Solar seawater evaporation device based on plant-based cellulose water conveying pipe-shaped structure

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of seawater desalination, and particularly relates to a solar seawater evaporation device based on a plant-based cellulose water conveying pipe-shaped structure, the solar seawater evaporation device comprises a base, a condensation cover and a floating evaporation unit, the middle of the base is provided with a positioning boss, the positioning boss is provided with a plurality of vertical insertion holes distributed in an array mode, and the vertical insertion holes penetrate through the base; the condensation cover covers the base to form an evaporation cavity; the positioning frame and the floating evaporation unit are positioned in the evaporation cavity; the floating evaporation unit comprises a plurality of floating pipes, each floating pipe is of a plant-based cellulose water conveying pipe-shaped structure, and the surface of each floating pipe is provided with a photothermal conversion layer; and the floating pipes are inserted into the vertical insertion holes in a one-to-one correspondence manner. The floating pipe is of a plant-based cellulose water conveying pipe-shaped structure, the water conveying efficiency is improved through the porous characteristic, meanwhile, solar energy is converted into heat energy through the photo-thermal conversion material, and the evaporation rate is remarkably increased; salt is gradually deposited on the floating pipe along with evaporation, and surface salt deposition is automatically and dynamically removed under the synergistic effect of gravity sliding and water flow scouring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of seawater desalination, and in particular relates to a solar seawater evaporation device based on a plant-based cellulose water delivery tubular structure. Background Art

[0002] Freshwater shortages are becoming increasingly severe, and desalination technology has become a key approach to alleviating this problem. Traditional technologies, such as reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash evaporation, are subject to high energy consumption, high costs, and secondary pollution. Solar desalination technology has attracted widespread attention for its low-carbon and sustainable nature, but salt deposition during the evaporation process, which reduces evaporation efficiency, remains a major technical bottleneck. Existing solutions often rely on complex mechanical structures or expensive materials, making them difficult to implement on a large scale.

[0003] Plants, as natural biomass raw materials, are rich in cellulose. Their naturally porous structure and hydrophilic properties enhance water transport, and when combined with photothermal conversion materials, they enable efficient evaporation. However, further breakthroughs are needed to design solar seawater evaporation devices that utilize plant-based cellulose to combine efficient water transport, self-cleaning properties, and low cost. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on the above-mentioned shortcomings and deficiencies in the prior art, one of the objects of the present invention is to at least solve one or more of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. In other words, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a solar seawater evaporation device based on a plant-based cellulose water pipe structure that meets one or more of the above-mentioned needs, so as to achieve efficient and long-term solar seawater evaporation.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the invention, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] The solar seawater evaporation device, based on a plant-based cellulose water-transporting tubular structure, includes a base, a condensation cover, and a floating evaporation unit. The middle of the base has a positioning boss, which has a plurality of vertical sockets distributed in an array. The vertical sockets pass through the base.

[0007] The condensation cover is arranged on the base to form an evaporation chamber; the positioning frame and the floating evaporation unit are located in the evaporation chamber;

[0008] The floating evaporation unit includes several floating tubes, which are plant-based cellulose water pipe-like structures and have a light-to-heat conversion layer on the surface; wherein the floating tubes are plugged into the vertical sockets in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0009] As a preferred solution, the floating tube is made of tubular plant material.

[0010] As a preferred solution, the floating tube is a tubular body made of plants after pre-treatment and direction processing, and a natural capillary channel is formed inside to enhance the water transport capacity.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the pretreatment is alkali treatment or enzymatic treatment.

[0012] As a preferred solution, the volume of the floating tube above the water surface is more than 58%.

[0013] As a preferred solution, the floating tube is a hollow tubular structure with an outer diameter of 0.5-5 cm, a length of 5-100 cm, and a wall thickness of 1-10 mm.

[0014] As a preferred solution, the underwater end of the floating tube is an open structure or a closed structure; the closed structure has micropores, and the pore diameter of the micropores is 50-500 μm.

