Air Humidity Condensing and Potabilizing Machine

Abstract

Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine consisting of a compression thermodynamic cycle with forced ventilation so that the ambient air with a certain temperature and humidity is forced to pass through a compression evaporator whose walls are cold, and on which a percentage of its humidity is condensed, this water being collected and sent to a double purification circuit with sediment filters, ultraviolet lamps, carbon filter and mineralization to adapt it to human consumption, the machine having different systems that optimize the production of water to reduce its energy and economic cost, as well as devices to improve the quality of the air entering the machine and the water obtained in different environments and circumstances of use.

Claims

1. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine, of the type comprising a thermodynamic compression equipment that is fitted with a refrigerant or heat-transfer fluid compressor (4), a rolling valve (5) and an electrical system (7) and a control system (8) managing the operation of the equipment, and which is capable of forcing air through a compression evaporator (2) and a condenser (3) by means of main fans (6) that force the air into the machine, characterized in that it comprises: a water collector (9) located under a compression evaporator (2), which collects the condensed drops that are sent to a water tank (10) through a primary circuit, where this primary circuit is formed by a primary hydraulic pump (11) that makes the water pass through sediment filters (13) of 20 μm, 10 μm and 5 μm and through a first ultraviolet lamp (14); a secondary circuit, in which a secondary hydraulic pump (12) takes the water from the water tank (10) and makes it pass through a carbon filter (16), through a mineralizing filter (17) and through a second ultraviolet lamp (15) until it reaches a water outlet tap (18) for consumption; a water pressure sensor (19) and a pressure tank or a hydro-pneumatic accumulation tank (20) that maintains the circuit pressure; a bypass around the mineralizing filter (17) with an electrovalve (22) that is regulated by a hardness sensor (23), a conductivity sensor or TDS, as well as by a pH sensor (27); and a water recirculation loop, which takes the water from the water tank (10) by the secondary hydraulic pump (12), and through an electrovalve (22) it is passed through the first ultraviolet lamp (14) of the primary circuit until it returns to the water tank (10).

2. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine, according to claim 1, comprising: an air filter (24); an ionizer (25), through which the air passes before entering the compression evaporator (2); and a CO.sub.2 sensor (26) that measures the quality of the ambient air in so that: above a pre-set limit, the CO.sub.2 sensor (26) warns the control system (8) of the machine that increases the pressure and speed of the primary hydraulic pump (11) in such a way that when the primary hydraulic pump (11) reaches the water tank (10), this water abruptly collides and bubbles releasing part of the gases contained in such primary hydraulic pump (11) and by means of the pH sensors (27) and the hardness sensors (23) the quality and acidity of the water is checked, until the CO.sub.2 levels are back to adequate.

3. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine according to claim 2, where the pre-set threshold of the CO.sub.2 sensor (26) is 0.045% or 450 ppm.

4. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine according to claim 1, comprising has a water manifold (9) on which some watertight perimeter plates (28) are assembled and disassembled with fixing means, so that these perimeter plates (28) contain the compression evaporator (2) and the condenser (3) inside forming a basin only open at the top.

5. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine according to claim 1, in which some slats (29) of the compression evaporator (2) are placed in a counterbalanced manner and are around freon tubes (31), the last slat (29) having an “S” shape as a drop-breaking profile (30).

6. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine according to claim 1, comprising a vibrator (32) that provides a vibration that makes the drop of condensed water fall on the slats (29) of the compression evaporator (2); and an air compressor with a diffuser (33) in the upper part of the compression evaporator (2) that produces short and periodic impulses of pressurised air from the upper part of said evaporator causing the water drop to fall faster into the water collection tank (9).

7. Air humidity condensing and potabilization machine according to claim 1, comprising: a thermodynamic absorption cycle with an absorption evaporator (34) that is introduced between the compression evaporator (2) and the compression cycle condenser (3), where the condensed water is collected from the collecting tray (9); solar thermal panels (35); an absorption exchanger (36); a hygrometer (37); a thermometer (38); a barometer (39); a photometer (40); and an intelligent control system (41) with an internet connection module (42) that receives weather forecast information, and that connects to the compression evaporator (2).

