Hydrophilic-hydrophobic composite fog water collection device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of hydrophilic and hydrophobic composite fog water collecting device and method, belong to fog water collection field, the device includes high voltage electrode, ground net capture system and water collecting tank;Considering that the occurrence and intensity of fog often exist random fluctuation, ground net capture system includes "hydrophilic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic" composite structure and rotating module, rotating module can flexibly rotate the orientation of composite structure to capture charged fog droplets, can realize effective collection in different fog direction in wide fog concentration range, realize the feasibility of fog water collection under thin fog, improve the efficiency of fog water collection under thick fog, while meeting the multidirectionality of fog water collection incoming direction.To broaden the fog concentration range of fog water collection, reduce the sensitivity of collection efficiency to the incoming direction of fog, realize wide-spectrum, multidirectional and flexible collection of fog.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of mist collection, and more specifically, relates to a hydrophilic-hydrophobic composite mist collection device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Fog contains a large number of suspended water droplets and ice crystals, and its efficient collection has significant economic and social value in alleviating water shortages in arid and semi-arid regions. Traditional fog collection relies on the inertial collisions between fog droplets and the collector, resulting in low efficiency. Chemical modification of the collector surface is one of the ideal solutions to improve fog collection efficiency. Incorporating polyvinylidene fluoride fibers into fog nets and preparing patterned biomimetic Janus membranes can improve water collection performance. However, these optimization methods are very sensitive to the direction and size of the fog flow, and only operate efficiently under specific fog flow directions and high fog concentration conditions, limiting the widespread application of fog collection technology. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned defects or improvement needs of the existing technology, the present invention provides a hydrophilic-hydrophobic composite mist collection device and method, which can broaden the range of mist concentration for collection, while reducing the sensitivity of collection efficiency to the direction of mist flow, and realize broad-spectrum, multi-directional and flexible collection of mist.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a hydrophilic-hydrophobic composite mist collection device is provided, comprising:

[0005] High-voltage electrodes are used to ionize air to generate positive and negative ions, thus charging droplets in the ambient mist.

[0006] A ground-grid capture system includes a composite ground electrode and a rotating module. The composite ground electrode comprises an outer hydrophilic ground electrode, an inner hydrophilic ground electrode, and an outer hydrophobic ground electrode arranged sequentially. These electrodes are positioned parallel to a high-voltage electrode in the direction of the ambient fog flow, thereby forming a spatial electric field to capture charged droplets driven to the vicinity of the composite ground electrode under the influence of the spatial electric field. The rotating module is used to rotate the composite ground electrode when the ambient fog moisture content is higher than a first threshold, so that the outer hydrophobic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the fog flow; and to rotate the composite ground electrode when the ambient fog moisture content is lower than the first threshold, so that the outer hydrophilic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the fog flow.

[0007] A water collection tank is used to collect droplets that slide off the mist net.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for collecting mist is provided, applied to the apparatus as described in the first aspect, comprising:

[0009] S1, apply a DC high voltage to the high voltage electrode to discharge and ionize the air, so as to charge the droplets in the fog flow;

[0010] S2, when the water content of the ambient fog is higher than the first threshold value, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite electrode, so that the outer layer hydrophobic electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the incoming fog flow, so that the ambient fog first passes through the dense fog collection zone formed between the inner layer hydrophilic electrode and the outer layer hydrophobic electrode; when the water content of the ambient fog is lower than the first threshold value, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite electrode, so that the outer layer hydrophilic electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the incoming fog flow, so that the ambient fog first passes through the thin fog collection zone formed between the outer layer hydrophilic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic electrode;

[0011] S3, continuously monitor the water content of the ambient fog, and cycle step S2 until the water content of the fog is less than the second threshold value.

[0012] Overall, compared with the prior art, the above technical solutions conceived by the present application can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. The device provided by the present application has hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, which can widen the fog concentration range of fog water collection, reduce the sensitivity of collection efficiency to the direction of the incoming fog flow, and realize wide-spectrum, multi-directional and flexible collection of fog.

