Caterpillar Inc.
INTEGRATED THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM

Abstract:

A system for obtaining purified water includes a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the heat source for receiving a thermal management fluid from the heat source, and a reservoir fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger to supply water, at an ambient temperature, for receiving heat from the thermal management fluid at the heat exchanger. A pump provides a pre-defined flow rate of the water from the reservoir to the heat exchanger based on a temperature gradient of the thermal management fluid across the heat exchanger. A purification device has a cold side chamber in fluid communication with the pump and the heat exchanger while a hot side chamber is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the reservoir. The cold and hot side chambers of the purification device thermally co-operate with each other to develop condensate therebetween from moisture present in the ambient air for forming water.