8. Air humidity condensing and potabilization machine according to claim 1, comprising: a lid (44) or upper cover made in the form of a funnel, which collects the water falling on the machine or on any other surface and which conveys said water to the purification system existing in the machine; and a rain sensor (46), which turns off the compression cycle of the machine when it detects rainwater in a non-drinking water tank (47).

9. Air humidity condensing and potabilizing machine according to claim 1, comprising a non-drinking water tank (47) with a immersed heat exchanger (48) that uses the residual heat released by the compressor (4) and other elements of the thermodynamic cycle in its refrigeration, to evaporate, distil and purify non-drinking water, which is collected by a condensing upper surface (49) that condenses the distilled water and is sent to the water purification system existing in the machine.

10. Air humidity condensing and potabilization machine according to claim 1, comprising: a secondary fan (51) placed behind the condenser (3) that feeds a secondary duct (52) for evacuating or transmitting the cold air; and a primary duct (53) for evacuating or transmitting the hot air fed by the main fan (6) located behind the condenser (3); in such a way that the residual cold and hot air that leaves the compression evaporator (2) and the condenser (3), respectively, are diverted, conducted and used.

11. Air humidity condensing and potabilization machine according to claim 1, comprising: a first coil (55) of drinking water that is located at the rear of the compression evaporator (2), which is residually cooled by the cold air passing through it, and which feeds a cold water tap (54); and a second coil (57) of drinking water that is located at the rear of the condenser (3), which is residually heated by the hot air passing through it, and which feeds a hot water tap (56).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] To complement the description that is being made and in order to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached hereto as an integral part of said description, where the following has been represented, including but not limited to:

[0075] FIG. 1. It shows the simple water condensing and potabilizing machine, where it can be seen that on a metal frame (1) there is a compression evaporator (2), an associated condenser (3), a compressor (4), a main fan (6) that forces the air to enter the machine. Under the evaporator there is a water manifold (9) that collects the condensed drops that are sent to a water tank (10) through a primary hydraulic pump (11) of the primary circuit, which makes it pass through some filters of sediments (13) and a first ultraviolet lamp (14). There is also a secondary hydraulic pump (12) from the secondary circuit that takes the water from the water tank (10) and makes it pass through a carbon filter (16) and a mineralizing filter (17) up to a water outlet tap (18). The equipment has an electrical system (7) and a simple control system (8) that manages the operation of the equipment.

[0076] FIG. 2. It shows a diagram of the connection and operation of the two water circuits of the machine. Thus, it can be seen how in the primary circuit the water collected in the manifold (9) tray is driven by the primary hydraulic pump (11) through three sediment filters (13) of 20 μm, 10 μm and 5 μm, and a first ultraviolet lamp (14) until reaching the water tank (10). Here the secondary circuit starts, in which a secondary hydraulic pump (12) takes the water from the water tank (10) and passes it through a carbon filter (16), a mineralizing filter (17) and a second ultraviolet lamp (15) until it reaches the water outlet tap (18) for consumption. A water pressure sensor (19) and a pressure tank or hydro-pneumatic accumulation tank (20) are placed to maintain the circuit pressure. It can be seen how in order to regulate the amount of dissolved salts a bypass with an electrovalve (22) has been arranged around the mineralizing filter (17) that is regulated by a hardness sensor (23), a conductivity sensor or TDS. A pH sensor (27) is also shown in the secondary circuit. Finally, it can be seen how a water recirculation loop has been installed, and this water is taken from the water tank (10) by the secondary hydraulic pump (12) and thanks to an electrovalve (22) it is passed through the first ultraviolet lamp (14) of the primary circuit until it returns to the water tank (10).

[0077] FIG. 3. It shows a machine like the one described in FIG. 1, which has an air filter (24) and an air ionizer (25) through which the air passes before entering the compression evaporator (2). Also shown is a CO.sub.2 sensor (26) that measures the quality of the ambient air.

[0078] FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A. It shows a detail of the assembly formed by the compression evaporator (2), the condenser (3) and the water manifold (9) on which some perimeter plates (28) are assembled, forming a basin only open at the top where a disinfectant and descaling liquid can be poured to carry out the thorough cleaning of the compression evaporator (2) and condenser (3).

[0079] FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A. It shows a perspective and floor detail of the arrangement of some slats (29) of the compression evaporator (2) around some counterbalanced freon tubes (31), the latter part having a sinuous contour in the form of “S” as a drop-breaking profile (30).

