Hybrid system, device and manufacturing method for simultaneous power generation and water production

Abstract

A hybrid system for power generation and water production is provided, which includes a thermoelectric generator (TEG) layer for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, an absorption layer arranged on one side of the TEG layer for converting solar energy into thermal energy, a heat-conducting structure arranged on the other side of the TEG layer for conducting waste heat of the TEG layer, and an evaporator configured to form an interface cooling zone with the heat-conducting structure for water production. The evaporator is composed of a porous polymer. The heat-conducting structure is arranged at the cold end of the thermoelectric generator layer and is composed of a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure is inserted into the evaporator to form a large interface contact, thereby increasing the range of the interface cooling zone. The present invention proposes a passive interfacial cooling (PIC) strategy for efficient, durable and applicable freshwater power generation. The heat-conducting structure and its engineering design with the evaporator enhance the energy exchange between the power generation module and the water production module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for the co-generation of hydropower. In particular, the present invention provides a hybrid system for generating electricity and water, a passively cooled induced co-generation device including the hybrid system, and a method for manufacturing the hybrid system. Background Art

[0002] Freshwater and energy are two intertwined fundamental elements of human civilization and sustainable development. As the most inexhaustible and environmentally friendly energy source, solar energy offers a promising avenue for producing green electricity and clean water, attracting significant attention.

[0003] Thanks to intensive research in recent years, a range of hydroelectric cogeneration generators have been developed to provide renewable, decentralized, clean hydropower. These strategies can be categorized into two types: i) Utilizing evaporation to induce water / ion flow for power generation. During water evaporation, voltage can be extracted from salinity gradients or interactions between water molecules and functional groups on power-generating materials (e.g., carbon materials). However, power generation performance varies significantly across different liquids, suggesting a lack of versatility in practical water purification applications (e.g., removal of heavy metal ions and organic pollutants). ii) Utilizing the heat of water evaporation for power generation. By storing and recycling steam enthalpy, a group of researchers achieved a thermal power generation output of 292.9 W / m2 under 30 kW / m2 solar irrigation [“Storage and recycling of interfacial solar steam enthalpy,” Joule 2.11 (2018): 2477-2484, Xiuqiang Li et al.]. Another group of researchers developed a hybrid device that simultaneously produces clean water and electricity by attaching an interfacial solar water evaporator (SWE) above the surface of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) ["Shape-Conformal and Thermally Insulating Organic Solar Absorber Sponge for Photothermal Water Evaporation and Thermoelectric Generation," Advanced Energy Materials, 9.22 (2019): 1900-250, Liang-Liang Zhu, et al.]. However, salt contamination and long-term process requirements of the hybrid system should be considered. During continuous desalination, precipitated salt not only affects solar absorption and reduces evaporation rates but also negatively impacts the life of the solar evaporator. Furthermore, with long-term operation, the temperature rise of the water at the bottom of the TEG leads to a decrease in the temperature difference between the two sides of the TEG module, resulting in a sharp decline in power generation performance and ultimately system shutdown. Furthermore, most, if not all, previous cogeneration systems typically use a transparent cover above the solar evaporator to condense water vapor, which results in high optical losses (up to 35%) and low condensation efficiency. Consequently, the overall efficiency of solar water collection and power generation is significantly reduced. Therefore, research on advanced thermal management strategies and structures that can promote efficient hydropower generation while maintaining long-term stability and wide practical application adaptability is key to the design of next-generation solar-hydropower cogeneration devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid system for power generation and water production is provided. The hybrid system includes a TEG layer for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, an absorption layer arranged on one side of the TEG layer for converting solar energy into thermal energy, a thermally conductive structure arranged on the other side of the TEG layer for dissipating waste heat from the TEG layer, and an evaporator configured to form an interfacial cooling zone with the thermally conductive structure to produce water. The evaporator is composed of a porous polymer. The thermally conductive structure is arranged at the cold end of the thermoelectric generator layer and is composed of a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure is inserted into the evaporator to form a large interfacial contact, thereby increasing the range of the interfacial cooling zone.

[0005] In some embodiments, a thermally conductive structure may be disposed on a lower surface of the TEG layer.

[0006] In some embodiments, the thermally conductive structure may include two or more plates extending toward the evaporator to provide an interfacial cooling zone.

[0007] In some embodiments, the two or more plates may comprise metal plates.

