A device for the collection of radiative cooling and atmospheric water

Abstract

The application is a device for radiation cooling and atmospheric water collection, comprising: a foam frame; a central main plate vertically arranged at the top of the foam frame; and a collection groove 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 vertically arranged on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate as an emission layer; a lubricating surface coating arranged on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate as a condensation layer; the central main plate is vertically installed in the foam frame, the inner surface of the central main plate is the emission layer, and the outer surface is the condensation layer; the emission layer reduces 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 the atmospheric transparent window of 8-13 microns, which enables it to effectively radiate heat to the atmosphere and achieve a cooling effect; after the water droplets condense, they will drip into the collection groove and be collected by the collection groove.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of renewable energy applications, in particular to a device for radiative cooling and atmospheric water harvesting. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid growth of population and the impact of climate change, the supply of global freshwater resources is under unprecedented pressure. Traditional methods of water resource acquisition, such as groundwater extraction and surface water collection, have been difficult to meet the growing demand for water. Therefore, it is urgent to seek new water sources, and atmospheric water harvesting technology shows great potential in this context. This technology aims to capture water directly from the atmosphere as a complementary water source, helping to 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 in specific climate conditions, while adsorbent systems require additional energy input to drive the adsorption and release process of water. The efficiency of these technologies is usually not high, and the cost is relatively large, which limits their widespread application.

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

[0005] In summary, how to collect water from the atmosphere has become a problem that researchers in the field need to solve. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application aims to provide a device for radiative cooling and atmospheric water harvesting; the device can effectively utilize radiative cooling technology to collect water from the atmosphere without additional energy input, and at the same time utilize solar energy for photovoltaic power generation during the day; the design of the 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, improving economic efficiency and practicality.

[0007] The present application provides a device for radiative cooling and atmospheric water harvesting, comprising: a foam frame; a central main plate vertically arranged at the top of the foam frame; and a collection tank 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 vertically arranged on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate as an emission layer; a lubricated surface coating arranged on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate as a condensation layer;

[0008] In the present scheme, the foam frame adopts polystyrene foam material, which serves as the supporting structure of the device and provides a light and stable base; the central main plate is vertically installed in the foam frame, and the inner surface of the central main plate is the emission layer, and the outer surface is the condensation layer; the emission layer reduces temperature through radiative 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 performance, especially in the atmospheric transparent window of 8-13 microns, which enables it to effectively radiate heat into the atmosphere and achieve cooling effect; the condensed 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 present application adopts a lubricating surface coating composed of dimethylsiloxane elastomer and lubricating silicone oil;

[0010] That is, the condensation layer is covered with a lubricating surface coating made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) immersed in silicone oil; the lubricating surface coating forms a lubricating film, reducing the adhesion of water droplets to the surface and facilitating the shedding of water droplets.

[0011] In order to avoid further enhancing the radiative cooling effect, the present application adopts a double-sided sub-plate arranged on both sides of the foam frame, and a universal assembly is used to connect the double-sided sub-plate and the foam frame; 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 and the foam frame to be arranged at an obtuse angle;

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

[0013] The double-sided sub-plate has two pieces, which are arranged on both sides of the central main plate and have the same structure; one side of each sub-plate is an aluminum mirror surface, which can effectively reflect and reorient the thermal radiation emitted by the central main plate, further enhancing the radiative cooling efficiency.

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

[0015] In order to realize the movement of the universal assembly, the present application adopts a photovoltaic cell arranged on the other side of the double-sided sub-plate for supplying power to the universal assembly;

[0016] The other side of the double-sided auxiliary plate is a photovoltaic cell, which can convert solar energy into electrical energy, facilitating the use or storage of the universal assembly.

[0017] In order to realize the cooling of the photovoltaic cell, the double-sided auxiliary plate is provided with a heat-conducting water pipe attached to the photovoltaic cell, and the heat-conducting water pipe is connected with the collecting groove.

[0018] In the present scheme, the water collected by the collecting groove can be introduced into the heat-conducting water pipe to cool the photovoltaic cell, thereby improving the efficiency of converting solar energy into electrical energy.

[0019] In order to reduce air convection at the emission layer and improve the effect of radiative cooling, the emission layer surface is further covered with a transparent PE film protective layer.

[0020] The transparent PE film protective layer can avoid air convection at the emission layer, improve the effect of radiative cooling, and effectively prevent the deposition of dust and other particulate matter, thereby maintaining the cleanliness and cooling efficiency of the emission layer.

[0021] The present application has the following advantages:

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

[0023] 2. The device is designed with simple structure and low material cost, reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs, improving the economic efficiency and practicality of the device, and avoiding the complexity and energy consumption of active water droplet collection in traditional systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and examples.