[0014] 2. The "hydrophilic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic" electrode composite structure provided by the present application aims to achieve efficient fog water collection in a wide range of fog concentrations. In a thin fog environment, the "hydrophilic-hydrophilic" structure realizes multiple collection of fog droplets, improving the fog water collection efficiency; in a dense fog environment, the "hydrophobic-hydrophilic" structure realizes the cross-layer directional transport of condensed fog droplets, accelerating the collection rate.

[0015] 3. The fog water collection device provided by the present application has low manufacturing cost and flexible structure of the mesh collection system, which can increase or decrease the number of mesh layers according to actual needs. It is not only suitable for the field of fog water collection, but also can be used for the recycling of industrial wastewater and steam, and has the potential for large-scale commercial application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 The structure diagram of the efficient fog water collection device with hydrophilic and hydrophobic multi-layer composite provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 The principle diagram (top view) of the "hydrophilic-hydrophilic" structure for strengthening fog water collection in a thin fog environment provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 3 The principle diagram (top view) of the "hydrophobic-hydrophilic" structure for strengthening fog water collection in a dense fog environment provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0019] In all the drawings, the same reference signs are used to indicate the same elements or structures, wherein: 1-high voltage electrode, 2-direct current power supply, 3-outer layer hydrophilic mist net, 4-inner layer hydrophilic mist net, 5-outer layer hydrophobic mist net, 6-connector, 7-water collecting tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and should not be used to limit the present application. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0021] The embodiment of the present application provides a kind of hydrophobic composite mist water collecting device, including:

[0022] High voltage electrode is used to ionize air to generate positive and negative ions, so that the liquid droplets in the ambient mist flow are charged.

[0023] Specifically, the high voltage electrode is connected with the direct current power supply, for ionizing air to generate a large number of positive and negative ions, so that the liquid droplets in the mist flow are charged.

[0024] Preferably, the high voltage electrode surface is attached with metal nanoparticles.

[0025] Specifically, the high voltage electrode surface is attached with tungsten or other metal nanoparticles, so that the corona discharge performance is enhanced, and higher electric field strength and more positive and negative ions are generated.

[0026] Preferably, the high voltage electrode is a wire electrode, a mesh electrode, a needle electrode or a blade electrode.

[0027] The high voltage electrode includes but is not limited to a needle electrode, a wire electrode, a mesh electrode or a blade electrode, etc.

[0028] The ground capture system includes a composite ground electrode and a rotating module; the composite ground electrode includes an outer layer hydrophilic ground electrode, an inner layer hydrophilic ground electrode and an outer layer hydrophobic ground electrode arranged in sequence, and is arranged in parallel with the high voltage electrode in the direction of the ambient mist flow to form a space electric field with the high voltage electrode, so as to capture the charged liquid droplets driven to the vicinity of the composite ground electrode under the action of the space electric field; the rotating module is used to rotate the composite ground electrode when the water content of the ambient mist is higher than a first threshold value, so that the outer layer hydrophobic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the mist flow direction, and rotate the composite ground electrode when the water content of the ambient mist is lower than the first threshold value, so that the outer layer hydrophilic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the mist flow direction.

[0029] The water collecting tank is used to collect the liquid droplets sliding off the mist net.

[0030] Specifically, the high-voltage electrode and the "hydrophilic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic" composite structure (i.e., the composite electrode) are arranged in parallel in the direction of the mist flow, so as to form a space electric field between the two, and the composite electrode is used to capture the charged droplets that move directionally to the vicinity of the ground net under the action of the electric field, thereby realizing high-efficiency collection in a wide range of mist concentration.

[0031] The rotating connecting module is connected with the composite structure and is used to flexibly rotate the orientation of the composite structure; and the surface of the water collecting tank is subjected to hydrophobic treatment and is used to collect the droplets that slide from the mist net.

[0032] Preferably, the contact angle of the outer layer hydrophilic electrode ranges from 5° to 60°, and the contact angle of the outer layer hydrophobic electrode ranges from 120° to 160°.

[0033] Preferably, each ground electrode is a wire electrode, a mesh electrode, a cylinder electrode or a plate electrode.

[0034] Preferably, the outer layer hydrophilic electrode, the inner layer hydrophilic electrode and the outer layer hydrophobic electrode are connected through a connecting piece, and the rotating module drives the composite electrode to rotate by rotating the connecting piece.