[0008] In some embodiments, the thermally conductive structure may include copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, stainless steel, or mixtures thereof.

[0009] In some embodiments, each of the two or more metal plates may have a thickness of approximately 50 μm to 1500 μm.

[0010] In some embodiments, the evaporator may include a base member, and a contact member on the base member, the contact member being configured to receive the two or more plates.

[0011] In some embodiments, the contact portion may include two or more posts corresponding to the two or more metal plates, and the two or more metal plates may be configured to be inserted into the two or more posts, respectively.

[0012] In some embodiments, the porous polymer has a porosity of about 50% to about 90%.

[0013] In some embodiments, the absorber layer may include a photothermal material that converts solar energy into thermal energy, and a polymer matrix that attaches the photothermal material to the TEG layer.

[0014] In some embodiments, the photothermal material may include carbon nanotubes, carbon black, carbon nanodots, graphene, MXenes, PPy, or mixtures thereof.

[0015] In some embodiments, the polymer matrix can include polyurethane, cellulose, alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, PDMS, or mixtures thereof.

[0016] In some embodiments, an absorber layer may be disposed on an upper surface of the TEG layer.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, an inverted passively cooled induced cogeneration (PICG) device is provided. The inverted PICG device comprises a PICG module having the aforementioned mixing system, a water supply channel for supplying impure water to the mixing system, a cooling box configured to surround the PICG module and for condensing water vapor generated from the mixing system of the PICG module, a water collection member for collecting condensed water vapor from the cooling box, and an enclosed chamber for floating the device on the surface of impure water.

[0018] In some embodiments, the generated water vapor may condense on the side walls of the cooling box.

[0019] In some embodiments, the absorbent layer of the hybrid system may be exposed above the top surface of the cooling box.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a hybrid power and water production system is provided. The method includes preparing an evaporator, providing a TEG layer, coating an absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer, attaching a thermally conductive structure to the other side of the TEG layer, and assembling the TEG layer with the absorber layer and the thermally conductive structure with the evaporator, such that the thermally conductive structure contacts the evaporator to form an interfacial cooling zone.

[0021] In some embodiments, the preparation of the evaporator may include a directional freezing process and a freeze drying process.

[0022] In some embodiments, the directional freezing process can be carried out at a directional freezing rate of 0.5°C / min, 1°C / min, 2°C / min, 3°C / min, 4°C / min, 5°C / min, 6°C / min, 7°C / min, 8°C / min, 9°C / min, 10°C / min, or any point value within the range consisting of paired combinations of these point values.

[0023] In some embodiments, the absorber layer may include a photothermal material and a polymer matrix, and coating the absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer may include adhering the absorber layer to the TEG layer using the polymer matrix.

[0024] In some embodiments, coating the absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer may further include curing the polymer matrix at 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, or any point within a range consisting of paired combinations of these points.

[0025] In some embodiments, the thermally conductive structure may include two or more plates, the evaporator may include a contact component having two or more columns corresponding to the two or more metal plates, and assembling the TEG layer with the absorption layer and the thermally conductive structure with the evaporator may include inserting the two or more metal plates into the two or more columns, respectively, to provide an interface cooling area.

[0026] Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description, accompanying drawings, and claims.

[0027] Before explaining any of the individual structures of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the structural details and component arrangements described in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The present invention may also have other individual structures and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the phrases and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0028] As used herein, "including" and "consisting of" and variations thereof are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. As used herein, "consisting of" and variations thereof refer only to the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description.The following description is made by way of example only with reference to the following drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hybrid system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of heat flow during operation of a hybrid system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 Optical images of a TEG according to one embodiment of the present invention are shown before and after coating with an absorber layer.

[0033] Figure 4 A SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of the interface between the absorber layer and the TEG layer according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 5 is a graph showing the reflectance spectrum of the TEG layer in the wavelength range of 300-2500 nm before and after coating with the absorber layer.

[0035] Figure 6 The evaporator directional freezing mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention is demonstrated.

[0036] Figure 7 An SEM image of an evaporator according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0037] 8(a) and 8(b) illustrate the rapid liquid absorption of aligned channels and random channels according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 9 The water absorption performance of the evaporator over time is shown.

[0039] Figure 10 is a graph showing a cyclic compression test of an evaporator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of an inverted structure water-generating and power-generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the removal of heavy metal ions in non-drinking water.

