Collecting device for radiation cooling and atmospheric water

Abstract

The invention relates to a collection device for radiation cooling and atmospheric water. The collection device comprises a foam frame; the central main plate is vertically arranged at the top of the foam frame; the collecting tank is arranged on the foam frame and located at the bottom of the outer surface of the central main plate; the central main plate comprises a polydimethylsiloxane coating which is vertically arranged and coated on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate and is used as an emission layer; the lubricating surface coating is coated on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate and is used as a condensation layer; the central main board is vertically mounted in the foam frame, the inner surface of the central main board is an emission layer, and the outer surface is a condensation layer; the emission layer reduces the temperature through radiation cooling, and the condensation layer promotes condensation of atmospheric water; the emission layer is covered with a polydimethylsiloxane coating; pDMS has good infrared emission performance, especially in an atmospheric transparent window of 8-13 microns, so that the PDMS can effectively radiate heat into the atmosphere to realize a cooling effect; and the condensed water drops drop into the collecting tank and are collected by the collecting tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of renewable energy applications, in particular to a device for collecting radiation cooling and atmospheric water. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid population growth and the impact of climate change, the global supply of freshwater resources is under unprecedented pressure. Traditional methods of obtaining water resources, such as groundwater extraction and surface water collection, have been unable to meet the growing demand for water. Therefore, it has become urgent to seek new water sources, and atmospheric water harvesting technology has shown great potential in this context. This technology aims to capture water directly from the atmosphere as a supplementary water source to help alleviate the global water shortage problem.

[0003] Although atmospheric water harvesting technology has great application prospects, there are some limitations in current technical means. For example, fog water harvesting technology mainly relies on fog under specific climate conditions, while adsorbent systems require additional energy input to drive the adsorption and release process of water. These technologies are usually not efficient and relatively costly, which limits their widespread application.

[0004] In addition, although radiative cooling technology provides a method to achieve cooling without external energy input, it faces the problems of insufficient cooling efficiency and difficulty in collecting condensed water in practical applications. In traditional radiative cooling systems, water droplets are often difficult to fall off after forming on the condensation surface, resulting in reduced collection efficiency, and additional mechanical systems are usually required to actively collect water droplets, which increases the complexity and energy consumption of the system.

[0005] In summary, how to collect moisture from the atmosphere has become an urgent problem that researchers in this field need to solve. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a device for radiation cooling and collecting atmospheric water; the device can effectively utilize radiation cooling technology to collect moisture from the atmosphere without the need for additional energy input, and at the same time utilize solar energy for photovoltaic power generation during the day; the design of this device aims to solve the problems of low cooling efficiency and difficulty in collecting condensed water in the prior art, while reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs and improving economy and practicality.

[0007] The present invention provides a device for collecting radiation cooling and atmospheric water, comprising: a foam frame; a central main board, which is vertically arranged on the top of the foam frame; and a collecting tank, which is arranged on the foam frame and located at the bottom of the outer surface of the central main board; the central main board comprises: a polydimethylsiloxane coating vertically arranged and coated on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate as an emission layer; a lubricating surface coating coated on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate as a condensation layer;

[0008] In this scheme, the foam frame uses polystyrene foam material as the supporting structure of the device, providing a light and stable base; the central mainboard is vertically installed in the foam frame, the inner surface of the central mainboard is the emission layer, and the outer surface is the condensation layer; the emission layer reduces the temperature through radiation cooling, and the condensation layer promotes the condensation of atmospheric water; the emission layer is covered with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating; PDMS has good infrared emission properties, especially within the atmospheric transparent window of 8 to 13 microns, which enables it to effectively radiate heat into the atmosphere and achieve a cooling effect; after condensing, the water droplets will drip into the collection tank and be collected by the collection tank.

[0009] In order to illustrate the specific composition of the lubricating surface coating, the lubricating surface coating of the present invention is composed of dimethylsiloxane elastomer and lubricating silicone oil;

[0010] That is, the condensation layer is covered with a lubricating surface coating, and the lubricating surface coating is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) impregnated with silicone oil; the lubricating surface coating forms a lubricating film, which reduces the adhesion between the water droplets and the surface and is conducive to the shedding of the water droplets.

[0011] In order to avoid further enhancing the cooling effect of radiation, the present invention adopts that both sides of the foam frame are provided with double-sided sub-plates, and the double-sided sub-plates and the foam frame are connected by a universal assembly; one side of the double-sided sub-plate is an aluminum mirror; the universal assembly is suitable for driving the double-sided sub-plate and the foam frame to be set at an obtuse angle;

[0012] The universal joint assembly can drive the double-sided sub-plate to rotate and swing around the hinge. For example, the swing of the universal joint assembly can be achieved by setting a first motor at the hinge. The first motor drives the swing block to swing relative to the foam frame. The swing block is provided with a second motor. The rotating end of the second motor is provided with the double-sided sub-plate. In this way, the rotation and revolution of the double-sided sub-plate are realized through the movement of the first motor and the second motor.

