Abstract:
A Gust Water Trap Apparatus comprises means ( 9, 42, 52 ) for receiving air from ambient wind and means for feeding the received air into a compression chamber ( 46, 56 ). Restriction means ( 21, 41 ) leads from the compression chamber into a condensation chamber ( 18 ). The apparatus leads to an increase in the pressure of air from wind gusts so that the air loses energy and is cooled further in the condensation chamber so as to deposit liquid water in the condensation chamber.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a Gust Water Trap Apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention seeks to take advantage of the fact that wind pressure varies greatly and short term gusts often have power in excess of average wind power. Thus air trapped in such a way as to have increased pressure will have an increase in temperature leading to loss of energy so encouraging condensation of water from the air. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a Gust Water Trap Apparatus characterised by comprising a means for receiving air from ambient wind, means for feeding the received air from ambient wind into a compression chamber, restriction means leading from the compression chamber into a condensation chamber, such that, as air passes from the compression chamber to the condensation chamber it is cooled so as to deposit liquid water in the condensation chamber. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic horizontal section of a first embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic vertical longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a vertical longitudinal section view of a third embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  show various views of a fourth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  shows a vertical longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  shows a vertical longitudinal section of a sixth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 9 ,  9   a  and  10  show various views of a seventh embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 11  shows a vertical section of an eighth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 12  shows a vertical section of ninth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 13  shows a vertical section of a tenth embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the following description like reference numerals are used to denote like parts in the various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0016]    In one preferred embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus in accordance with the present invention a wall perforated by openings is kept approximately perpendicular to the wind by a suitable wind monitor such as a wind vane or anemometer arranged to control the orientation of the device, which may be mounted on a vertical axis or on wheels running on a circular track. 
         [0017]    One such embodiment  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  in which a wind-intercepting structure comprises a front wall  7  having upright slots  9  with angled wind-guiding flaps  13  disposed adjacent to the slots  9 . The flaps  13  are mounted on strong rods or girders  12  such that incident wind is directed through the slots  9  after which the wind impacts against an irregular rear wall  14 . The rear wall  14  approximately follows the course of the front wall  7  and has solid wall portions opposite the slots  9 . Thus, the wind is directed laterally and back toward the incoming wind direction by the irregular wall  14 . Opposite the girders  12  the wall  14  is interrupted by ducts  16  which extend rearwardly to a compression chamber  17 . The incoming wind escapes into the ducts  16  and then into the chamber  17 . 
         [0018]    Escape from the chamber  17  is restricted, the restriction to flow in this embodiment taking the form of a wind turbine  21  through which wind may escape into a condensation chamber  18  and then out to the ambient air through an exit  23 . The path length of the air moving through the condensation chamber  18  is increased by baffles  22  located in the chamber  18 . The walls of the condensation chamber  18  are typically constructed with a large surface area of material which is a good heat conductor. 
         [0019]    In use, wind is intercepted over a large area, maximised where practicable by angled sheets shown as  11  in  FIG. 1 . Wind turbines which may be used for the generation of power may be fitted on the top and sides of the wind intercepting face of the Gust Water Trap Apparatus  20  if desired. The wind-guiding flaps  13  are preferably somewhat flexible so that the openings  9  become wider when wind strength increases but almost close when wind strength drops to low levels. In this way air is trapped in the ducts  16  and the chamber  17  at increased pressure due to storage of the momentum of the incoming wind with exit from the chamber  17  restricted by the resistance to flow offered by the turbine  21 . The ducts  16  are preferably arranged to have a high surface area and have walls of good thermally conducting material such as aluminium sheet which are exposed to ambient air circulating in adjacent spaces  19 . The spaces  19  are disposed between the ducts  16  and are preferably exposed to the open air as freely as practicable. 
         [0020]    The condensation chamber  18  may with advantage be fitted with one or more heat pumps or refrigeration coils to remove heat. Such devices may be powered by wind turbines or by photovoltaic panels or other means of collecting solar energy which may conveniently be mounted on an upper surface of the apparatus of the present invention. 
