaces include a fourth visual display showing a maintenance interface for performing maintenance activities on the device.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
said maintenance interface includes further user options including at least one of a preventive maintenance option for viewing a preventive maintenance schedule, a warning option for viewing a maintenance action to be immediately performed, an estimated life of a monitored component and when the component should be replaced, and a system schematic diagram for displaying monitored components of the device, including an indication where maintenance should be performed.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 11 , wherein:
said user interfaces include a fifth visual display showing a performance interface for viewing and monitoring performance of the device and selected components of the device.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:
said performance interface includes further user options including at least one of a water production summary, a history of filter life, a battery performance, a photovoltaic performance, and a data logger.

15. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the plurality of sensors includes temperature sensors and humidity sensors.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said controller is a programmable logic controller.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said controller is a microcontroller.

18. A water recovery system comprising:
(a) water recovery device including:
(1) a desiccant stack including a chamber defining an airflow path therein, the desiccant stack including a plurality of desiccant trays, each desiccant tray including a desiccant media cartridge and an amount of liquid desiccant placed within the desiccant tray and being absorbed by a media material of the media cartridge;
(2) a condenser communicating with the desiccant stack;
(3) a heat exchanger communicating with the desiccant stack for providing heat to the desiccant stack;

wherein the water recovery device is operated in a charge cycle for circulating ambient air through the chamber to remove water vapor by the liquid desiccant and re

Assignees

• Z124

Inventors

• Becze Charles
• Ball James

Classifications

• Y02B30/62

  Absorption based systems · CPC title

• B01D53/26

  Drying gases or vapours · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B01D53/18

  Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49396

  Condenser, evaporator or vaporizer making · CPC title