[0080] FIG. 6. It shows a machine like the one described in FIG. 1, which has a vibrator (32) physically attached to the compression evaporator (2) that provides a vibration that makes the drop of condensed water fall on the slats (29) of said evaporator, and an air compressor with a diffuser (33) that produces short and periodic impulses of pressurized air from the upper part of the compression evaporator (2) causing the drop of water to fall faster towards the water manifold (9).

[0081] FIG. 7. It shows the condensing and potabilizing machine as described in FIG. 1 where it is possible to see the incorporation of an absorption evaporator (34), some solar thermal panels (35) or absorption condenser, and an absorption exchanger (36). In addition, sensors such as a hygrometer (37), a thermometer (38), a barometer (39) and a photometer (40) are included. In addition, an intelligent control system (41) with an Internet connection module (42).

[0082] FIG. 8. It shows a condensing machine like the one described in FIG. 1, which has been fitted with a funnel-shaped lid (44) or top cover to collect rainwater, and a rain sensor (46).

[0083] FIG. 9. It shows a non-drinking water tank (47) that has an immersed heat exchanger (48) that cools the compressor (4) and the thermodynamic cycle of the machine, which evaporates the water that is collected by an upper surface (49) condensing the distilled water that sends it to the collector (9) located under the compression evaporator (2).

[0084] FIG. 10. It shows a condensing machine like the one described in FIG. 1 in which the cold and dry air that has passed through the compression evaporator (2) thanks to the depression caused by a secondary fan (51) is sent to the interior of the house through a secondary duct (52), and the hot air that passes through the condenser (3) by the action of the main fan (6) is sent to the interior of the house through a primary duct (53).