[0042] FIG13 shows the removal of organic dyes by a PICG module according to an embodiment of the present invention, including the absorption spectra of Coomassie Brilliant Blue R and Rhodamine B before and after purification.

[0043] Figure 14 The long-term stability of the PICG module according to one embodiment of the present invention in a high-concentration saline solution (20 wt %) is shown.

[0044] Figure 15 The power generation performance of the PICG device according to one embodiment of the present invention in different solutions is shown.

[0045] Figure 16 The durability of the PICG module according to one embodiment of the present invention under different ambient conditions is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present disclosure provides a hybrid system with a passive interfacial cooling (PIC) effect for highly efficient solar-to-water power generation. Unlike the water- or heat-flow-induced power conversion discussed in the prior art, this PIC strategy utilizes multiple energy sources, including waste heat from the cold side of the TEG, latent heat from phase change, and ambient energy, contributing to efficient power generation and water production.

[0047] Certain exemplary embodiments will be described below to provide an overall understanding of the preparation, mechanism, function and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are all included within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, in the present disclosure, when like-numbered components of different embodiments have similar properties and / or similar uses, these components generally have similar features.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a hybrid system utilizing a passive interface cooling effect is provided, which can achieve efficient power generation and water production.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 The hybrid system 100 for power generation and water production includes a TEG layer 10 for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, an absorption layer 20 arranged on one side of the TEG layer 10 for converting solar energy into thermal energy, a heat-conducting structure 30 arranged on the other side of the TEG layer 10 for dissipating excess heat of the TEG layer 10, and an evaporator 40 configured to form an interface cooling zone with the heat-conducting structure 30 for water production.

[0050] The TEG layer 10 is used for power generation and can be any known or commercially available TEG layer.

[0051] The absorption layer 20 can be arranged on the upper surface of the TEG layer 10. The upper surface of the TEG layer 10 can be the so-called hot side of the TEG layer 10. The absorption layer 20 converts solar energy into thermal energy as the main energy input of the hybrid system 100. For example, the TEG layer 10 can be covered by the absorption layer 20 (i.e., a polymer film for significant photothermal conversion). The absorption layer 20 may include a photothermal material that converts solar energy into thermal energy and a polymer matrix that attaches the photothermal material to the TEG layer 10. The polymer matrix is ​​used to attach the photothermal material to the TEG layer 10 and form a protective layer. The polymer film may include the photothermal material.

[0052] Photothermal materials include, but are not limited to, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, carbon nanodots, graphene, MXenes, polypyrrole (PPy), or mixtures thereof. The mass percentage of the photothermal material in the absorber layer 20 is 1% to 20%. For example, the mass percentage of the photothermal material in the absorber layer 20 can be 1%, 3%, 5%, 15%, 20%, or any value within a range consisting of paired combinations of these values, provided that the sum of the mass percentages of the components in the absorber layer 20 is 100%.

[0053] The polymer matrix in the absorbent layer 20 can be a polymer including, but not limited to, polyurethane, cellulose, alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), or mixtures thereof.

[0054] In one embodiment, the absorbent layer 20 has a thickness of about 50 μm to about 1000 μm. For example, the absorbent layer 20 may have a thickness of 50 μm, 100 μm, 200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm, 500 μm, 600 μm, 700 μm, 800 μm, 900 μm, or 1000 μm.

[0055] The heat conducting structure 30 is used to dissipate waste heat from the TEG layer 10 to the evaporator 40 to produce fresh water. The heat conducting structure 30 is arranged on the lower surface of the TEG layer 10. That is, the heat conducting structure 30 can be connected to the so-called cold side of the TEG layer 10 to quickly conduct heat. Figure 1 As shown, the thermally conductive structure 30 includes a base plate attached to the cold side of the TEG layer 10, and two or more plates 30E extending toward the evaporator 40 to provide an interfacial cooling area. The thermally conductive structure 30 having the base plate and two or more plates 30E can be referred to as a cooling fin. These plates 30E thus constitute a multi-layer structure of the thermally conductive structure in this embodiment. Figure 1 Four plates 30E are shown. The plates 30E of the thermally conductive structure 30 may be metal plates. For example, the thermally conductive structure 30 may include copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, stainless steel, or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment, each metal plate 30E has a thickness of approximately 50 μm to 1500 μm. For example, each metal plate 30E may have a thickness of 50 μm, 100 μm, 200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm, 500 μm, 600 μm, 700 μm, 800 μm, 900 μm, 1000 μm, or 2000 μm.