[0015] As a preferred solution, the surface of the floating tube is further hydrophilically modified by a cross-linking agent or plasma treatment.

[0016] As a preferred solution, the light-to-heat conversion layer is a composite of a hydrophilic material and a light-to-heat conversion material;

[0017] The hydrophilic material is a coating, hydrogel, aerogel or foam;

[0018] The photothermal conversion material is one or more of polypyrrole, graphene, carbon nanotubes, copper sulfide, and molybdenum disulfide;

[0019] The loading method is in-situ polymerization, spraying or dipping.

[0020] As a preferred solution, an exhaust valve is provided on the top of the condensation hood, and an annular water collecting tank is formed between the bottom of the condensation hood, the base and the positioning boss.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] (1) The floating tube of the present invention is a plant-based cellulose water pipe-like structure. Its porous properties enhance the water transfer efficiency. At the same time, it is combined with photothermal conversion materials to convert solar energy into thermal energy, significantly improving the evaporation rate. When sunlight shines on the surface of the floating tube, the surface photothermal conversion effect converts light energy into thermal energy. Salt gradually deposits on the floating tube as the evaporation process progresses. The surface salt deposits are automatically and dynamically removed by the synergistic effects of gravity sliding and water flow flushing, breaking through the technical bottleneck of salt blockage and achieving self-recovery of the evaporation process and continuous evaporation of seawater.

[0023] (2) The seawater evaporation device of the present invention has a simple structure, low cost, and can be produced on a large scale. It is not restricted by geographical and climatic conditions and truly achieves long-term and stable seawater evaporation. The present invention uses solar energy as an energy source and utilizes its natural advantages such as universality, cleanliness, and economy to achieve efficient seawater evaporation.

[0024] (3) The present invention uses natural cellulose materials as raw materials and utilizes the advantages of sustainability, infinity, and economy to achieve high-value utilization of resources, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a solar seawater evaporation device according to Example 1 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the positioning and distribution of floating tubes in a grid structure according to Example 1 of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the principle of evaporation and self-cleaning of the floating tube in seawater according to Example 1 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings and other embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings without inventive efforts.

[0029] Example 1:

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the solar seawater evaporation device based on the plant-based cellulose water pipe structure of this embodiment includes a base 1, a condensation cover 2, a floating pipe 3, an annular water collecting tank 4 and a micro exhaust valve 5.

[0031] Specifically, the middle portion of the base 1 has a positioning boss 11, such as Figure 2 As shown, the positioning boss 11 is a grid structure with a plurality of vertical sockets 110 distributed in an array. The vertical sockets 110 pass through the base 1 so that seawater can enter the vertical sockets. The positioning boss 11 is made of a transparent material or a hollow structure so as not to affect the floating tube's absorption of sunlight.

[0032] The floating tubes 3 of this embodiment are plugged into the vertical sockets 110 in a one-to-one correspondence to form a floating evaporation unit. The floating tubes 3 are plant-based cellulose water-transport tubular structures with a photothermal conversion layer on the surface. This embodiment extracts cellulose from plant-based materials and shapes the tubular structure to give them both water-transporting functions and buoyancy performance. Furthermore, the system combines efficient photothermal materials with a condensation collection structure to achieve efficient desalination and evaporation of seawater.

[0033] Specifically, the body of the floating tube 3 is made of tubular plant core material that has been physically treated and modified with microporous foaming. After degumming and dewaxing, the raw material retains its natural conduit structure and is mechanically expanded into a porous cylindrical shape to serve as the water transport body. This embodiment utilizes the natural conduits of the plant's tubular stems to form a through-type capillary channel, which can continuously absorb and transport seawater from the bottom water body to the evaporation surface at the top of the tube; Figure 3 As shown, when sunlight shines on the surface of the floating tube, the surface photothermal conversion effect converts light energy into heat energy. Salt gradually deposits on the device as it evaporates, forming salt crystals6. The surface salt deposits are automatically and dynamically removed through the synergistic effects of gravity and water flow, achieving self-recovery of the evaporation process and continuous seawater evaporation. Furthermore, in open sea applications, natural waves can enhance scouring efficiency.