         [0021]    In operation, the momentum of gusts of wind results in a small rise of temperature in the ducts  16 . Heat is therefore lost through walls of the ducts  16 . A drop in pressure as air passes through the turbine  21  results in a fall in temperature so encouraging condensation of water which drains down to a collecting pipe  25 . 
         [0022]    An alternative preferred form of the Gust Water Trap Apparatus  40  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2  wherein wind is collected in a large funnel  42 . The funnel  42  in  FIG. 2  may have a circular, oval or oblate section at an opening thereof tapering down to open into a compression chamber  46 . The chamber  46  opens through a resistance, here shown as a wind turbine  41 , into a condensation chamber  18  which preferably has baffles  22  to produce a longer flow path to an air exit  43 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  the air exit  43  from the condensation chamber  18  leads into a Venturi tube through which air collected by an auxiliary funnel  44  flows at high velocity. The function of this arrangement is to lower the pressure in the condensation chamber  18 . The compression chamber  46  preferably comprises several tubes constructed of a good thermal conductor material with a large surface area. Similarly, the condensation chamber  18  preferably has a large surface area so that heat of condensation is rapidly lost through the walls. A refrigeration or heat pump unit may with advantage cool part of the walls of the condensation chamber  18  and such a unit is preferably powered by a wind turbine. Water condensing in the condensation chamber  18  is able to drain into a collecting container  45 . The whole device is shown mounted on wheels  33  running on a circular track  34  but a vertical axis mount may be used instead. Orientation so that the funnel  42  captures the maximum amount of wind is preferably by a drive responsive to wind direction as detected, for example, by a small wind vane. However, in some applications the shape of the compression chamber  46  and the condensation chamber  18  may be arranged to present a large vertical face to the wind when the device is not correctly aligned so that these vertical faces restore correct orientation after the fashion of a wind vane. 
         [0023]    A slightly different arrangement of Gust Water Trap Apparatus  50 , in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . The main features of the Apparatus  50  are that the wind entering a funnel  52  is diverted back through a flap  53  into a compression chamber  56  which is built on an outer surface of the funnel  52 . The flap  53  is arranged to be readily opened by wind gusts but falls shut when wind speed falls or when the pressure in the compression chamber  56  is high. The path length of air passing through the compression chamber  56  is increased by internal baffles and the surface area is made as large as practicable to maximise the rate of heat loss to the environment. The outer surface of the compression chamber  56  is preferably shaded to prevent heating by solar radiation. 
         [0024]    An extension  57  of the compression chamber  56  directs air over a turbine  51  which offers resistance to the flow of air into a condensation chamber  18 . The power output of the turbine  51  may be directly coupled to a compressor of a refrigeration system or heat pump which is preferably arranged to cool a wall or baffle  22  of the condensation chamber  18 . The surfaces of the walls of the condensation chamber  18  and the baffle  22  are preferably formed of a material which encourages vapour droplets to adhere and coalesce so that they will descend to a collection channel  45 . Suitable materials and surface coatings include nylon mesh and various hydrophobic sprays and paints designed to produce a surface which causes water droplets to have a large contact angle with the surface. 