[0056] The evaporator 40 is used to generate water vapor and further dissipate heat through water evaporation. Energy absorbed from the surrounding is also used for evaporation. The evaporator 40 may include a sponge prepared by directional freezing (DF sponge). The evaporator 40 may include a base portion 40A and a contact portion 40B to provide an interface cooling area with the heat conductive structure 30. The contact portion 40B may include two or more columns corresponding to the two or more metal plates 30E of the heat conductive structure 30. Figure 1 As shown, the contact portion 40B, comprising two or more pillars, may be in a "trident" shape. This shape can be produced through methods such as directional freezing. The thermally conductive structure 30 is inserted into the evaporator 40 to form an interface region. Specifically, the two or more metal plates 30E of the thermally conductive structure 30 are configured to be inserted into two or more pillars of the contact portion 40B, respectively. This design can enhance passive interfacial evaporative cooling and freshwater production.

[0057] In one embodiment, the evaporator 40 may include a porous polymer. For example, the porous polymer may have a porosity of 50% to 90%. For example, the porous polymer may have a porosity of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or any value within a range consisting of paired combinations of these values.

[0058] In one embodiment, the polymer may include polyurethane, cellulose, alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), or mixtures thereof.

[0059] In one embodiment, the weight percentage of polymer in the evaporator 40 is 5%-50%. For example, the weight percentage of polymer in the evaporator 40 can be 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or any value within a range consisting of paired combinations of these values.

[0060] Figure 2 The present invention shows an embodiment of the Figure 1 Heat flow during operation of the hybrid system shown. Figure 2 , the heat flow during operation can be divided into three steps. (i) The absorption layer 20 converts sunlight (i.e., solar energy) into heat as the main energy input, and the heat flows through the TEG layer 10 to generate electricity. (ii) The heat is conducted to the evaporator 40 through the thermal conductive structure 30. Due to the engineering design of the thermal conductive structure 30 and the evaporator 40, the heat in the interface area can be effectively dissipated through the evaporation of interfacial water, thereby enhancing the passive cooling effect and water generation. The passive interfacial cooling (PIC) effect further reduces the temperature of the cold side of the TEG layer 10, thereby increasing the power generation. (iii) Heat input from the environment. The bottom of the evaporator 40, which is below room temperature, can further absorb environmental energy for freshwater power generation.

[0061] Figure 3 The optical images of the TEG layer 10 before coating the absorber layer 20 ("TEG" on the left) and after coating the absorber layer 20 (TEG, i.e., CTEG, on the right) are shown. Figure 3 As shown, after the absorption layer 20 is coated on the TEG layer 10, the color of the TEG layer 10 changes from white to black to facilitate light absorption.

[0062] Figure 4 An SEM image of the interface between the absorption layer 20 and the TEG layer 10 is shown. Figure 4 As shown, the absorption layer 20 with a thickness of about 100 μm is tightly bonded to the TEG layer 10. No gap is observed at the interface, indicating that the absorption layer 20 is tightly bonded to the TEG layer 10.

[0063] Figure 5The following graph shows the reflectance spectra of the TEG layer 10 within the 300-2500 nm wavelength range before and after coating with the absorber layer 20. As shown in the figure, the light reflectance and absorptivity of the absorber layer 20 were measured within the 300-2500 nm wavelength range. While the reflectance of the original TEG exceeds 75%, the light absorptivity of the coated TEG (CTEG) exceeds 96% across the entire solar spectrum, demonstrating the superior light absorption properties of the absorber layer 20.

[0064] As previously described, the evaporator 40 includes a contact portion 40B, such as a "trident" shaped portion, to provide an expanded interfacial cooling area with the thermally conductive structure 30. For this structure, the evaporator 40 can be prepared by directional freezing. Figure 6 The directional freezing mechanism of the evaporator 40 is demonstrated. Water supply capacity can be a key bottleneck for evaporation. In order to obtain sufficient water replenishment during the evaporation process, the evaporator 40 can be provided with neatly arranged liquid (water) channels by means of directional freezing. Directional freezing is a simple method to produce crystal clear ice by controlling the freezing direction of water. During the directional freezing process, the temperature of the freezing substrate will be below 0°C, at which point the ice will spontaneously nucleate on the freezing substrate and grow along the thermal gradient. After freeze drying, neatly arranged channels are formed in the evaporator.

