System for extracting water from air for drinking and cleaning purposes and a method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475707-B2
Application number	US-201114241279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2011
Priority date	Aug 26, 2011
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A system for extraction of water from air includes a salt plate, a moisture absorption unit and a filter unit. The system further includes a storage unit. A method for extraction of water using the system includes placing the salt plate beneath the moisture absorption unit during a moisture absorption phase and placing the salt plate beneath the filter unit during a water extraction phase. The extracted water is stored in the storage unit for drinking and cleaning purposes. Further, a system for cleaning solar panels includes a moisture absorbing unit, a filter unit, a salt plate, a water storage unit, a solar panel, a wiper mechanism to receive water from the storage unit to clean the solar panel, and support elements to moveably support wiper mechanism.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for extracting water from air, said system configured to operate in a moisture absorption phase and a water extraction phase, said system comprising:
a filter unit comprising a top covering and a base;
a moisture absorbing unit comprising a covering made of a material with a low thermal conductivity and high reflectivity; and
a salt plate configured to store salt, wherein said salt plate comprises a shape that corresponds to a shape of said base,
wherein said salt plate is placed beneath said moisture absorption unit during said moisture absorption phase,
wherein said salt plate is placed beneath said filter unit during said water extraction phase,
wherein said filter unit is configured to extract water absorbed by said salt provided in said salt plate, and
wherein said covering of said moisture absorbing unit is configured to facilitate water absorption by said salt placed in said salt plate during said moisture absorption phase and to protect said salt placed in said salt plate against outside contaminants.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said moisture absorbing unit, said filter unit, and said salt plate are connected by a frame.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture absorbing unit further comprises a plurality of supports defining an opening between two supports to facilitate water absorption by said salt placed in said salt plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said salt plate defines a boundary configured to receive said salt for absorbing moisture from air.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said base is a hollow base configured to be in fluid communication with said top covering of said filter unit.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said top covering of said filter unit defines at least one of a pyramidal, conical, and dome shape.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said filter unit comprises a water channel.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said water channel comprises at least one water outlet.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a storage unit that is in fluid communication with said water outlet.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a solar panel, wherein water stored in said storage unit cleans said solar panel;
a wiper unit comprising a hollow tube and a wiper projecting from said hollow tube, wherein said hollow tube is configured to clean said solar panel; and
a plurality of support elements configured to enable a movement of said wiper unit.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a water storage unit configured to receive water from said filter unit.

12. A method for extracting water from air using a system for extracting water from air, said system configured to operate in a moisture absorption phase and a water extraction phase, said system comprising a moisture absorbing unit, a filter unit, and a salt plate, said method comprising:
positioning said salt plate beneath said moisture absorbing unit during said moisture absorption phase such that a covering of said moisture absorbing unit is placed above said salt plate;
allowing salt in said salt plate to absorb water from air for a first predetermined duration;
positioning said salt plate below a base of said filter unit after said first predetermined duration such that said salt plate is in fluid communication with a top covering of said filter unit;
allowing water absorbed by said salt to evaporate in said filter unit for a second predetermined duration during said water extraction phase;
allowing said evaporated water to condense and flow through a water channel after said second predetermined duration, wherein said water channel comprises a number of openings which filters the condensed water before said condensed water is collected in a storage unit; and
collecting said condensed water flowing through said water channel in said storage unit.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said first predetermined duration ranges from 8 to 12 hours, and wherein said second predetermined duration ranges from 10 to 12 hours.

Assignees

• John Jim Joseph
• Raval Mehul C
• Solanki Chetan Singh
• Kottantharayil Anil
• Indian Inst Technology Bombay

Inventors

• John Jim Joseph
• Raval Mehul C
• Solanki Chetan Singh
• Kottantharayil Anil

Classifications

• Y02E10/40

  Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers · CPC title

• B01D1/0064

  Feeding of liquid into an evaporator · CPC title

• B01D5/0066

  Dome shaped condensation · CPC title

• B01D53/261

  by adsorption · CPC title

• B01D5/0018

  Dome shaped (B01D5/0066 takes precedence) · CPC title