[0034] The outer wall of the tube body of this embodiment is covered with a layer of photothermal composite material coating. The composite layer is formed by spraying and coating a composite obtained by blending nanocellulose, long-chain alkyl and amphiphilic fillers. It not only enhances the capillary water absorption capacity of the tubular wall, but also provides a certain mechanical stability. In addition, this layer of material has good biodegradability, ensuring that it is harmless to the environment in long-term marine applications. Specifically, the outer surface of the tube structure is further coated with a photothermal conversion layer 30, which is a composite of a hydrophilic material and a photothermal conversion material; wherein the hydrophilic material is a coating, a hydrogel, an aerogel or a foam; the photothermal conversion material is one or more of polypyrrole, graphene, carbon nanotubes, copper sulfide, and molybdenum disulfide; and the loading method is in-situ polymerization, spraying or dipping. More specifically, this embodiment uses a polypyrrole-polydopamine (PPy-PDA) composite material, which is formed by interfacial self-assembly deposition and has a thickness controlled within about 0.5 mm; the photothermal conversion layer has high light absorption rate and good photothermal conversion efficiency, can heat up rapidly under sunlight, and efficiently evaporates the moisture adsorbed to the surface.

[0035] The floating tube 3 is a hollow tubular structure with an outer diameter of 0.5-5 cm, a length of 5-100 cm, and a wall thickness of 1-10 mm. The volume of the floating tube above the sea surface is guaranteed to be above 58%.

[0036] Both ends of the floating tube 3 of this embodiment are open structures.

[0037] The condensation hood 2 of this embodiment is a hemispherical structure and is made of a transparent material, and the material selected is transparent polycarbonate; the condensation hood 2 is covered on the base 1 to form an evaporation chamber Q; the positioning boss and the floating evaporation unit are located in the evaporation chamber; the inner wall of the condensation hood 2 is sprayed with a nano-scale hydrophobic coating to prevent the adhesion of condensed water and improve the efficiency of water droplet aggregation and sliding; the condensed water slides along the curved surface of the hemispherical structure of the condensation hood to the annular water collection tank 4 at the bottom, and is discharged to the peripheral water storage device through the guide pipe; wherein, an annular water collection tank 4 is formed between the bottom of the condensation hood 2 and the base 1 and the positioning boss 11.

[0038] In addition, in order to improve the condensation efficiency, a micro exhaust valve 5 is provided on the top of the condensation hood 2 to balance the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the condensation hood and avoid deformation of the condensation hood body.

[0039] The solar seawater evaporation device of this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0040] 1. Use the natural plant duct structure to build capillary water channels to achieve self-absorption without pumping;

[0041] 2. The surface is coated with biodegradable photothermal materials to effectively improve the photothermal conversion efficiency;

[0042] 3. Modular design, multiple devices can be connected through the base to form a desalination array, which can meet the needs of large-area layout.

[0043] Example 2:

[0044] The solar seawater evaporation device of this embodiment differs from that of embodiment 1 in that:

[0045] The end of the floating tube is sealed and micropores are opened with a pore size of 50-500μm, which are used for evaporation of high-concentration salt water, effectively delaying salt blockage and meeting the needs of different applications;

[0046] The closed-end design of the floating tube and integrated micropore control limit the flow rate of highly concentrated brine, achieving dynamic salt balance at the evaporation interface. This optimized design effectively reduces the probability of salt crystal accumulation and is suitable for treating high-salinity water with a TDS greater than 50g / L.

[0047] For other structures, please refer to Example 1.

