Liquid Crystal Polymer Film for Energy-Efficient Water Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional atmospheric water generators require significant energy input for extracting water from humid ambient air, either through cooling condensation or hygroscopic processes using desiccants.
Innovation Solution
An atmospheric water generator comprising an insulating substrate with electrode film units and a liquid crystal/polymer composite film, where the film's surface regions switch between hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties when a voltage is applied, allowing water droplets to condense and aggregate efficiently without excessive energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional cooling condensation or hygroscopic processes are used to extract water from ambient air, then water extraction is achieved, but significant energy input is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface energy parameters of the collection surface by switching between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states using liquid crystal molecules responsive to electromagnetic radiation. This allows water droplets to be selectively attracted and then released without requiring continuous energy input for phase change or chemical absorption, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining water extraction productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal systems (cooling condensation) or chemical systems (hygroscopic desiccants) with an electromagnetic field-based system. The liquid crystal molecules respond to electromagnetic radiation to change their orientation and wettability, substituting the need for thermal energy input or chemical desiccant regeneration, thus reducing overall energy requirements
2Productivity
If water droplets are condensed from ambient air, then water is collected, but evaporation losses occur reducing collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states of the liquid crystal molecules in response to periodic electromagnetic radiation. During the hydrophilic phase, water droplets are attracted and condensed; during the hydrophobic phase, droplets are released and collected. This periodic action prevents prolonged contact that would lead to evaporation losses, thereby improving collection efficiency while minimizing energy loss
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 solution enables energy-efficient water extraction by allowing water droplets to condense and aggregate into larger droplets that can be easily collected, reducing evaporation and operating costs, while maintaining effective water collection.
Implementation Method 1
each of which has a plurality of liquid crystal molecules each having a hydrophilic functional group and a hydrophobic moiety such that each of the surface regions is permitted to have one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties when the liquid crystal molecules are retained by a plurality of polymer grains in a first orientation, and such that when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes of one of the electrode film units to generate a fringing field, the liquid crystal molecules of the respective surface region are orientated in a second orientation by the fringing field
Implementation Method 2
when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes of one of the electrode film units to generate a fringing field, the liquid crystal molecules of the respective surface region are orientated in a second orientation by the fringing field
Implementation Method 3
the water droplets condensed from the ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
An atmospheric water generator for extracting water droplets from ambient air includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrode film units, and a liquid crystal/polymer composite film. Each of surface regions of the liquid crystal/polymer composite film has a plurality of liquid crystal molecules each having a hydrophilic functional group and a hydrophobic moiety. Each of the surface regions normally has one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. When a voltage is applied to one of the electrode film units, the respective surface region is switched to have the other one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, to thereby allow the water droplets condensed from the ambient air to move on the surface regions.