All-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device

Abstract

An all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device comprises a transparent cover plate located on the top layer and a photovoltaic panel, the lower surface of the photovoltaic panel is connected with the upper half portion of a cross-scale porous material, the lower half portion of the cross-scale porous material droops into seawater, and microcapsules are sprayed on the lower surface of the upper half portion of the cross-scale porous material. The four structure supporting plates are located on the four side faces of the device and are tightly connected with the arc-shaped bottom plate, and the bottom of the device is connected with the water outlet pipe. The photovoltaic panel collects solar energy and converts the solar energy into electric energy, and generated waste heat is transmitted to the cross-scale porous material through the heat-conducting glue; the cross-scale porous material absorbs seawater and discharges salt and impurities, water vapor is generated through a thermal evaporation method, the microcapsules absorb and store a large amount of heat energy in the daytime and release the heat energy at night, the water vapor generated by the cross-scale porous material descends and is condensed in the condensation cover, and salt-removed fresh water is formed. Fresh water generated in the desalination process is led out from the water outlet pipe; the seawater desalination efficiency can be improved, and circulating evaporation is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of integrated devices for clean energy and water resource utilization, and particularly relates to an all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device. Background Art

[0002] In the current field of seawater desalination technology, although the technology has been continuously advancing, there are still several key problems that hinder its wider application and efficiency improvement. First of all, the problem of brine discharge has always been a major challenge for traditional desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis. During the process of seawater desalination through a semi-permeable membrane, the effective removal efficiency of salts is low, resulting in the system requiring higher energy input to maintain the expected desalinated water production. Secondly, the problem of steam blockage is common in the distillation desalination process. When the water vapor generated by evaporation encounters bottlenecks during transportation or condensation, it is easy to cause a decline in system efficiency. In addition, traditional desalination technologies, such as reverse osmosis, although widely used, their dependence on a large amount of energy, high initial investment and operation and maintenance costs pose application barriers to regions with obvious resource limitations or insufficient energy conditions.

[0003] In addition, although the current photovoltaic power generation technology plays a key role in realizing the conversion of clean and renewable energy, a large amount of waste heat is generated during the process of photovoltaic panels absorbing solar radiation and converting it into electrical energy. If the waste heat cannot be properly handled, the temperature of the photovoltaic panels will rise, their conversion efficiency will decline, and thus affect the overall energy output and system stability.

[0004] In the prior art polar linear Fresnel concentrating solar thermoelectric combined power supply and desalination system (U.S. Patent 10987609), the concentrating solar energy and combined heat and power technologies are integrated, and the steam power generation is optimized by tilting the Fresnel mirror system to track solar radiation. However, the design and working principle of the above system limit its application flexibility to a certain extent under different geographical and environmental conditions.

[0005] In the prior art a double-sided heating type solar photovoltaic / thermal seawater desalination device (CN112340799B), solar energy is used for seawater desalination. The double-sided heating design and the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels are mainly used to support the seawater desalination process itself, such as driving the single-axis tracking motor in the device. Since its working principle is based on the traditional solar heating mechanism, the device can only be used during the day when there is sufficient sunlight. Although this solution also uses porous materials, no specific description is made of its material details. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To overcome the deficiencies of the above-mentioned prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device, which uses cross-scale porous materials to achieve efficient adsorption and removal of salts in seawater, significantly reducing the input demand for energy. At the same time, by using the holes with different pore sizes, the problems of salt discharge and steam blockage in the desalination process are solved respectively through capillary force and concentration difference, and the problem of discontinuous evaporation is solved by combining the heat storage capacity of phase change materials; the waste heat generated during the power generation process of the photovoltaic panel is used as the heat source for desalinating seawater, which not only improves the thermal management of the photovoltaic panel but also realizes the beneficial recovery and utilization of waste heat, enhancing the energy utilization efficiency of the system; through this innovative integrated design of heat collection and desalination, while not reducing the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic panel, additional desalination capacity is provided, providing a feasible comprehensive solution for power generation and water resource acquisition in energy-scarce areas.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] An all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device, comprising a transparent cover plate 09 at the top layer and a photovoltaic panel 01 hermetically connected to the transparent cover plate 09 at an angle of 90° - 180°. The lower surface of the photovoltaic panel 01 is connected to the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03, and the lower half of the cross-scale porous material 03 hangs into the seawater. A microcapsule 08 is sprayed on the lower surface of the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03. The two sides of the transparent cover plate 09 and the photovoltaic panel 01, and the bottom ends of the transparent cover plate 09 and the photovoltaic panel 01 are respectively connected to a structural support plate 05, and the bottoms of the four structural support plates 05 are all connected to an arc-shaped bottom plate 04, thus forming a condensation cover. The contact part between the structural support plate 05 at the bottom end of the transparent cover plate 09 and the lowest point of the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 is provided with a water outlet pipe 07.

