Potable water collection apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for transferring water vapor into potable water, by using a vapor compression refrigeration system which includes both a water-cooled condenser and an air-cooled condenser. The water-cooled condenser is located in the refrigerant fluid path between the exit of the compressor and the inlet of the air-cooled condenser where it behaves as a desuperheater. The water exiting the condenser, containing the superheat from the refrigerant, is transferred through conduit to a water to air heat exchange means having an open cell ligament structure, wherein as the water falls through it, the water is cooled by the evaporation of a portion of the water by an air stream also passing through it. The open cell ligament structure coincidently acts as a filter for the air stream. The filtered air stream containing added sensible and latent heat is put in contact with the exterior surface of the evaporator portion of the vapor compression refrigeration system where heat is removed causing the water vapor to condense on the evaporator surface and fall and collect in a suitable container at the bottom of the evaporator where it is further treated and purified by a germicidal lamp.