[0048] Example 3:

[0049] The solar seawater evaporation device of this embodiment differs from that of embodiment 1 in that:

[0050] Expand the material system of the photothermal functional layer based on Example 1; select conductive polymer materials such as polypyrrole and polyaniline for the photothermal conversion medium, or form a multi-component composite system with two-dimensional nanomaterials (such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide), metal-based materials (aluminum-based alloys), and semiconductor compounds (titanium dioxide and copper sulfide). Select a single-component or multi-component collaborative solution based on the spectral absorption requirements of the target application scenario (such as the proportion of visible light / near-infrared bands), corrosion resistance requirements, and cost budget;

[0051] For other structures, please refer to Example 1.

[0052] Example 4:

[0053] The solar seawater evaporation device of this embodiment differs from that of embodiment 1 in that:

[0054] The floating tube is a tubular body made of plants that has been pre-treated and processed into a directional shape. Natural capillary channels are formed inside to enhance water transport capacity. The pre-treatment is alkaline treatment or enzymatic treatment to enhance its porosity and hydrophilicity.

[0055] For other structures, please refer to Example 1.

[0056] Example 5:

[0057] The solar seawater evaporation device of this embodiment differs from that of embodiment 1 in that:

[0058] The surface of the floating tube is also hydrophilically modified by cross-linking agents or plasma treatment, which is beneficial to improving evaporation efficiency;

[0059] For other structures, please refer to Example 1.

[0060] The solar seawater evaporation device of the present invention uses solar energy, which is clean, widely applicable, renewable and low-cost, as its driving energy, and achieves efficient seawater evaporation by means of the directional water transport and photothermal conversion effect of the tubular structure; the preparation process uses natural biomass fiber raw materials, the process is simple, economical, and meets the requirements of mass production; through the synergistic effect of the micropore control system at the end of the tube body and the multi-level water transfer matrix, relying on the fluid mechanics scouring effect and the law of material gravity migration, salt crystals are automatically removed, without the need for additional energy input or manual maintenance, to ensure the long-term and stable operation of the evaporation system.

[0061] The above description is only a detailed description of the preferred embodiments and principles of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, based on the ideas provided by the present invention, there may be changes in the specific implementation methods, and these changes should also be considered as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A solar seawater evaporation device based on a plant-based cellulose water pipe structure, characterized in that: It includes a base, a condensation cover and a floating evaporation unit. The middle of the base is provided with a positioning boss, and the positioning boss has a plurality of vertical sockets distributed in an array. The vertical sockets pass through the base. The condensation cover is arranged on the base to form an evaporation chamber; the positioning frame and the floating evaporation unit are located in the evaporation chamber; The floating evaporation unit includes several floating tubes, which are plant-based cellulose water pipe-like structures and have a light-to-heat conversion layer on the surface; wherein the floating tubes are plugged into the vertical sockets in a one-to-one correspondence.

2. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating tube is made of tubular plant material.

3. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating tube is a tubular body made of plants after pre-treatment and direction processing, and a natural capillary channel is formed inside to enhance the water transport capacity.

4. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pretreatment is alkali treatment or enzymatic treatment.

5. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volume of the floating tube on the water surface is more than 58%.

6. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floating tube is a hollow tubular structure with an outer diameter of 0.5-5 cm, a length of 5-100 cm, and a wall thickness of 1-10 mm.

7. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The underwater end of the floating tube is an open structure or a closed structure; the closed structure has micropores, and the pore diameter of the micropores is 50-500 μm.

8. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the floating tube is also hydrophilically modified by a cross-linking agent or plasma treatment.

9. The solar seawater evaporation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light-to-heat conversion layer is made of a composite of a hydrophilic material and a light-to-heat conversion material; The hydrophilic material is a coating, hydrogel, aerogel or foam; The photothermal conversion material is one or more of polypyrrole, graphene, carbon nanotubes, copper sulfide, and molybdenum disulfide; The loading method is in-situ polymerization, spraying or dipping.

10. The solar seawater evaporation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: An exhaust valve is provided on the top of the condensation hood, and an annular water collecting tank is formed between the bottom of the condensation hood, the base and the positioning boss.

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