[0065] Figure 7 An SEM image of an evaporator 40 fabricated by directional freezing is shown, from which it can be seen that well-aligned channels were successfully fabricated.

[0066] Figures 8(a) and 8(b) compare the rapid liquid absorption of aligned and random channels. As shown, compared to traditional random porous structures, aligned channels have lower tortuosity and stronger capillaries, resulting in higher water absorption speed and capacity.

[0067] Figure 9 The water absorption performance of the evaporator 40 changes with time. For easy observation, the water is dyed red. Figure 9 , and recorded the water absorption performance of the evaporator 40 over time. Figure 9 It can be seen that the evaporator 40 can completely absorb water in just 4 seconds, ensuring the amount of water required for evaporation.

[0068] Figure 10 The following is a graph illustrating cyclic compression testing of an evaporator 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The evaporator 40 exhibits excellent mechanical durability. The evaporator's material (e.g., polyurethane) and porous structure contribute to its improved mechanical properties. After compression exceeding 80%, the evaporator 40 rapidly recovers in water. Even after 100 cycles of loading and unloading, no significant damage was observed.

[0069] In order to promote the practical application of the above hybrid system, a prototype of an inverted structure is introduced. Figure 11 A schematic diagram of an inverted structure water-generating and power-generating device 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The inverted structure water-generating and power-generating device 200 may also be referred to as an inverted structure passively cooled induced cogeneration (PICG) device. The inverted structure PICG device 200 includes a PICG module 210, which includes the aforementioned hybrid system 100. The PICG device 200 includes a water supply channel 250 for supplying non-purified water (or non-drinking water) to the hybrid system of the PICG module 210. Non-purified water can be pumped into the evaporator of the hybrid system through the water supply channel 250. The PICG device 200 includes a cooling box 220, which is arranged around the PICG module 210 and is used to condense water vapor generated by the hybrid system of the PICG module 210. The water collecting component 230 is used to collect the condensed water vapor from the cooling box 220. The generated water vapor condenses on the side wall of the cooling box 220 and flows to the water collecting component 230. The water collected in the water collecting component 230 is pure water. The PICG device 200 includes a closed chamber 240 for providing buoyancy to keep the device 200 afloat. For example, the PICG device 200 is placed and floated on the surface of non-purified water (e.g., the sea surface). The PICG module 210 is placed inside the inverted PICG device 200. For example, the cooling box 220 surrounds the PICG module 210. In addition, as shown in FIG. Figure 11 As shown, the absorber layer of the hybrid system (PICG module 210) is exposed on the top surface of the cooling box 220. Unlike traditional solar purifiers, which typically place a transparent cover above the evaporator for vapor condensation, the inverted structure prototype described here condenses the vapor on the side wall of the cooling box 220, thus preventing the condensation process from affecting light absorption and ineffective heat transfer.

[0070] Figure 12 The removal of heavy metal ions in non-drinking water after using the inverted structure water-generating and power-generating device of the present invention is demonstrated. Figure 12 As shown in the figure, the PICG module can detect metal ions (such as Na + Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , K + 、Cu 2+ 、Ni 2+ ) removal rate exceeds 99.9%, and the purified water wells meet the drinking water standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).

[0071] Figure 13 illustrates the removal of organic dyes by a PICG module according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the absorption spectra of Coomassie Brilliant Blue R and Rhodamine B before and after purification. As shown in Figure 13 , the organic dyes were completely removed by the PICG module, demonstrating the excellent purification capabilities of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 14 The long-term stability of the PICG module according to one embodiment of the present invention in a high concentration saline solution (20 wt%) is shown. Figure 14 As shown, the long-term stability of PICG in a high-concentration saline solution (20 wt%) was also tested. Notably, even after continuous desalination for over 24 hours, the high evaporation rate, open-circuit voltage, and power density remained unchanged. According to embodiments of the present invention, due to the non-contact design between the absorber layer 20 and the evaporator 40, precipitated salt cannot reach the absorber layer 20, thereby preventing it from affecting light absorption.

[0073] Figure 15 The power generation and water production performance of the PICG device according to one embodiment of the present invention in different solutions is demonstrated. Figure 15 As shown, the PICG device has a wide range of applicability for various liquids. The evaporation rate and power density remain stable in all tested liquids, including saline solution, organic wastewater, and heavy metal solution, indicating that its stability is superior to that of traditional ion flow induction water-electric generators.