[0085] FIG. 11 and FIG. 11A It shows how a cold water tap (54) is fed by a pipe with a first coil (55) that is placed after the compression evaporator (2) of the machine and, at the same time, a hot water tap (56) is fed by a second coil (57) that is located behind the condenser (3) of the machine.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0086] The specific embodiment considered below is one of many that the present invention can adopt. The figures show how the assembly is formed by a metal frame (1) where most of the components of an optimized compression thermodynamic cycle are placed, such as a compression evaporator (2), a condenser (3), a refrigerant or heat-transfer fluid compressor (4), a rolling valve (5) and a main fan (6) that forces the air into the machine and an electrical system (7) and a control system (8) that manages the operation of the equipment. Thus, according to the invention: [0087] under the compression evaporator (2) there is a water manifold (9) that collects the condensed drops that are sent to a water tank (10) through the primary circuit, formed by a primary hydraulic pump (11), which makes the water pass through some sediment filters (13) of 20 μm, 10 μm and 5 μm, and a first ultraviolet lamp (14). The equipment also has in place a secondary circuit, in which a secondary hydraulic pump (12) takes the water from the water tank (10) and passes it through a carbon filter (16), a mineralizing filter (17) and a second ultraviolet lamp (15) until it reaches a water outlet tap (18) for consumption. A water pressure sensor (19) and a pressure tank or hydro-pneumatic accumulation tank (20) are also placed to maintain the circuit pressure. In order to regulate the amount of dissolved salts it is fitted with a bypass around the mineralizing filter (17) with an electrovalve (22) that is regulated by a hardness sensor (23), a conductivity sensor or TDS, also having a pH sensor (27). It is also fitted with a water recirculation loop, and this water is taken from the water tank (10) by the secondary hydraulic pump (12) and thanks to an electrovalve it is passed through the first ultraviolet lamp (14) of the primary circuit until it returns to the water tank (10). [0088] to improve the quality of the air entering the machine than from an air filter (24) and an ionizer (25) through which the air passes before entering the compression evaporator (2), as well as a CO.sub.2 sensor (26) that measures the quality of the ambient air and warns the control system (8) of the machine to increase the pressure and speed of the primary hydraulic pump (11) in such a way that when it reaches the storage water tank (10) abruptly collides and bubbles, releasing part of the gases contained in it. In addition, the pH sensors (27) and the hardness sensor (23), the conductivity sensor or online TDS, check the quality of the water before it is consumed by users, preventing it from being supplied and warning the consumer of the unsuitability of drinking this water if it exceeds the limits set as acceptable due to the presence of unacceptable amounts of CO.sub.2 dissolved in the water and considered as dangerous or harmful, this level having been established at 0.045% or 450 ppm, thanks to the research carried out for the development of this equipment, a level that is still healthy but from which the CO.sub.2 fixation starts to be unacceptable for the developers of the invention. [0089] to allow thorough cleaning of the heat exchangers the system is designed in such a way that on the water manifold (9) some watertight perimeter plates (28) can be assembled and disassembled so that they contain the compression evaporator (2) and the condenser (3), forming a basin only open at the top where a disinfecting and descaling liquid can be poured for a thorough cleaning by immersion, [0090] in order to reduce the by-pass factor, some slats (29) of the compression evaporator (2) around freon tubes (31), are placed in a counterbalanced way to divide the air flow without noticeably increasing the load drop, with the last slat having been stamped with a sinuous “S” shape as a drop-breaking profile (30), [0091] to prevent water from stagnating on the bottom of the compression evaporator (2) thus waterlogging it and preventing new water drops from condensing on it, a vibrator (32) has been installed that provides a vibration that makes the drop of condensed water fall on the evaporator slats, and an air compressor with a diffuser (33) at the upper part of the compression evaporator (2) that produces short and periodic impulses of pressurized air from the top of the evaporator causing the water drop to fall more quickly into the water collection tank (9), [0092] the equipment can also have an absorption thermodynamic cycle to make use of the intense heat of the sun that is usually found in the climate zones that are the most suitable for this type of machine. This absorption cycle is assembled on the compression cycle, constituting a hybrid system that makes use of each of them and compensates for the respective disadvantages. The machine is accordingly equipped with an absorption evaporator (34) that is inserted between the compression evaporator (2) and the compression cycle condenser (3), some solar thermal panels (35) and an absorption exchanger (36). The water manifold (9) connected to the primary and secondary purification circuits is located under the evaporators in the same way. For its correct operation the assembly is equipped with different sensors such as a hygrometer (37), a thermometer (38), a barometer (39) and a photometer (40), which allows determining the suitability of connecting the absorption cycle and reducing the intensity of the compression cycle. In addition, an intelligent control system (41) has an internet connection module (42) to carry out an efficient control of the assembly, since in addition to the instant data from the local weather obtained by the sensors, the equipment uses the forecast for the following few hours that are communicated to the machine via the Internet, which together with the data on the expected demand or regular consumption of water and the level of stored water will allow the compression refrigerator to be connected or not, which has a much higher consumption of energy than the absorption refrigerator, [0093] it also has the necessary elements to collect and purify rainwater, which falls into the machine on a lid (44) or top cover made in the form of a funnel or on any other surface such as the roofs of nearby buildings, making use of the existing purification system in the machine, which increases the production of drinking water with a minimum additional economic cost, even turning off the machine compressor when a rain sensor (46) detects that it starts raining or rainwater is available in a non-drinking water tank (47), [0094] in addition, it has elements to make use of the large amount of heat that is residually released by the compressor (4) and the thermodynamic cycle in its refrigeration, so that through a heat exchanger (48) immersed in a non-drinking water tank (47) it evaporates or distils and purifies the water which is collected by an upper surface (49) condensing the distilled water that sends it to the manifold (9) located under the compression evaporator (2) of the system using the whole water purification system existing in the machine, since the water thus distilled and the water condensed by the machine have very similar characteristics, [0095] in addition, there are in place systems to make use of the cold and dry air that passes through the compression evaporator (2) to take it into the interior of the home or nearby building to cool spaces, thanks to the depression caused by a secondary fan (51) that feeds a secondary cold air duct (52) that takes it to the place of consumption. Likewise, the hot air that passes through the condenser (3) by the action of the main fan (6) is sent to the interior of the house through a primary duct (53) to heat spaces as needed such as bathrooms or to heat the domestic water of the house, [0096] similarly to the above, the machine can be equipped with elements to make use of the residual cold and residual heat of the machine to cool or heat the water to be supplied to users, making the water pass through a pipe with a first coil (55) at the rear of the compression evaporator (2) and sending this already cooled water to a cold water tap (54). In the same way, the water is led through a second coil (57) at the rear of the condenser (3) until it reaches a hot water tap (56) avoiding the energy cost of thermally conditioning the drinking water.