[0009] The lower surface of the photovoltaic panel 01 is tightly connected to the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03 through a heat-conducting adhesive 02.

[0010] An isolation plate 06 is provided between the lower half of the cross-scale porous material 03 and the arc-shaped bottom plate 04.

[0011] The cross-scale porous material 03 contains holes of different sizes. Among them, the pore size of the small-size holes is 10 nanometers - 10 micrometers, and the pore size of the small-size holes is greater than 10 micrometers.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0013] (1) Thermal management optimization: In conventional photovoltaic power generation systems, the waste heat usually leads to a reduction in the efficiency of photovoltaic panels. In the present invention, by using thermal conductive adhesive 02 to connect the cross-scale porous material 03 used in the upper part of seawater evaporation to the lower surface of the photovoltaic panel 01, the waste heat generated during the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic panel 01 is effectively utilized. This waste heat is absorbed by the seawater, which on the one hand reduces the temperature of the photovoltaic panel 01 and improves the power generation efficiency, and on the other hand provides a heat source for the seawater desalination process, making full use of the existing energy.

[0014] (2) High-efficiency desalination ability: In the present invention, by applying a special cross-scale porous material 03, excellent desalination performance is demonstrated during the seawater desalination process. The cross-scale porous material 03 effectively adsorbs and isolates the salts in seawater through the large pores therein using the concentration difference. Compared with traditional desalination methods such as reverse osmosis, this method has a higher energy utilization rate and can reduce the long-term maintenance cost.

[0015] (3) Innovation of microcapsule 08 technology: The microcapsule 08 introduced in the present invention is sprayed on the upper part of the cross-scale porous material 03 used for evaporating seawater. The phase change material therein is used to store and release heat energy, breaking through the limitation that the device can only operate during the day, realizing continuous desalination operation at night, and enhancing the usability and efficiency of the system.

[0016] (4) Multifunctional parallel power generation: While achieving thermal management optimization and seawater desalination, this device does not neglect the function of the photovoltaic panel for solar power generation. While enriching the functions, it ensures the normal power generation of the photovoltaic panel 01, providing a comprehensive solution for users.

[0017] In summary, compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an integrated and optimized solution, effectively utilizing the waste heat generated during the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic panel, while improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic panel and providing the necessary heat energy for the seawater desalination process. The special cross-scale porous material demonstrates excellent desalination performance during this process, improving the desalination efficiency and reducing the operation and maintenance costs. In addition, the introduction of microcapsule technology realizes the ability of the device to operate continuously at night, greatly enhancing the practicality and reliability of the system. The present invention not only ensures the normal power generation function of the photovoltaic panel, but also provides an efficient and economical multifunctional solution for users while ensuring efficient energy and water resource management, making it have important practical application value and broad market prospects in sustainable development and environmental protection. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is the three-dimensional perspective of the device of the present invention Figure 1 .

[0019] Figure 2 is the three-dimensional perspective of the device of the present inventionFigure 2 .

[0020] Figure 3 It is the front elevation sectional view of the device of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 It is the structural schematic diagram of the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 It is the structural schematic diagram of the working principle of the device of the present invention. Specific embodiments

[0023] The technical solutions adopted by the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] In view of the three problems in the prior art, namely, the difficulty of desalinating seawater, the serious heat generation of photovoltaic panels when working in the air, and the limitation of the working time of the device by the traditional solar heating mechanism, the present invention proposes a technology that can improve the efficiency of seawater desalination, realize cyclic evaporation, and optimize the thermal management of photovoltaic panels without increasing the additional energy burden. This is of great significance for promoting the development of seawater desalination technology and the field of sustainable energy.

