Ionic Liquid Membrane Water Harvesting Without Moving Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing and processing ambient water-group species on the Moon and in space are inefficient, requiring vast amounts of material processing and operation in extreme environments, and lack effective membrane-based processing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A membrane-based device using a semipermeable membrane with an ionic liquid coating that captures and processes ambient water-group species through an electric potential difference, allowing seamless processing without mechanical moving parts and enabling in-situ resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional methods are used to capture and process ambient water-group species on the Moon and in space, then water can be harvested, but the processing requires vast amounts of material handling and complex mechanical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical processing systems with an electric field-based membrane separation system. Instead of using mechanical pumps, filters, and processing equipment to harvest water from ambient water-group species, the invention uses a semipermeable membrane with an ionic liquid coating and applies an electric potential difference to drive water molecules through the membrane into a storage reservoir, thereby simplifying the device complexity while maintaining water harvesting effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a semipermeable membrane with an ionic liquid coating as an intermediary between the ambient water-group species and the storage reservoir. This membrane acts as a selective barrier that allows water molecules to pass through while blocking other species, enabling efficient water separation and harvesting without requiring complex mechanical separation systems
2Device complexity
If membrane-based processing is implemented, then device complexity is reduced and processing becomes seamless, but the device requires electrical power input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the system by applying an electric potential difference across the semipermeable membrane. This electrical parameter drives the separation process, allowing water molecules to be selectively transported through the membrane. The use of electrical energy enables simplified device architecture while providing controllable and efficient water harvesting, with the energy input being the trade-off for reduced mechanical complexity
3Quantity of substance
If vast amounts of material are processed to extract water, then water can be obtained, but the efficiency of water extraction is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a semipermeable membrane with an ionic liquid coating as a porous/selective material that enables efficient water extraction. The membrane's selective permeability allows water molecules to pass through while blocking other ambient species, significantly improving water extraction efficiency compared to processing vast amounts of bulk material. The ionic liquid coating enhances the membrane's selectivity and facilitates water molecule transport
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical processing methods with an electric field-driven membrane separation process. Instead of physically processing and filtering vast amounts of material, the system uses an applied electric potential to directly drive water molecules through the semipermeable membrane, dramatically improving extraction efficiency by targeting only water molecules rather than processing all ambient material
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
The device efficiently processes captured water-group species into a storage reservoir, facilitating in-situ resource utilization and providing a compact, lightweight solution for water harvesting in space environments, while also serving as a scientific instrument to measure flux.
Implementation Method 1
an ionic liquid disposed on a presenting face of the semipermeable membrane to capture ambient water-group species
Implementation Method 2
urges at least some of the water-group species captured on the presenting face to pass through the semipermeable membrane and into the internal void
Implementation Method 3
application of a predetermined electric potential difference across the semipermeable membrane via the electrode contacts urges at least some of the water-group species captured on the presenting face to pass through the semipermeable membrane
Data Source
AI summary
According to the method and device for a membrane-based processing of ambient water-group species, the species are captured in a space environment by an ionic liquid disposed on a presenting face of a semipermeable membrane. To seamlessly process the captured species for in-situ resource utilization without need of moving parts, they are urged to pass through the membrane by a predetermined electric potential difference applied between opposite sides of the membrane via electrode contacts; an initial storage envelope is provided by an impermeable membrane attached to a back face of the semipermeable membrane. The device can be stowed in a manner of rolled plastic and deployed by unrolling. The device can also be configured as a scientific instrument to monitor a flux of ambient water-group species impinging in the space environment using electrical measurements.