         [0025]    In a further preferred embodiment  60  of the Gust Water Trap Apparatus of the present invention the structure has multiple funnel shaped openings so that rotation to face into the wind is unnecessary. A particularly preferred arrangement of this kind is shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 . As in all embodiments of the Gust Water Trap Apparatus of the present invention the efficiency of collection of water from the air can be increased by siting the device close to a water surface, for example, by mounting the device on a small island, float or platform in a salt water lake. The arrangement shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  may be particularly well suited to this kind of location. It is also very suitable for other sites however and is conveniently mounted on a sand dune or hill top inland. In  FIG. 4  a horizontal section is represented and it can be seen that the device has an approximately circular base  61  and a set of 6 upright radial walls  62  which offer openings  71  to approaching wind. In  FIG. 5  vertical sections of two of the condensation chambers  18  are shown and a funnel structure is completed by a floor  72  and a ceiling. These surfaces together with the radial walls  62  form a funnel which directs incoming air to a central chamber  67 . Walls  64  of the central chamber  67  incorporate hinged flaps  64   a  which can be easily opened by incoming wind but close under the influence of gravity when wind pressure falls. In  FIG. 5  as shown wind is blowing into the left side funnel and opening the flaps  64   a  in the wall  64  at the end of the funnel. On the right, the funnel is open downwind so that no wind enters and the flaps  64   a  in the wall  64  are closed with the result that air is trapped in the central chamber  67 . A fan  66 , here shown directly powered by a vertical axis wind turbine  69 , compresses the incoming air into a compression chamber  65  from which it can exit into any or all of the condensation chambers  18  through a high resistance opening  63 . The condensation chamber  18  has a large surface area made of thermally conducting sheet such as aluminium and is shaded by a roof  68 . The exit of air from the condensation chamber  18  is accelerated by a suitable Venturi or fan arrangement and in the accompanying drawings this is shown in the form of wind-driven extractor fans  73  fitted to outlets of vents  23 . These arrangements are further illustrated in  FIG. 6  which represents a view from a direction of wind entering one of six funnels but in this figure flaps  64   a  in the wall  64  are only slightly open as would be the situation with a very light wind. 
         [0026]    In operation, strong wind gusts enter the central chamber  67 , the air is compressed in the compression chamber  65  and any rise in temperature associated with compression results in dissipation of heat through upper and lower surfaces of the compression chamber  65 . The air pressure falls as air flows through the restriction  63  so that condensation of water contained in the air is encouraged. If preferred a wind turbine, photovoltaic panels or other sources of power may be used to power a heat pump to further cool portions of the condensation chambers  18 . If preferred the dissipation of heat to the ambient air can be accelerated by incorporating fluid channels in the walls of the chambers. These sealed channels could, for example, contain water arranged to carry heat to an external surface by convection. 
         [0027]    To conserve power a simple logic program and suitable wind humidity and temperature sensors and timers may be installed so that heat pumps or refrigeration compressors will operate preferentially at times when these devices will have the greatest effect in causing condensation resulting in the maximum recovery of water at 45 for the minimum expenditure of energy. The various air flows and pressures are ideally optimised by suitable computer models and it may be preferable in some conditions for the wind-driven output power of the fan  66  to be sufficiently high to allow flaps  64   a  in the downwind walls  64  to open and allow some entry of air into the central chamber  67  in addition to the main air entry through the upwind wall  64 . 
         [0028]    In a further preferred embodiment a turbine restricting flow from a compression chamber into a condensation chamber drives or assists in driving a compressor which adds to the pressure of a gust of air captured by a funnel and flowing into a compression chamber. Such an arrangement is shown in  FIG. 7  which shows a vertical section of a preferred embodiment of a Gust Water Trap Apparatus  70  in accordance with the present invention. A funnel  52  may have any preferred transverse sectional shape such as oval or oblate and the opening is preferably as large as practicable. The opening and the whole device is oriented to face oncoming wind either by a powered drive system or by arranging the aerodynamic shape of the whole device so that it feathers into the wind. If preferred a drive system may be a simple coupling of a wind turbine  41  with an axis transverse to the main axis of the system so that it generates power when wind is blowing at an angle to the main axis, the direction of rotation of the turbine then acting by direct coupling to restore alignment of the device into the wind. 