[0025] As Figures 1 - 3 shown, the present invention provides a device that integrates multiple components to achieve seawater desalination. The device converts seawater into fresh water by utilizing solar energy and carefully designed material components. The top-layer photovoltaic panel 01 is responsible for power generation. The cross-scale porous material 03 below the photovoltaic panel 01 is used to absorb seawater and desalt it. The thermal conductive adhesive 02 between the two transfers heat for evaporating seawater. Microcapsules 08 are sprayed below the cross-scale porous material 03, and the phase change material therein stores and releases heat by undergoing different phase changes during the day and at night. The device is supported by the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 formed by heat treatment to form a water collection area, and is equipped with several other covers to improve the function. The water outlet pipe 7 at the bottom is used for draining water to complete the entire seawater desalination process. Specifically:

[0026] The transparent cover plate 09 is hermetically connected to the photovoltaic panel 01 at a 90° angle and is installed at the top of the device; the lower half of the cross-scale porous material 03 extends from the left side of the device and dips into the seawater, transporting seawater to the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03 through capillary force while completing desalination, and the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03 is in close contact with the lower surface of the photovoltaic panel 01 and is adhered by the thermal conductive adhesive 02; the microcapsules 08 are sprayed on the lower surface of the upper half of the cross-scale porous material 03, and the phase change material therein stores and releases heat through different phase changes during the day and at night; the isolation plate 06 is located between the lower half of the cross-scale porous material 03 and the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 to isolate the generated fresh water from the cross-scale porous material 03 and prevent the backflow of fresh water; the four structural support plates 05 are located on the four sides of the device and are hermetically connected to the photovoltaic panel 01, the transparent cover plate 09, the isolation plate 06, and the arc-shaped bottom plate 04, thus forming a gas-tight condensation chamber, and the lower surface of the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 is partially immersed in the seawater; the water outlet pipe 07 is located at the contact part between the structural support plate 05 on the right side of the device and the lowest point of the arc-shaped bottom plate 04 for discharging fresh water.

[0027] The preferred solution further includes any one of the following technical features:

[0028] (1) Utilization of the photovoltaic panel 01: The photovoltaic panel 01 is located at the topmost layer of the device, which is the key energy collection part of the entire device; the photovoltaic panel 01 is responsible for capturing natural solar radiation and converting it into electrical energy, completing the conversion process from solar energy to electrical energy. At the same time, during the energy conversion process of the photovoltaic panel 01, the waste heat generated by it can be used for the subsequent seawater desalination process.

[0029] (2) Application of the thermal conductive adhesive 02: Located below the photovoltaic panel 01, it is used to effectively transfer the heat generated by the photovoltaic panel 01 to the cross-scale porous material 03 below it, and at the same time fix the position of the photovoltaic panel 01. The thermal conductive adhesive 02 not only serves as the adhesive for the upper and lower layer structures, ensuring the integrity and stability of the device, but also transfers the waste heat generated by the photovoltaic panel 01 during the energy conversion process, and this layer of waste heat is used to support and promote the seawater desalination process.

[0030] (3) Function of the multi-scale porous material 03: As the core component of the present invention, the multi-scale porous material 03 is located below the photovoltaic panel 01 and is connected to the photovoltaic panel 01 through the thermal conductive adhesive 02. The multi-scale porous material 03 exhibits excellent performance through its unique multi-scale pore structure. This material contains pores of different sizes, forming a highly optimized multi-functional system; in the part in direct contact with seawater, the smaller-sized pores automatically absorb seawater through strong capillary action, greatly improving the water absorption efficiency of the device, while the larger-sized pores provide sufficient space to accommodate and transport the salt produced during the desalination process, and at the same time use the concentration difference to discharge the salt, thus avoiding the accumulation of salt on the surface of the material and reducing the salt plugging problem that may cause a decline in the system efficiency. In the part in contact with the photovoltaic panel 01, the water in the small pores can be quickly evaporated by the waste heat generated by the photovoltaic panel 01, which not only optimizes the thermal management of the photovoltaic panel 01 but also promotes the rapid evaporation of seawater. At the same time, the presence of the large pores ensures that the water vapor generated during the evaporation process can be efficiently and smoothly discharged, effectively solving the problem of steam blockage and ensuring the continuous operation of the system. In addition, the multi-scale porous material 03 contains pores of different sizes and has the ability to conduct water vapor downward. This characteristic enables the water vapor to be effectively guided to the condensation area, further improving the recovery rate of fresh water.