[0035] Specifically, the outer layer hydrophilic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic electrode are both subjected to hydrophilic treatment, and the outer layer hydrophobic electrode is subjected to hydrophobic treatment; the outer layer hydrophilic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic mist net constitute a thin mist collection area, and the outer layer hydrophobic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic electrode constitute a thick mist collection area; and each ground electrode is well grounded.

[0036] The embodiment of the present application provides a mist water collection method, which is applied to the device as described in any of the above embodiments and comprises the following steps.

[0037] S1, a direct current high voltage is applied to the high-voltage electrode to make it discharge and ionize air, so as to charge the mist droplets in the mist flow;

[0038] S2, when the water content of the environment mist is higher than a first threshold value, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite electrode, so that the outer layer hydrophobic electrode becomes the first layer in the direction of the mist flow, so that the environment mist first passes through the thick mist collection area formed between the outer layer hydrophobic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic electrode; when the water content of the environment mist is lower than the first threshold value, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite electrode, so that the outer layer hydrophilic electrode becomes the first layer in the direction of the mist flow, so that the environment mist first passes through the thin mist collection area formed between the outer layer hydrophilic electrode and the inner layer hydrophilic electrode.

[0039] Specifically, the fog concentration range is characterized by the water content in the fog, when the water content in the ambient fog is higher than a preset water content threshold of the fog, the direction of the ground net collecting system is adjusted by the rotating module, so that the outer layer hydrophobic electrode becomes the first layer in the direction of the incoming flow of the fog, and the fog first passes through the thick fog collecting area; when the water content in the ambient fog is lower than the preset water content threshold of the fog, the outer layer hydrophilic electrode becomes the first layer in the direction of the incoming flow of the fog, and the fog first passes through the thin fog collecting area.

[0040] S3, continuously monitoring the water content in the ambient fog, and circulating step S2 until the water content in the fog is less than the second threshold.

[0041] In the following, the device and method provided by the present application are further described by taking the high-voltage electrode, the outer layer hydrophilic electrode, the inner layer hydrophilic electrode, and the outer layer hydrophobic electrode as wire electrodes as an example.

[0042] As shown in Figure 1 , the high-voltage discharge system includes a high-voltage electrode 1 and a direct current power supply 2;

[0043] The high-voltage electrode 1 is attached with metal nanoparticles such as tungsten, so that the corona discharge performance is enhanced, a higher electric field strength and more positive and negative ions are generated; the high-voltage electrode 1 is connected with the direct current power supply 2; the direct current power supply 2 is continuously adjustable within 0-50kV, and the power supply is stable; the high-voltage electrode 1 is a wire electrode, specifically a stainless steel wire with a diameter of 0.1-1mm arranged at an interval of 4cm; it should be noted that the description herein is only one preferred embodiment of the present application, and should not be understood as the only limitation of the present application, and the high-voltage electrode can also use other structures such as needle electrode, mesh electrode, and blade electrode.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the ground net collecting system includes an outer layer hydrophilic fog net 3, an inner layer hydrophilic fog net 4, and an outer layer hydrophobic fog net 5;

[0045] The outer layer hydrophilic fog net 3 and the inner layer hydrophilic fog net 4 are both hydrophilic treated, with a contact angle range of 5°-60°, and the outer layer hydrophobic fog net 5 is hydrophobic treated, with a contact angle range of 120°-160°; the outer layer hydrophilic fog net 3 and the inner layer hydrophilic fog net 4 form a thin fog collecting area, and the outer layer hydrophobic fog net 5 and the inner layer hydrophilic fog net 4 form a thick fog collecting area; the fog nets are all well grounded; the electrode structure of the fog nets is a wire electrode, specifically a stainless steel wire with a diameter of 2-4mm arranged at an interval of 2mm; it should be noted that the description herein is only one preferred embodiment of the present application, and should not be understood as the only limitation of the present application, and the electrode structure of the fog nets can also use other structures such as mesh electrode, cylinder electrode, and plate electrode.

