Exhaust gas water extraction system

Abstract

An exhaust gas water extraction system includes an evaporator component in a diffusion absorption refrigeration ('DAR″) unit. The system also includes an exhaust gas input duct comprising an input opening to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust gas source. The exhaust gas input duct operates as a heat source to power the DAR. An evaporator heat exchanger is connected to receive the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas input duct. The evaporator heat exchanger is disposed to generate a heat exchange between the evaporator component and the exhaust gas that cools the exhaust gas to below the dew point. A water collection container receives water condensing from the exhaust gas during the heat exchange with the evaporator component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exhaust gas water extraction system comprising:
 an evaporator component in a diffusion absorption refrigeration (“DAR”) unit;   an exhaust gas input duct comprising an input opening to receive a hot exhaust gas from an exhaust gas source, the exhaust gas input duct configured to operate as a heat source to power the DAR;   an evaporator heat exchanger connected to receive the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas input duct and disposed to generate a heat exchange between the evaporator component and the exhaust gas to cool the exhaust gas to below the dew point; and   a water collection container disposed to receive water condensing from the exhaust gas during the heat exchange with the evaporator component.   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust gas water extraction system of  claim 1  further comprising an intercooler disposed between the exhaust gas input duct and the evaporator heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The exhaust gas water extraction system of  claim 2  where the intercooler comprises a gas-to-air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust gas water extraction system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cooled exhaust gas output duct configured to receive cooled exhaust gas after the exhaust gas has been cooled by the evaporator component and to provide a flow path for the cooled exhaust gas; and 
 a recuperator heat exchanger configured to receive exhaust gas before the exhaust gas is cooled by the evaporator component and to receive the cooled exhaust gas, the recuperator heat exchanger configured to provide a counter-flow heat exchange between the hot exhaust gas and the cooled exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust gas water extraction system of claim I further comprising:
 an ambient air input duct configured to receive ambient air;   an air to evaporator heat exchanger connected to receive the ambient air from the ambient air input duct and disposed to generate a heat exchange between the evaporator component and the ambient air that cools the ambient air to below the dew point;   an ambient air water duct connected to receive water condensing from the ambient air during the heat exchange with the evaporator component and to direct the condensed water to the water collection container.   
     
     
         6 . The exhaust gas water extraction system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 an intercooler configured to receive the hot exhaust gas before the evaporator component and the cooled ambient air, the intercooler configured to provide a counter-flow heat exchange between the cooled ambient air and the hot exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         7 . An exhaust gas water extraction module comprising:
 a multi-section heat exchanger formed by a first heat exchanger panel and a second heat exchanger panel (“HEX panel”) opposite the first HEX panel, the first and second HEX panels being joined by a top sealing member and a bottom sealing member to form a heat exchanger enclosure (“HEX enclosure”), the bottom sealing member comprising at least one water outlet;   a module housing to enclose the multi-section heat exchanger, the module housing comprising an ambient air opening at the top end of the multi-section heat exchanger to provide ambient air flow over outer surfaces of the first and second HEX panels;   a exhaust gas input section extending along a first side of the multi-section heat exchanger, the exhaust gas input section comprising an exhaust gas duct disposed in the exhaust gas input section with an input opening at a top portion and an exhaust gas outlet at a bottom portion, where the input opening receives exhaust gas and the exhaust gas outlet connects to the multi-section heat exchanger to flow into the HEX enclosure;   a cooled gas duct connected to receive cooled exhaust gas from the HEX enclosure for expulsion into the ambient;   an evaporator component in a diffusion absorption refrigeration (“DAR”) unit, the evaporator component comprising an evaporator conduit forming a refrigerant flow path to an absorber component, the evaporator conduit connected at an end opposite the absorber component to receive refrigerant from a condenser containing refrigerant received from a generator that uses the hot exhaust gas as a heat source, the evaporator conduit disposed inside the HEX enclosure to cool an area of the first and second HEX panels defining an evaporator heat exchanger section;   an intercooler section formed in a portion of the multi-section heat exchanger to pre-cool the exhaust gas entering from the exhaust gas duct, where ambient air is cooled by the outer surface of the HEX panels at the evaporator heat exchanger section and the intercooler section; and   a water collection container extending along the length of the multi-section heat exchanger to receive water from the at least one water outlet condensing from the exhaust gas and ambient air being cooled by the multi-section heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a recuperator heat exchanger (“recuperator HEX”) heat exchanger configured to provide a counter-flow heat exchange between the HOT exhaust gas and the cooled exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 8  where:
 the recuperator HEX is formed by a cooled gas output tube that surrounds the exhaust gas input duct and provides an opening to the ambient, the cooled gas output tube having a fluid opening to the cooled gas duct, where the cooled gas duct connects to a cooled gas opening in the HEX enclosure. 
 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a gas-to-air HEX section along a second side of the multi-section heat exchanger opposite the first side, the gas-to-air HEX section includes a cooled exhaust gas opening to the HEX enclosure, where the cooled gas duct connects to the cooled exhaust gas opening and extends to an opening in a top side of the gas-to-air HEX section. 
 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a plurality of ambient air cooling fins distributed substantially across the multi-section heat exchanger to exchange heat with the ambient air. 
 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a plurality of exhaust gas cooling fins distributed substantially across the inner surfaces of the HEX enclosure to exchange heat with the exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         13 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  where:
 the generator comprises a liquid-to-gas heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  where:
 the generator comprises a generator vessel disposed to surround the exhaust gas input duct in thermal contact with the exhaust gas input duct. 
 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a generator-to-exhaust gas heat exchanger (“generator-to-exhaust gas HEX”) configured to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to the generator to drive a DAR cycle. 
 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a plurality of generator fins disposed on the generator-to-exhaust gas HEX to conduct the heat to the generator. 
 