[0025] Figure 1 : Structure diagram of the present application

[0026] Figure 2 : Partial view of the central main plate

[0027] Figure 3 : Daytime photovoltaic power generation mode of the present application

[0028] Figure 4 : Nighttime radiative cooling and water collection mode of the present application

[0029] In the diagram: 1-Foam frame; 2-Central main board; 3-Double-sided sub-board; 4-PE film protective layer; 5-Hot water pipe; 6-Universal component; 7-Collection tank; 31-Aluminum mirror; 32-Photovoltaic cell; 21-Central aluminum plate; 22-Emitting layer; 23-Condensing layer. Detailed Implementation

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

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention relates to a novel device for radiative cooling and atmospheric water collection. Its main components include a foam frame 1, a central main board 2, double-sided auxiliary boards 3, a PE film protective layer 4, and a hot water pipe 5. The foam frame 1, made of lightweight and stable polystyrene foam, serves as the supporting structure for the entire device. The central main board 2, vertically mounted within the foam frame 1, is primarily constructed of a central aluminum plate 21. One side (inner surface) of the central main board is an emitting layer 22, and the other side is a condensing layer 23. The emitting layer 22 is covered with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating, while the condensing layer 23 is coated with a lubricating surface coating. The PDMS coating of the emitting layer 22, due to its high infrared emission performance within an 8-13 micrometer atmospheric transparency window, effectively radiates heat into the atmosphere, achieving a cooling effect. On the other side (outer surface), the condensing layer 23 uses a lubricating surface coating. This coating, composed of PDMS elastomer and lubricating silicone oil, significantly reduces the adhesion between water droplets and the surface, allowing condensed water droplets to grow rapidly and automatically detach under gravity, achieving passive water collection.

[0032] The double-sided sub-panels 3 are composed of two identical panels, one side is an aluminum mirror 31, the other side is a photovoltaic cell 32; these sub-panels 3 are connected to the foam frame 1 through universal components 6, allowing the orientation and tilt angle to be adjusted as needed; the device uses two aluminum mirrors 31, which are placed at a 45-degree angle around the central main panel, forming a V-shaped structure; the high reflectivity of the aluminum mirror 31 allows it to reflect and redirect the thermal radiation emitted by the central main panel to the sky, thus not only reducing the loss of thermal radiation to the surrounding environment, but also effectively doubling the local cooling power density; without the aluminum mirror 31, the emitter can only radiate heat in a single direction, and the surrounding environment will absorb some of the heat, reducing the amount of heat that can be radiated into the atmosphere, thus limiting the cooling efficiency; the photovoltaic cell 32, on the other hand, converts solar energy into electricity during the day. At the same time, the photovoltaic cell 32 is equipped with evenly distributed heat-conducting water pipes 5; the heat-conducting water pipes 5 are in close contact 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 thermal radiation, the surface of the emission layer is covered with a layer of transparent PE film protective layer 4; the PE film protective layer 4 effectively isolates the emitter from the surrounding environment, reducing heat exchange caused by air convection, while maintaining the radiation cooling efficiency of the emission layer.

[0034] The device can be integrated with an automated and intelligent control system to automatically flip or adjust the double-sided sub-panels to optimize solar energy 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 application has two working modes, as follows:

[0036] The daytime photovoltaic power generation mode is as shown in Figure 3 : In the morning, with the sunrise, the photovoltaic cell 32 of the double-sided sub-panels 3 faces south to maximize the absorption of solar energy. At the same time, the universal component 6 structure of the double-sided sub-panels 3 allows the angle to be adjusted to adapt to the position of the sun in the sky, ensuring 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 facilitate heat dissipation of the photovoltaic cell during the day, improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic cell.

[0037] The nighttime radiation cooling and water collection mode is as shown in Figure 4As shown: after the night falls, the double-sided auxiliary plate 4 is flipped to the aluminum mirror surface 31 facing outwards. Opposite to the central main plate 2, a V-shaped structure is formed, and the high reflectivity of the aluminum mirror surface 31 is used to maximize the radiative cooling efficiency; the emission layer begins to 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 on the condensation layer 32, and due to the characteristics of the lubricating surface coating, the formed water droplets easily slide and collect into the collection groove 7 below. The PE film protective layer 4 remains on the emission layer throughout the night to reduce air convection and enhance the radiative cooling effect. The collected water can be used for local irrigation, drinking water supply, or stored in a water tank for future use.

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

[0039] Based on the above ideal embodiments according to the present application, through the above description, relevant personnel can make various changes and modifications without deviating from the technical idea of the present application. The technical scope of the present application is not limited to the contents of the specification, and must be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for the collection of radiative cooling and atmospheric water, characterized in that, It comprises: a foam frame; a central main plate vertically arranged on the top of the foam frame; and a collecting groove 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 vertically arranged central aluminum plate; a polydimethylsiloxane coating layer coated on the inner surface of the central aluminum plate as an emitting layer; a lubricating surface coating layer coated on the outer surface of the central aluminum plate as a condensing layer; the lubricating surface coating layer is composed of dimethylsiloxane elastomer and lubricating silicone oil; both sides of the foam frame are provided with double-sided auxiliary plates, and the double-sided auxiliary plates and the foam frame are connected by universal assemblies; the other side of the double-sided auxiliary plate is provided with a photovoltaic cell for supplying power to the universal assembly; one side of the double-sided auxiliary plate is an aluminum mirror surface; the universal assembly is suitable for driving the double-sided auxiliary plate and the foam frame to be arranged at an obtuse angle; a heat-conducting water pipe is arranged on the double-sided auxiliary plate and adheres to the photovoltaic cell, and the heat-conducting water pipe is connected with the collecting groove.

2. A device for the collection of radiant cooling and atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterised in that, The included angle between the double-sided auxiliary plate and the foam frame is 135°.

3. A device for the collection of radiant cooling and atmospheric water according to claim 1, characterised in that, The surface of the emitting layer is further covered with a transparent PE film protective layer.

Images