[0031] (4) As Figure 4 shown, the arc-shaped bottom plate 04: After heat treatment, it is V-shaped, used to support the core part of the device and form a water collection area, facilitating the collection and guiding of the desalinated water.

[0032] (5) The structural support plate 05: There are four in total, located on the four sides of the device respectively, used to fix and protect the device structure to ensure stability and prevent the leakage of internal water vapor.

[0033] (6) The isolation plate 06: Located in the lower half of the multi-scale porous material 03, used to separate the bottom water collection area formed by the multi-scale porous material 03 and the arc-shaped bottom plate 04, ensuring that the bottom water collection does not come into contact with the multi-scale porous material 03 to cause pollution or lead to backflow.

[0034] (7) The water outlet pipe 07: Located at the bottom of the device, used to discharge and collect the condensed water.

[0035] (8) Function of microcapsules 08: An innovative thermal energy management technology is introduced in the present invention. Microcapsules 08 encapsulating phase change materials are used to store and release thermal energy. In the device of the present invention, these microcapsules 08 are evenly sprayed on the key part for evaporating seawater, i.e., the upper part of the cross-scale porous material 03. During the day, when sunlight shines on the device, the phase change material in the microcapsules 08 absorbs heat and undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid, storing a large amount of thermal energy in this way. At night, as the ambient temperature decreases, the phase change material begins to turn back from liquid to solid, releasing the previously stored heat during this period and achieving cyclic evaporation.

[0036] (9) Transparent cover plate 09: Located at the top of the device, it is used to allow sunlight to enter the device to promote seawater evaporation, and at the same time play a sealing role to prevent the external environment from affecting and maintaining the internal conditions of the device.

[0037] (10) Condensation and desalination of water vapor: The water vapor descends and comes into contact with the condensation cover formed at the bottom of the device. The design of the condensation cover fully considers the utilization of the relatively low temperature of the sea surface, and realizes the condensation of water vapor through heat exchange.

[0038] The working principle of the present invention is as follows:

[0039] As Figure 5 shown, the device of the present invention is exquisitely designed and has a small footprint. It can be directly placed in seawater. Due to its small scale, in actual use, multiple devices may need to be deployed to achieve the required amount of seawater desalination. After the device is placed in seawater, the device will automatically start working. The photovoltaic panel 01 collects solar energy and converts it into electrical energy, and at the same time the waste heat generated is transferred to the cross-scale porous material 03 through the thermal conductive adhesive 02, driving the increase in seawater temperature and the evaporation process. The cross-scale porous material 03 used in the device automatically absorbs the surrounding seawater through capillary action and thermal energy assistance, and discharges salts and impurities, generating water vapor through the thermal evaporation method. This process does not require external power and purely relies on the physical properties of the material and the waste heat provided by the photovoltaic panel. The microcapsules 08 can absorb and store a large amount of thermal energy during the day and release this thermal energy at night. This process provides a continuous supply of thermal energy to promote the continuous evaporation of seawater, solving the problem of discontinuous evaporation of traditional solar evaporation devices that do not work at night. The water vapor generated by the cross-scale porous material 03 descends and condenses in the condensation cover below the device, taking advantage of the low temperature of the seawater itself to improve efficiency, forming fresh water free of salts. The fresh water generated through the desalination process will flow downward along a specific flow path inside the device to the water collection part and be led out of the device through the connected water outlet pipe 07, and can be collected and bottled or directly supplied.

[0040] The present invention proposes an all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device, with significant innovation and technical advantages compared with the prior art.