[0046] The fog water collection is a comprehensive embodiment of the fog droplet capturing capacity and the condensed water conveying capacity, the hydrophilic strengthening enhances the fog droplet capturing capacity, and the hydrophobic strengthening enhances the condensed water conveying capacity. Figure 2is the principle diagram of "hydrophilic-hydrophilic" structure strengthening fog water collection in thin fog environment, and the thin fog environment specifically refers to the fog water content of 0.001-0.01 g / m 3 At this time, the fog droplet capturing capacity is dominant, and the double-layer hydrophilic structure increases the capturing probability of the fog droplets. Figure 3 is the principle diagram of "hydrophobic-hydrophilic" structure strengthening fog water collection in thick fog environment, and the thick fog environment specifically refers to the fog water content of 0.01-1 g / m 3 At this time, the condensate conveying capacity is dominant, and the difference in wettability between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic provides the power for the directional transport of the fog droplets, and accelerates the working efficiency of the outer hydrophobic fog net and the inner hydrophilic fog net.

[0047] The fog water collection method comprises the following steps:

[0048] S1. A direct current high voltage is applied to the high voltage electrode 1 to cause corona discharge, so that the fog droplets are charged.

[0049] S2. The fog concentration range is characterized by the fog water content, when the environmental fog water content is higher than the preset fog water content threshold, the rotating module (such as a rotating motor) adjusts the direction of the composite electrode through the rotating connecting piece 6, so that the outer hydrophobic fog net 5 becomes the first layer in the direction of the fog flow, and the fog first passes through the thick fog collection area; when the environmental fog water content is lower than the preset fog water content threshold, the outer hydrophilic fog net 3 becomes the first layer in the direction of the fog flow, and the fog first passes through the thin fog collection area.

[0050] S3. Continuously monitor the environmental fog water content, and cycle process S2, when the fog dissipates, i.e. the fog water content is less than 0.001 g / m3, the operation is ended.

[0051] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and is not used to limit the present application, and any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A hydrophilic-hydrophobic composite mist collection device, characterized in that, include: High-voltage electrodes are used to ionize air to generate positive and negative ions, thus charging droplets in the ambient mist. The grounding grid capture system includes a composite ground electrode and a rotating module; The composite ground electrode comprises an outer hydrophilic ground electrode, an inner hydrophilic ground electrode, and an outer hydrophobic ground electrode arranged sequentially. It is positioned parallel to the high-voltage electrode in the direction of the ambient fog flow, thereby forming a spatial electric field with the high-voltage electrode to capture charged droplets driven to the vicinity of the composite ground electrode under the influence of the spatial electric field. The rotating module is used to rotate the composite ground electrode when the ambient fog moisture content is higher than a first threshold, so that the outer hydrophobic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the fog flow; and to rotate the composite ground electrode when the ambient fog moisture content is lower than the first threshold, so that the outer hydrophilic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of the fog flow. A water collection tank is used to collect droplets that slide off the mist net.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The electrodes in different regions are wire electrodes, mesh electrodes, cylindrical electrodes, or plate electrodes.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The outer hydrophilic ground electrode, the inner hydrophilic ground electrode, and the outer hydrophobic ground electrode are connected by a connector, and the rotating module drives the composite ground electrode to rotate by rotating the connector.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, Metal nanoparticles are attached to the surface of the high-voltage electrode.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The high-voltage electrode is a wire electrode, mesh electrode, needle electrode, or blade electrode.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The contact angle of the outer hydrophilic ground electrode ranges from 5° to 60°, and the contact angle of the outer hydrophobic ground electrode ranges from 120° to 160°.

7. A method for collecting mist, applied to the apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, include: S1, apply a DC high voltage to the high voltage electrode to discharge and ionize the air, so as to charge the droplets in the fog flow; S2, When the moisture content of the ambient fog is higher than the first threshold, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite ground electrode so that the outer hydrophobic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of fog flow, so that the ambient fog first passes through the dense fog collection area formed between the inner hydrophilic ground electrode and the outer hydrophobic ground electrode; when the moisture content of the ambient fog is lower than the first threshold, the rotating module adjusts the direction of the composite ground electrode so that the outer hydrophilic ground electrode becomes the first layer facing the direction of fog flow, so that the ambient fog first passes through the thin fog collection area formed between the outer hydrophilic ground electrode and the inner hydrophilic ground electrode; S3, continuously monitor the moisture content of the ambient fog, repeat step S2, until the moisture content of the fog is less than the second threshold.

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