[0074] Figure 16 The figure shows the durability of the PICG module according to one embodiment of the present invention under different environmental conditions. Figure 16 As shown in the figure, a systematic study of the environmental durability of PICG modules was conducted. The results showed that even after various harsh chemical and physical treatments, the power generation and water production performance of PICG modules remained almost unchanged, highlighting their great potential for practical applications.

[0075] In summary, the present invention proposes a passive interfacial cooling (PIC) strategy for efficient, durable and applicable freshwater power generation. The heat-conducting structure and its engineering design with the evaporator enhance the energy exchange between the power generation module and the water production module. Specifically, the enlarged heat-conducting structure-evaporator interface in the present invention is conducive to the conduction of waste heat from the TEG, thereby forming a thermal interface zone (called the PIC zone). The high temperature of the PIC zone and the larger evaporator-air interface promote the evaporation of water, resulting in a higher evaporation rate. Therefore, rapid evaporation will generate a large amount of latent heat of evaporation, thereby cooling the cold side of the TEG, improving power generation performance, and reducing convection and radiation losses. In addition, the latent heat of evaporation helps to absorb energy from the environment, thereby further supporting water production.

[0076] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a hybrid power and water production system is provided. The method includes preparing an evaporator, providing a TEG layer, coating an absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer, attaching a thermally conductive structure to the other side of the TEG layer, and assembling the TEG layer with the absorber layer and the thermally conductive structure with the evaporator, such that the thermally conductive structure contacts the evaporator to form an interfacial cooling zone.

[0077] In one embodiment, the preparation of the evaporator may include a directional freezing process and a freeze drying process.

[0078] In one embodiment, the directional freezing rate of the directional freezing process is 0.5°C / min, 1°C / min, 2°C / min, 3°C / min, 4°C / min, 5°C / min, 6°C / min, 7°C / min, 8°C / min, 9°C / min, 10°C / min or any point value within the range consisting of paired combinations of these point values.

[0079] In one embodiment, the absorber layer may include a photothermal material and a polymer matrix, and coating the absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer may include adhering the absorber layer to the TEG layer using the polymer matrix.

[0080] In one embodiment, coating the absorber layer on one side of the TEG layer may further include curing the polymer matrix at 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, or any point within a range consisting of paired combinations of these points.

[0081] In one embodiment, the thermally conductive structure may include two or more plates, the evaporator may include a contact component having two or more columns corresponding to the two or more metal plates respectively, and assembling the TEG layer with the absorption layer and the thermally conductive structure with the evaporator may include inserting the two or more metal plates into the two or more columns respectively to provide an interface cooling area.

[0082] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing an inverted PICG device is provided. The method includes the steps of the above-mentioned method for manufacturing a hybrid system, and further includes providing a PICG module including the hybrid system, and assembling the PICG module with a water supply channel, a cooling tank, a water collection component, and an enclosed chamber. The cooling tank, the water collection component, and the enclosed chamber are used for water condensation, water collection, and flotation, respectively.

[0083] The embodiments and aspects of the present invention provide a passive interfacial cooling (PIC) strategy for efficient power generation and water evaporation. This PIC strategy utilizes multiple energy sources, including waste heat from the cold side of the TEG layer, latent heat from phase change, and energy from the environment. Under the irradiation of 1 sun intensity, it can achieve a power conversion efficiency of more than 2 kg / m-2 h -1 High evaporation rate and greater than 1.5Wm -2 High power density.

[0084] The water-power cogeneration device has good applicability, long-term stability and durability, and can be used to treat various wastewaters and be used in different harsh environmental conditions. The prototype of the inverted structure can condense water vapor on the side wall, thereby avoiding the impact on light absorption and ineffective heat transfer during the condensation process. The advantages of the heat and power cogeneration device include excellent solar thermal conversion performance, excellent water supply performance and significant thermal management capabilities (waste heat from the cold side of the TEG, phase change latent heat and energy from the environment), which can simultaneously increase power generation and fresh water production. In addition, from the perspective of practical application, the applicability, long-term stability and durability of PICG have also been verified. This strategy holds great promise for sustainable electricity and clean water production in remote rural areas.