[0041] 1. Compared with US8341961B2 - Solar desalination system:

[0042] This prior art uses a solar furnace unit to provide the high temperature required for seawater evaporation, and combines power generation and desalination through a steam turbine and a hydro - generator; while the present invention directly combines an efficient photovoltaic panel 01 with a cross - scale porous material 03, without a complex thermo - mechanical conversion process, simplifies the system structure, and at the same time improves the energy utilization efficiency; the direct waste heat utilization of the device of the present invention reduces the dependence of the collector on space and structural support, and uses the direct heat transfer of the photovoltaic panel 01 and the thermal conductive adhesive 02 to make the device design more concise, easier to maintain, and both the installation cost and the operation cost are reduced.

[0043] 2. Compared with US20120138447A1 - Solar desalination system and solar - initiated wind power:

[0044] This prior art emphasizes the temperature control method of a photovoltaic - thermal (PV - T) system, cools the PV cells through a fluid, and uses the wind power induced by solar energy to drive the seawater supply system. Different from this solution, the present invention designs to conduct the waste heat of the photovoltaic panel 01 to the part of the cross - scale porous material 03 for seawater evaporation through the thermal conductive adhesive 02, without a complex external heat exchange system, and improves the desalination potential.

[0045] 3. Compared with US Patent 10987609 - Polar linear Fresnel concentrating solar thermoelectric combined power supply and desalination system:

[0046] This prior art combines concentrating solar energy and cogeneration technology, and optimizes steam power generation by tracking solar radiation through an inclined Fresnel mirror system. In contrast, the device of the present invention follows the direct photovoltaic drive principle, weakens the dependence on mechanical conversion devices, thereby simplifies the system and reduces costs.

[0047] 4. Compared with CN112340799B - A double - sided heating type solar photovoltaic / thermal seawater desalination device:

[0048] Both the present invention and this prior art belong to the field of solar thermal utilization technology, focusing on using solar energy and conducting seawater desalination. The differences are as follows:

[0049] This prior art mainly focuses on using solar energy for seawater desalination. The design of double-sided heating and the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels are mainly used to support the seawater desalination process itself, such as driving the single-axis tracking motor in the device. Due to its working principle based on the traditional solar heating mechanism, the device can only be used during the day when there is sufficient sunlight. Although this prior art also uses porous materials, no specific details about the materials are provided. In contrast, the present invention more comprehensively combines the two functions of seawater desalination and solar power generation. While desalinating seawater, it utilizes the waste heat of the photovoltaic panel 01 to improve both the desalination efficiency and the power generation efficiency, realizing the dual value of energy and the desalination process. At the same time, the present invention clearly states the use of cross-scale porous materials 03, details its working method, and introduces the microcapsule 08 technology, using the phase change material encapsulated therein to store and release heat energy, innovatively realizing the cyclic evaporation process and enabling continuous operation at night.

Claims

1. An all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device, characterized in that: It includes a transparent cover plate (09) located at the top layer and a photovoltaic panel (01) hermetically connected to the transparent cover plate (09) at an angle of 90° - 180°. The lower surface of the photovoltaic panel (01) is connected to the upper half of a cross-scale porous material (03), and the lower half of the cross-scale porous material (03) hangs into seawater. Microcapsules (08) are sprayed on the lower surface of the upper half of the cross-scale porous material (03). The two sides of the transparent cover plate (09) and the photovoltaic panel (01), and the bottom ends of the transparent cover plate (09) and the photovoltaic panel (01) are respectively connected to a structural support plate (05). The bottoms of the four structural support plates (05) are all connected to an arc-shaped bottom plate (04), thus forming a condensation cover. A water outlet pipe (07) is provided at the contact part between the structural support plate (05) at the bottom end of the transparent cover plate (09) and the lowest point of the arc-shaped bottom plate (04).

2. The all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device according to claim 1, wherein: The lower surface of the photovoltaic panel (01) is tightly connected to the upper half of the cross-scale porous material (03) through a thermal conductive adhesive (02).

3. The all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device according to claim 1, wherein: An isolation plate (06) is provided between the lower half of the cross-scale porous material (03) and the arc-shaped bottom plate (04).

4. An all-weather seawater desalination and photovoltaic panel waste heat recovery device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The cross-scale porous material (03) contains holes of different sizes. Among them, the pore diameter of the small-size holes is 10 nanometers - 10 micrometers, and the pore diameter of the large-size holes is greater than 10 micrometers.

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