GB432394A - An improved method and installation for recovering water from atmospheric air - Google Patents

Abstract

432,394. Water supply. ALTENKIRCH, E., 56, Bahnhofstrasse, Neuenhagen, near Berlin. Sept. 22, 1934, No. 27307. Convention date, Sept. 28, 1933. [Class 68 (i)] Water is recovered from atmospheric air by exposing hygroscopic substances at night to the atmosphere to absorb moisture, and then in the daytime to the sun's rays while a current of air flows over the substances, the air then being cooled to deposit its moisture. The air preferably flows through absorbing and cooling zones successively in a closed circuit. The hygroscopic substances may be wood preferably cut across the grain, or leaves &c. In Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a glass-roofed room 3, which may also form a greenhouse, is connected by air outlet and inlet passages 7, 8, with a condenser 2 in the shade of a wall &c. 1. Through windows 5, thin pieces of wood 4, connected in lazytongs fashion and supported on rollers 15, may be run out on elevated rails 13 to absorb moisture during the night. At sunrise, this absorbing means is returned to the room 3 which is closed. During the day, the sun heats the air in the room which absorbs the moisture and flows in a closed circuit through passages 7, 8 and the condenser, the deposited moisture flowing to a tank 10 through a pipe 9 with an S-bend forming a liquid seal. The yield may be increased by placing finely divided wood in an upper part of the condenser in the path of the circulating air and so placed as to catch the sun only in the early part of the day. The wood &c., may be arranged on carriages for movement through the door 6 ; the windows 5 may then be double and permanently closed, or the walls may be heat insulated. A store of night air may be used for cooling and means may be provided whereby heat may be exchanged between the warm air passing to the condenser and the cool air leaving it. In a portable plant, Fig. 6, evaporating and condensing chambers 23, 24, are connected by end passages 25, 26, and are separated by a heat insulating layer 28 and an air gap 29 open at the sides of the apparatus. The evaporating chamber comprises a hinged cover, open at night and closed in the day, and a base each formed of wooden boards 30, 32, and waterproof layers 31, 33, ofasphalte paper, rubber, aluminium, &c. The walls of the passages 25, 26 also have waterproof layers 35 of aluminium &c., and the walls of the condensing chamber 24 are of similar material. The side walls are preferably protected from the sun by boards &c. The plant is placed on a slope facing the sun.