         [0029]    A centrifugal fan  86  is mounted at a narrow downwind end of a funnel  52  such that rotation of the fan accelerates the flow of air captured by the funnel  52  into a compression chamber  56 , from which air may flow through a duct  57 , through a power wind turbine  41  and into a condensation chamber  18 . The wind turbine  41  may simply be connected by a shaft  85  mounted on suitable bearings to the fan  86 . The energy to drive the fan  86  is partly from the direct action of wind gusts on angled blades of the fan  86  and partly from the action of air compressed in the duct  57  passing through the wind turbine  41 . The nett effect of these forces is to increase the pressure in the chamber  56  and the duct  57 . This chamber and duct are arranged to have a large surface area and walls of high thermal conductivity, so that any rise in temperature due to compression of air within them results in loss of heat to the outside ambient air. Passage of air through the turbine  41  results in a fall in pressure as the air enters the condensation chamber  18  so that the temperature of the air falls so encouraging condensation on walls of the condensation chamber  18  and on baffles  22  so that water drains into a collection channel  45 . Air then leaves the condensation chamber  18  through a vent  23  which may have a wind driven exhaust fan or Venturi arrangement if desired to further reduce the pressure in the condensation chamber  18  when wind is blowing. If desired the power of the fan  86  may be augmented, for example, by an electric motor coupled to the shaft  85  and powered by a separate wind turbine or a photovoltaic solar panel or wind turbine. 
         [0030]    A similar arrangement is represented in  FIG. 8 , which shows a Gust Water Trap Apparatus  80  in vertical longitudinal section with the funnel  52  opening into the wind and a fan  91  acting to increase pressure of air captured in a compression chamber  57 . In this preferred embodiment the fan  91  is driven by electric power and the combined action of the fan  91  and the force of incoming gusts of wind acts to lift a cover  92  so allowing air to enter the compression chamber  57 . When the pressure in the compression chamber  57  is high in comparison to the combined pressure generated by incoming wind and the power of the compressor fan  91 , the cover  92  falls shut preventing retrograde escape of the trapped air. Air in the compression chamber  57  may flow through a duct  16  and then through a wind turbine  94  into a condensation chamber  18  and then out through a vent  23 . The wind turbine  94  is preferably coupled to an alternator  95  to generate electricity which can if preferred contribute to the power of the compressor fan  91 . If preferred the wind turbine  94  may be coupled directly to the compressor unit of a refrigeration unit, the evaporation coil of which can conveniently be fitted to parts of the walls of condensation chamber  18  to increase the rate of condensation of water from the air passing through the system. As with the other embodiments of the present invention computer modelling is desirable to optimise the performance of the systems and in the Gust Water Trap Apparatus  80  it may be advantageous to augment the power of the compressor fan  91  when the relative humidity of incoming air is high. 
         [0031]    A different system of trapping wind is represented by a Gust Water Trap Apparatus  90  shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  9   a  and  10 . This embodiment of the present invention is distinguished by an arrangement for directing wind into a compression chamber  107 . The system is shown mounted on a pole  101  around which it can rotate so that the pole  101  is always upwind in relation to the system. A convex wall  103  shown in horizontal section in  FIG. 9  forms a front wall of a condensation chamber  18  and acts to divert incident wind laterally so that the wind is intercepted by lateral funnels  104 . The intercepted wind can escape through a slot  105  into a flat compression chamber  107  mounted just behind a compression chamber  18  separated by a ventilation space  106 . The ventilation space  106  is open to the ambient air at least at the top and bottom thereof of the apparatus as shown in vertical section in  FIG. 10 . The compression chamber  107  is formed of sheets of high thermal conductivity to facilitate loss of heat of compression and fins  109  are shown fitted to an outside rear wall to assist heat dissipation. Air passing into the compression chamber  107  may pass into the condensation chamber  18  through one or more tubes  108 . The high resistance to flow through the tubes  108  ensures that the pressure in the condensation chamber  18  is lower than the pressure in compression chamber  107 . Air may exit from the condensation chamber  18  through a vent  23  (see  FIG. 10 ) and the flow of air through the vent  23  may be accelerated if preferred by a suitable exhaust turbine or Venturi. Baffles  22  are preferably formed of mesh which favours the coalescence of water droplets on their surface and the temperature of the baffles  22  is preferably kept low either by thermal contact with the outside walls of the condensation chamber  18  or by a heat pump or a phase change refrigeration coil. If preferred a heat pump or refrigeration system may be powered by an external wind turbine or by wind turbines mounted in the tubes  108 . A further preferred refinement is the incorporation of a non-return gust flap  102  fitted at an opening of the lateral funnels  104  into the compression chamber  107 . The flap  102  is arranged to be easily opened by a wind gust entering the lateral funnel  104  and to close when the pressure on the flap exerted by the air in the compression chamber  107  exceeds the pressure on the outside wall of flap  102  caused by incoming wind. Water condensing on walls and baffles of the condensation chamber  18  collects in a collection chamber  45 . 