[0013] There are two double-sided sub-panels, which are arranged on both sides of the central main board and have the same structure; one side of each sub-panel is an aluminum mirror, which can effectively reflect and redirect the thermal radiation emitted by the central main board, further enhancing the radiation cooling efficiency.

[0014] In order to optimize the angle between the double-sided sub-panel and the foam frame, the present invention adopts an angle of 135° between the double-sided sub-panel and the foam frame.

[0015] In order to realize the movement of the universal assembly, the present invention adopts that the other side of the double-sided sub-plate is provided with a photovoltaic cell for supplying power to the universal assembly;

[0016] The other side of the double-sided sub-panel is a photovoltaic cell that can convert solar energy into electrical energy for easy use or storage in the universal component.

[0017] In order to realize cooling of the photovoltaic cells, the present invention adopts that a heat-conducting water pipe that fits the photovoltaic cells is provided on the double-sided sub-plate, and the heat-conducting water pipe is connected to the collection tank;

[0018] In this solution, the water collected by the above-mentioned collection tank can be passed into the heat-conducting water pipe to cool the photovoltaic cells, thereby improving the efficiency of converting solar energy into electrical energy.

[0019] In order to reduce air convection at the emission layer and thus improve the effect of radiation cooling, the present invention adopts a transparent PE film protective layer covering the surface of the emission layer;

[0020] Setting a transparent PE film protective layer can avoid air convection at the emission layer and improve the effect of radiation cooling. On the other hand, it can effectively prevent the deposition of dust and other particulate matter and keep the emission layer clean and cooling efficient.

[0021] Beneficial effects of the invention: The invention is a device for collecting radiation cooling and atmospheric water, which has at least the following advantages:

[0022] 1. The device combines radiation cooling technology and photovoltaic power generation technology, converting solar energy into electrical energy during the day and collecting moisture from the atmosphere using radiation cooling technology at night. In addition, the collected moisture can be used to exchange heat and cool photovoltaic cells during the day, increasing the power generation efficiency of photovoltaic cells and achieving efficient use of energy without the need for additional energy input. It is a green and sustainable way to obtain water resources.

[0023] 2. The device has a sophisticated design, simple structure, and low material cost, which reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, improves the economy and practicality of the device, and avoids the complexity and energy consumption of actively collecting water droplets in traditional systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0025] Figure 1 : Structural schematic diagram of the present invention

[0026] Figure 2 : A partial schematic diagram of the central mainboard

[0027] Figure 3 : Schematic diagram of the daytime photovoltaic power generation mode of the present invention

[0028] Figure 4 : Schematic diagram of the nighttime radiation cooling and water collection mode of the present invention

[0029] In the figure: 1-foam frame; 2-central main board; 3-double-sided sub-board; 4-PE film protective layer; 5-heat water pipe; 6-universal assembly; 7-collecting tank; 31-aluminum mirror; 32-photovoltaic cell; 21-central aluminum plate; 22-emitting layer; 23-condensation layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, which only illustrate the basic structure of the present invention in a schematic manner, and therefore only show the components related to the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention relates to a novel device for radiation cooling and atmospheric water collection, the main components of which include a foam frame 1, a central main board 2, a double-sided sub-board 3, a PE film protective layer 4, and a heat conducting pipe 5; the foam frame 1 uses a lightweight and stable polystyrene foam material as the supporting structure of the entire device; the central main board 2 is vertically installed in the foam frame 1, and is mainly made of a central aluminum plate 21, one side (inner surface) of which is an emission layer 22, and the other side is a condensation layer 23; wherein the emission layer 22 is covered with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating, and the condensation layer 23 is coated with a lubricating surface coating; the PDMS coating of the emission layer 22 can effectively radiate heat into the atmosphere due to its high infrared emission performance within the 8 to 13 micron atmospheric transparent window, thereby achieving a cooling effect; on the other side (outer surface) of the condensation layer 23, a lubricating surface coating is used. This coating is composed of PDMS elastomer and lubricating silicone oil, which significantly reduces the adhesion between water droplets and the surface, so that the condensed water droplets can grow rapidly and automatically fall off by gravity, thereby achieving passive water collection.

[0032] The double-sided sub-panel 3 consists of two panels of the same structure, one side of which is an aluminum mirror 31 and the other side is a photovoltaic cell 32; these sub-panels 3 are connected to the foam frame 1 through a universal assembly 6, allowing the orientation and tilt angle to be adjusted as needed; the device uses two aluminum mirrors 31, which are placed around the central main board at a 45-degree angle to form a V-shaped structure; the high reflectivity of the aluminum mirrors 31 enables them to reflect and redirect the thermal radiation emitted by the central main board to the sky, which not only reduces the thermal radiation loss to the surrounding environment, but also effectively doubles the local cooling power density; without the aluminum mirror 31, the transmitter can only radiate heat in a single direction, and the surrounding environment will absorb part of the heat, thereby reducing the heat that can be radiated into the atmosphere, thereby limiting the cooling efficiency; and the photovoltaic cell 32 converts solar energy into electrical energy during the day. At the same time, evenly distributed heat pipes 5 are arranged under the photovoltaic cell 32; the heat pipes 5 are tightly fitted with the photovoltaic cell 32; the atmospheric condensation water collected at night can be used for heat dissipation of the photovoltaic cell during the day, improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic cell.

