WIND-POWERED FRESH WATER GENERATOR

A wind-powered fresh water generator is provided. The wind-powered fresh water generator includes a wind rotation module disposed on a beam, a cooling and fresh water generating module connected to the wind rotation module, and a water collecting system disposed below the cooling and fresh water generating module. The wind-powered rotation module provides a rotation motive power to the cooling and fresh water generating module. The water generated by the cooling and fresh water generating module is collected by the water collecting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing and other technical contents, features and functions of the invention will be clearly shown in the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, a wind-powered fresh water generator according to an embodiment of the invention includes a wind rotation module100, a cooling and fresh water generating module200and a water collecting system300.

The wind rotation module100is a wind rotation and speed-changing mechanism which includes a housing110, a speed-changing gear assembly120and a rotating assembly130. The housing110is disposed at an upper portion of a vertical beam400, so that the wind rotation module100is able to receive a large amount of wind. In some embodiments, the housing110is pivoted on the beam400, so that the direction of the wind rotation module100can be adjusted along with the wind direction, thereby ensuring that a maximum amount of wind is received by the wind rotation module100. The speed-changing gear assembly120is disposed in the interior of the housing110. The speed-changing gear assembly120is a speed-changing assembly comprising plural large and small gearwheels (not shown) engaged sequentially. The speed-changing gear assembly120has a power output shaft121extending to the exterior of the remainder of the speed-changing gear assembly120. The rotating assembly130has a rotating shaft131and plural blades132disposed on the periphery of the rotating shaft131. The rotating shaft131is coupled to the speed-changing gear assembly120. When the rotating assembly130rotates by capturing wind power, the rotating assembly130drives the speed-changing gear assembly120to rotate at a high speed and thereby generate rotational motive power. The rotational motive power is provided to the cooling and fresh water generating module200through the power output shaft121

The cooling and fresh water generating module200is an air-conditioning mechanism which includes a compressor220, a condenser230, an expansion valve240and an evaporator250that are connected in a loop through a pipeline210. The compressor220is connected to the power output shaft121of the speed-changing gear assembly120. The compressor220is driven to rotate by the rotational motive power provided by the power output shaft121. The interior of the pipeline210is filled with a coolant (not shown). The properties of the coolant are such that when it is changed from a gas state to a liquid state, a large amount of heat is discharged, and when it is changed from a liquid state to a gas state, a large amount of heat is absorbed.

During operation of the cooling and fresh water generating module200, the compressor220compresses the gaseous coolant into a high temperature and high pressure gaseous state, and then a normal temperature and high pressure liquid coolant is formed after the high temperature and high pressure gaseous coolant is conveyed to the condenser230to undergo heat dissipation therein. Subsequently, the coolant is conveyed to the expansion valve240and enters the evaporator250. When the coolant reaches the evaporator250from the expansion valve240, since the space is suddenly enlarged and the pressure is decreased, the liquid coolant is gasified into a gaseous and low temperature coolant, thereby absorbing a large amount of heat. As a consequence, the evaporator250is cooled, and the water vapor in the air is condensed into water after passing across the cold evaporator250. The water forms into water drops on the surface of the evaporator250.

In the embodiment, the compressor220and the expansion valve240may be disposed in the interior of the housing110, and the condenser230and the evaporator250may be disposed either to the exterior or in the interior of the housing110. When the condenser230and the evaporator250are disposed to the exterior of the housing110, the condenser230may easily dissipate heat, and the evaporator250is exposed to allow for easy contact with external water vapor. When the condenser230and the evaporator250are disposed in the interior of the housing110, a first port111and a second port112are respectively disposed at positions of the housing110corresponding to the condenser230and the evaporator250. With such a configuration, the first port111and the second port112are respectively used as a heat dissipation passage of the condenser230and a contact passage for the evaporator250(i.e., to allow external water vapor to contact the evaporator250).

The water collecting system300is disposed below the cooling and fresh water generating module200. The water collecting system300includes a water-collecting tray310, a water conduit320, a water collecting tank330and a catch basin340. The water-collecting tray310is disposed below the evaporator250for collecting the water drops formed on and that drip from the evaporator250. The water conduit320has a water inlet section321and a water outlet section322opposite to each other. The water inlet section321is connected to the bottom of the water-collecting tray310and is communicated with the water-collecting tray310. The water inlet section321is used for allowing the water collected by the water-collecting tray310to flow out from the same and into the water collecting tank330. The water outlet section322is connected to the bottom of the water collecting tank330and is communicated with the water collecting tank330. The water outlet section322is used for allowing the water collected by the water collecting tank330to flow out from the same and into the catch basin340. The catch basin340is located at a lower end of the water outlet section322of the water conduit320, and is placed on the ground.

Through this configuration of the water collecting system300, the water in the water-collecting tray310is transferred through the water conduit320to the catch basin340located on the ground, so as to facilitate use of the water. When plural wind-powered fresh water generators are used, the catch basins340respectively thereof may be communicated with a large-scale reservoir (not shown), so that a large amount of water may be stored at a single location.

The water collecting tank330is disposed on the beam400and located in the path that the water conduit320passes through, so as to communicate with the water conduit320. When the wind rotation module100is configured to follow the wind direction, as described above, only the water inlet section321is rotated, and the water generated by the evaporator250is transferred to the water collecting tank330for storage therein through the water inlet section321. Moreover, at this time, the water outlet section322does not move along with the wind rotation module100according to the wind direction, and in such an immobile state, functions to lead the water in the collecting tank330out into the catch basin340which is located at a set location.

In the wind-powered fresh water generator according to an embodiment of the invention, the wind rotation module100provides a rotational motive power to the cooling and fresh water generating module200, and the water generated by the cooling and fresh water generating module200is effectively collected by the water collecting system300. Hence, water can be generated, and this may be particularly useful for arid regions. Since arid regions are usually located in remote areas with few obstructions, the wind rotation module100can capture a sufficient amount of wind to generate the rotational motive power, and thereby continuously supply the rotational motive power required by the cooling and fresh water generating module200for operation. Hence, the high costs associated with having to provide electric power or rotational motive power cost may be avoided, as can the difficulties associated with mounting and maintaining long-distance transmission and distribution lines.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to the above embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. Those of skills in the art can make various variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be defined by the appended claims.