         [0032]    A further alternative is the Gust Water Trap Apparatus  100  is shown as a vertical section in  FIG. 11 . This form of the apparatus of the present invention is similar to Gust Water Trap Apparatus  60  shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  but in this embodiment there is only one opening  112  to capture wind gusts and only one chamber  119  into which wind initially flows. The opening  112  occupies a large proportion, perhaps one third, of the periphery of a polygonal or approximately circular structure mounted on wheels  33  mounted on a circular track  34  disposed above a water collecting reservoir  35 . A solid wall  118  occupies most of the periphery, perhaps two thirds, of the chamber  119  and supports a roof (not shown) similar to the roof  68  in  FIG. 5 . The wall  118  also supports a compression chamber  65 . Wind entering the chamber  119  from the opening  112  can be compressed by a fan  66  driven in this example by a wind turbine  114  through a drive train  116 . The compression chamber  65  has a large surface area and internal baffles which increase the path length of compressed air allowing it to cool to ambient temperature. If desired heat pumps or refrigeration systems powered by wind turbines or solar photovoltaic panels or other sources of power may further lower the temperature of the air passing through the compression chamber  65 . Air may escape from the compression chamber  65  through a restricted opening  63  leading into a condensation chamber  18 . The function of the condensation chamber  18  is similar to that described in the other embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0033]    A further preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in vertical section as a Gust Water Trap Apparatus  110  in  FIG. 12 . This embodiment is characterised by a second funnel  126  leading to a powered compressor fan  124  which is preferably programmed to maintain a selected increased pressure in an auxiliary compression chamber  128 . Wind gusts entering a main funnel  52  act to lift a cap  92  allowing air to flow into compression chamber  57 . If the pressure generated by the gust exceeds the pressure generated by the compressor fan  124  acting on wind collected by the auxiliary funnel  126  then a flap  121  shuts against a stop  129  and air exits through a turbine  21  into a condensation chamber  18  and then through a vent  23 . With the weakening of the wind gust the cap  92  falls shut under the influence of gravity and the flap  121  is opened by the combined action of the air entering the funnel  126  and the action of the compressor fan  124 . As in previous embodiments the device is oriented so that the funnels  52  and  126  are open toward the oncoming wind, the whole device being mounted either on a vertical axis or on wheels on a circular track. The compressor fan  124  may be powered by the output of an electricity generator driven by the turbine  21  and/or by other sources of power such as an external wind turbine or photovoltaic panels. 
         [0034]    An alternative embodiment of the Gust Water Trap Apparatus  120  of the present invention is shown in vertical section in  FIG. 13  and it can be seen that most of the components are mounted on a fixed foundation and only a wind capturing funnel, mounted on a circular track  123 , can rotate so that the opening is brought by appropriate monitors and drive systems to face into the wind. The wind-capturing funnel has a roof  112 , a wall  118  partially enclosing a chamber  119  but having an opening occupying approximately one third of the periphery of the chamber  119  so allowing free entry of incident wind. A compressor fan  66  is mounted through a floor of the chamber  119 . A drive for the compressor fan  66  is not shown but it may be powered by electricity or wind or other energy source as preferred. The vertical axis of the compressor fan  66  is preferably aligned with the axis of rotation of the wind capturing chamber  119 . A compression chamber  65  disposed below the chamber  119  leads through a resistance, which preferably takes the form of a wind turbine  126 , to a condensation chamber  18  opening to an air vent  23 . 
         [0035]    Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.