[0033] In order to reduce the loss of air convection and heat radiation, the surface of the emission layer is covered with a transparent PE film protective layer 4; the PE film protective layer 4 effectively isolates the air flow between the emitter and the surrounding environment, reduces the heat exchange caused by air convection, and maintains the radiation cooling efficiency of the emission layer.

[0034] The device can be integrated with automation and intelligent control systems to automatically flip or adjust the double-sided sub-panels to optimize solar absorption and radiation cooling efficiency, and regularly clean the emission layer and condensation layer to maintain the optimal performance of the coating and extend its service life.

[0035] The present invention has two working modes, which are as follows:

[0036] The daytime photovoltaic power generation mode is as follows Figure 3 As shown: In the early morning, with the sunrise, the photovoltaic cells 32 of the double-sided sub-panel 3 face south to maximize the absorption of solar energy. At the same time, the universal assembly 6 structure of the double-sided sub-panel 3 allows the angle to be adjusted to adapt to the change in the position of the sun in the sky, ensuring the maximum solar energy capture efficiency. The photovoltaic cell 32 converts the absorbed solar energy into electrical energy, which can be used directly or stored in the battery for use at night; in addition, the evenly distributed heat-conducting water pipes 5 under the photovoltaic cell are conducive to the heat dissipation of the photovoltaic cell during the day, improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic cell.

[0037] Nighttime radiative cooling and water collection patterns Figure 4As shown: After nightfall, the double-sided sub-panel 4 flips over to the aluminum mirror 31 facing outward. Opposite to the central main board 2, a V-shaped structure is formed, using the high reflectivity of the aluminum mirror 31 to maximize the radiation cooling efficiency; the emission layer begins to continuously radiate heat outward, causing the surface temperature to drop below the dew point. At this time, the water vapor in the air condenses into water droplets in the condensation layer 32. Due to the characteristics of the lubricating surface coating, the formed water droplets can easily slide down and be collected in the collection tank 7 below. The PE film protective layer 4 remains on the emission layer throughout the night to reduce air convection and enhance the radiation cooling effect. The collected water can be used for local irrigation, drinking water supply or stored in water tanks for emergency use.

[0038] When the entire device works in an outdoor environment, the condenser surface temperature is lowered through radiation cooling technology, condensing water vapor in the air to form water droplets, while the lubricating surface coating ensures that these water droplets can be collected by gravity; this device, which combines radiation cooling, lubricating surface technology and aluminum mirror reflection, can work stably under different environmental conditions, such as different humidity levels and wind speeds, demonstrating its excellent atmospheric water collection performance. In this way, the device can effectively collect water from the atmosphere without the need for external energy input, providing a potential solution to alleviate the shortage of fresh water resources.

[0039] Based on the above ideal embodiments of the present invention, the relevant staff can make various changes and modifications without departing from the technical concept of the present invention through the above description. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the specification, and its technical scope must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for radiative cooling and collection of atmospheric water, characterized in that: include: Foam frame; a central main board, which is vertically arranged on top of the foam frame; and a collecting tank, which is arranged on the foam frame and located at the bottom of the outer surface of the central main board; The central mainboard comprises: A central aluminum plate set vertically; A polydimethylsiloxane coating applied on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate as an emission layer; Coated on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate as a lubricating surface coating of the condensation layer.

2. A device for radiative cooling and collecting atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lubricating surface coating is composed of dimethylsiloxane elastomer and lubricating silicone oil.

3. A device for collecting radiation cooling and atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterized in that: Double-sided sub-plates are provided on both sides of the foam frame, and the double-sided sub-plates are connected to the foam frame by a universal assembly; One side of the double-sided sub-plate is an aluminum mirror surface; The universal assembly is suitable for driving the double-sided sub-plate to be arranged at an obtuse angle with the foam frame.

4. A device for radiative cooling and collecting atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterized in that: The included angle between the double-sided sub-plate and the foam frame is 135°.

5. A device for collecting radiation cooling and atmospheric water according to claim 3, characterized in that: The other side of the double-sided sub-panel is provided with a photovoltaic cell for supplying power to the universal assembly.

6. A device for radiative cooling and collecting atmospheric water according to claim 5, characterized in that: The double-sided sub-plate is provided with a heat-conducting water pipe that fits the photovoltaic cell, and the heat-conducting water pipe is connected to the collecting tank.

7. A device for radiative cooling and collecting atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the emission layer is also covered with a transparent PE film protective layer.

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