APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATER FROM AMBIENT AIR

摘要

Apparatus for extracting water from moisture-laden ambient air comprises a plurality of chambers (1a) packed with an adsorbent (4) for moisture in the air; means (11,12,13) for bringing one or more of the chambers (1a) into and out of register with a first and second desorbing section (25,26) and means (16) for passing ambient air through the chambers not in register with said sections, whereby moisture from the ambient air is adsorbed on the adsorbent (4) and subsequently removed from the adsorbent (4) in each chamber (1a) as that chamber (1a) is brought into register with the said desorbing sections (25,26); a recycling duct (18) connecting the second section (26) to the first (25) to complete a desorption circuit, means (19) for circulating air through said circuit to remove water from the adsorbent; means (20) for heating the air in the circuit and means (22) for removing water from the circuit. The ratio of the number of chambers (1a) in register with the desorbing sections (24,25) to the number of chambers (1a) receiving moisture-laden air can be varied according to the temperature and moisture context of the ambient air.