Modular Water Extraction Module with Curved Knitted Fabric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water collection devices from aerosols face challenges in maintaining stability and efficiency, particularly in preventing collected water from being carried away by wind, leading to reduced water yield and increased evaporation.
Innovation Solution
A modular water extraction system comprising a frame with longitudinal and transverse frame elements, a knitted fabric, and tensioning struts, where the knitted fabric is curved to enhance water droplet collection and the modules can be connected to form a larger unit, allowing for efficient water collection and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple frame structure is used for water collection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability against wind and reliability of water collection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water collection device is divided into multiple independent modules, each capable of functioning autonomously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stability through modular redundancy while keeping individual module complexity low. Each module can be independently stabilized against wind forces without requiring the entire structure to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The knitted fabric is stretched over the frame elements in a nested configuration, with the fabric nested within the frame structure and the collecting channel nested within the module assembly. This nesting provides mutual support and stabilization, enhancing reliability without adding external structural complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the knitted fabric surface is made flat, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the water yield and collection efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The knitted fabric surface is designed with curvature rather than being flat. This curvature enhances the collection efficiency by improving droplet coalescence and guiding water flow more effectively toward collection points, thereby increasing water yield without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
3Device complexity
If a single large water collection module is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the water yield and efficiency deteriorate compared to modular systems
Solution Approach 1:
The water collection system is segmented into multiple independent modules that can be connected to form a larger system. This modular approach increases water yield by providing multiple collection surfaces and pathways, improving overall efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized module design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical modules are combined to form a larger water collection system. The longitudinal frame elements of individual modules are connected to form an extended structure, merging the functionality of multiple units while maintaining the proven efficiency of each module design.
4Device complexity
If the collecting channel is positioned at the end of the knitted fabric, then the structure is simplified, but water loss to wind and evaporation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collecting channel is positioned to prevent water loss before it can occur. By strategically locating the collecting channel at optimal positions along the knitted fabric, the system proactively captures water droplets before wind or evaporation can cause loss, rather than reacting to water loss after it occurs.
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 modular design increases water yield by ensuring collected water is not lost to wind or evaporation, with a stable and efficient system that can be easily assembled and expanded, achieving higher water collection efficiency compared to single module systems.
Implementation Method 1
Due to wetting effects, smaller droplets stick to the filaments of a knitted fabric introduced into the aerosol flow as a separating element and agglomerate there into larger droplets
Implementation Method 2
agglomerate there into larger droplets until the gravitational force exceeds the static friction and the droplets are transported along the filaments of the knitted fabric in the direction of gravity
Implementation Method 3
at least one tensioning strut (7), which is arranged within the frame (1) and extends through the one-piece or multi-piece knitted fabric (6)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present invention provides a water extraction module (10), which is designed to separate and collect water from an aerosol in an air flow, a modular water collector (100), which is built up from such modules (10), and a water collector field. The water extraction module (10) has a frame (1) with two longitudinal frame elements and two transverse frame elements which are connected to one another at connection points, and at least one one-piece or multi-piece knitted fabric (6) which is stretched over the two transverse frame elements in the frame (1). The two longitudinal frame elements can each be connected via at least one of their ends to a longitudinal frame element of a further water extraction module (10). One transverse frame element, which, in a use arrangement of the water extraction module (10), comes to lie at the bottom, is a collecting channel (4) and at least one of the two longitudinal frame elements is a longitudinal tube (2'), wherein the at least one longitudinal tube (2') has a mouth (2d) at the connection point with the collecting channel (4). An upper transverse frame element (3), which comes to lie at the top in the use arrangement of the water extraction module (10), and the collecting channel (4) each have a mutually aligned arcuate curvature (K) which extends perpendicularly with respect to a plane (E) which is defined by the two longitudinal frame elements.