Hygroscopic Composite Water Generation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water generation systems using hygroscopic materials face inefficiencies due to limited surface areas and mass-specific water uptake potential, requiring significant energy and additional separation processes, especially in systems employing liquid desiccants or solid desiccants with limited performance.
Innovation Solution
A solar thermal unit with a composite assembly that captures water vapor from ambient air during a loading cycle and releases it to a working fluid during an unloading cycle, utilizing a condenser to produce water, which combines energy absorption and efficient water vapor condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid desiccant mist is sprayed to improve water uptake interaction, then water uptake efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and separation process complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous hygroscopic materials that provide high surface area for water vapor absorption without requiring liquid spraying. The porous structure enables efficient mass transfer and water uptake while avoiding the energy-intensive mist generation and separation processes associated with liquid desiccant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite hygroscopic materials that combine high water uptake capacity with structural stability. These composite materials achieve superior productivity through enhanced surface area and optimized pore structures, eliminating the need for additional separation processes and reducing overall energy consumption.
2Device complexity
If solid desiccants are used for water production, then system simplicity is improved, but water production efficiency is reduced due to limited surface area and mass-specific water uptake potential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous solid desiccant materials that dramatically increase the available surface area for water vapor absorption compared to conventional solid desiccants. The porous structure provides numerous absorption sites while maintaining the simplicity of a solid-phase system without requiring liquid handling or complex separation equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional hygroscopic systems are used, then initial setup is simplified, but long-term operational stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs composite hygroscopic materials that are specifically designed to maintain structural integrity and hygroscopic performance over extended operational periods. These composite materials resist degradation, maintain consistent water uptake capacity, and ensure long-term reliability while keeping the system design straightforward for ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient and consistent water production with durable hygroscopic materials, achieving long-term operational stability and reducing energy requirements by optimizing the interaction between the hygroscopic composite and operational parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a hygroscopic composite to capture water vapor from a process gas, for example ambient air, flowing in a process flow path through the composite assembly
Implementation Method 2
Composite assemblies disclosed herein can be configured to absorb thermal energy and release water vapor to a working fluid
Implementation Method 3
Water generation systems of the present disclosure can comprise a condenser for condensing water vapor from the working fluid flowing in the regeneration flow path to produce water
Data Source
AI summary
Water generation systems and methods of generating water from air are disclosed herein. Systems for generating water from air can comprise a solar thermal unit comprising a hygroscopic material, composite or assembly configured to capture water vapor from air during a loading cycle and release water vapor to a working fluid during an unloading cycle. Water generation systems can further include a condenser for condensing water vapor from the working fluid to produce water. Methods for generating water from air disclosed herein can comprise receiving a system operational parameter from a loading and/or unloading cycle. Methods of operation can also include determining a loading and/or unloading system operational setpoint based on the system operational parameter. During a loading cycle, the method includes flowing ambient air through the hygroscopic material, composite or assembly to capture water vapor from air.