Integrated air conditioning and water-harvesting with demand-dependent cooling-load regulation
US9617719B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2016 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A20/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Integrated air conditioning and water-harvesting systems are disclosed. In these systems, one subsystem (air conditioning or water-harvesting) may be a primary subsystem and the other subsystem may be a secondary subsystem. As load on the overall system increases to the point the cooling demands for both subsystems cannot be met simultaneously, the system automatically reduces output of the secondary subsystem. In certain embodiments, an atmospheric water-harvester may be connected into the (potentially pre-existing) chilled-water system that provides cooling throughout a building, either via distributed fan-coil units or a centralized air-handling unit. Additionally, providing cooled-air exhaust from an atmospheric water-harvester to a building's cooling system allows substantial quantities of water to be produced at nominal incremental operating cost over a simple, straightforward air conditioning system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.