     
     
         17 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a water purification system configured to receive condensate water collected via the water collection container, the water purification system comprising a water filtering component configured to extract impurities from the water received from the water collection container. 
 
     
     
         18 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 17  where the water purification system comprises a pump to direct the water from the water collection container to the water filtering component. 
     
     
         19 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 18  where the water filtering component comprising filters selected from a group consisting of a particulate filter, a hydrocarbon filter, an activated carbon filter, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 19  where the hydrocarbon filter comprises hydrocarbon filtering material selected from a group consisting of a smartsponge, organoclay, poly-pro, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 7  where the module housing is configured to contain a plurality of multi-section heat exchangers, a plurality of exhaust gas input panels corresponding to the multi-section heat exchangers, and a plurality of cooled gas ducts corresponding to the multi-section heat exchangers. 
     
     
         22 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 21  further comprising a exhaust gas header configured to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust gas source, the exhaust gas header comprising gas ducts connected to the input openings of the exhaust gas input ducts of each of the plurality of exhaust gas input panels. 
     
     
         23 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a water purification system configured to receive water collected via the water collection container, the water purification system comprising a water filtering component configured to extract impurities from the water received from the water collection container. 
 
     
     
         24 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 23  where the water purification system comprises a pump to direct the water from the water collection container to the water filtering component. 
     
     
         25 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 24  where the water filtering component comprising filters selected from a group consisting of a particulate filter, a hydrocarbon filter, an activated carbon filter, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The exhaust gas water extraction module of  claim 25  where the hydrocarbon filter comprises hydrocarbon filtering material selected from a group consisting of a smartsponge, organoclay, poly-pro, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A method for extracting water from exhaust gas comprising:
 inputting the exhaust gas from a hot exhaust gas source into an exhaust gas input duct;   transferring heat from the exhaust gas to a generator of a diffusion absorption refrigeration (“DAR”) cycle;   flowing the exhaust gas through an evaporator heat exchanger using an evaporator component of the DAR to cool the exhaust gas to below the dew point; and   collecting condensate from the cooling of the exhaust gas.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 inputting ambient air from an ambient air opening; 
 flowing the ambient air through an evaporator-ambient air heat exchanger to cool the ambient air to below the dew point; and 
 collecting condensate from the cooling of the exhaust gas. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 flowing water collected as condensate to a water purification system to purify the condensate for use as drinking water.