[0085] It will be understood that the foregoing merely illustrates and describes examples of implementing the present invention and that modifications and / or variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0086] It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Claims

1. A hybrid system for power generation and water production, comprising: A thermoelectric generator layer for converting thermal energy into electrical energy; an absorber layer disposed on one side of the thermoelectric generator layer, for converting solar energy into thermal energy; a heat conducting structure arranged on the other side of the thermoelectric generator layer, for conducting waste heat of the thermoelectric generator layer; as well as an evaporator for forming an interfacial cooling zone with the thermally conductive structure to produce water, wherein the evaporator is composed of a porous polymer; wherein the heat conducting structure comprises a base plate attached to the thermoelectric generator layer, and two or more plates extending from the base plate toward the evaporator to provide an expanded interface cooling area; Wherein, the evaporator includes a base component and a contact component on the base component, which is configured to receive the two or more plates; the contact component includes two or more columns corresponding to the two or more plates, and the two or more plates are configured to be inserted into the two or more columns respectively.

2. The hybrid system according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive structure is arranged on a lower surface of the thermoelectric generator layer.

3. The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more plates comprise metal plates.

4. The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive structure comprises copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, stainless steel, or mixtures thereof. 5 . The hybrid system according to claim 3 , wherein a thickness of each of the two or more metal plates is 50 μm to 1500 μm.

6. The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the porous polymer has a porosity of 50% to 90%.

7. The hybrid system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent layer comprises: Photothermal material for converting the solar energy into thermal energy; as well as A polymer matrix for attaching the photothermal material to the thermoelectric generator layer.

8. The hybrid system according to claim 7, wherein the photothermal material comprises carbon nanotubes, carbon black, carbon nanodots, graphene, MXenes, PPy or a mixture thereof.

9. The hybrid system of claim 7, wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyurethane, cellulose, alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, PDMS, or a mixture thereof.

10. The hybrid system according to claim 1, wherein the absorber layer is disposed on an upper surface of the thermoelectric generator layer.

11. An inverted passive cooling induction generator (PICG) device, comprising: A PICG module comprising the hybrid system according to claim 1; a water supply channel for supplying impure water to the mixing system; a cooling box configured to surround the PICG module and condense water vapor generated from the mixing system of the PICG module; a water collecting component for collecting water vapor condensed in the cooling box; and An enclosed chamber is provided for floating the device on the surface of non-purified water.

12. The inverted passive cooling induction co-generator (PICG) device according to claim 11, wherein the generated water vapor condenses on the side wall of the cooling box.

13. The inverted structure passively cooled induction cogeneration (PICG) device according to claim 11, wherein the absorption layer of the hybrid system is exposed on the top surface of the cooling box.

14. A method for manufacturing the hybrid system for power generation and water production as claimed in claim 1, comprising the following steps: preparing a porous polymer evaporator; providing a thermoelectric generator layer; coating an absorber layer on one side of the thermoelectric generator layer; Installing a heat conducting structure on the other side of the thermoelectric generator layer; as well as Assembling the thermoelectric generator layer, the absorption layer, the heat-conducting structure and the evaporator together, so that the heat-conducting structure contacts the evaporator to form an interface cooling zone; wherein the heat conducting structure comprises a base plate attached to the thermoelectric generator layer, and two or more plates extending from the base plate toward the evaporator to provide an expanded interface cooling area; The evaporator includes a contact component having two or more columns, which correspond to the two or more plates respectively; and assembling the thermoelectric generator layer, the absorption layer, the heat-conducting structure and the evaporator includes inserting the two or more plates into the two or more columns respectively to provide the expanded interface cooling area.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the preparation of the evaporator comprises a directional freezing process and a freeze drying process.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the directional freezing process is performed at a directional freezing rate of 0.5°C / min, 1°C / min, 2°C / min, 3°C / min, 4°C / min, 5°C / min, 6°C / min, 7°C / min, 8°C / min, 9°C / min, 10°C / min, or any point value within a range consisting of paired combinations of 0.5°C / min, 1°C / min, 2°C / min, 3°C / min, 4°C / min, 5°C / min, 6°C / min, 7°C / min, 8°C / min, and 9°C / min.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the absorber layer comprises a photothermal material and a polymer matrix; and coating the absorber layer on the side of the thermoelectric generator layer comprises adhering the absorber layer to the thermoelectric generator layer using the polymer matrix.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein coating the absorber layer on the one side of the thermoelectric generator layer further comprises curing the polymer matrix at 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, or any point within a range consisting of paired combinations of 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, and 150°C.

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