Polyacrylamide/Graphene Hydrogel Sponge for Solar Desalination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seawater desalination technologies face challenges in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and current solar desalination methods have low evaporation rates and efficiencies, making them unsustainable for commercial applications.

Innovation Solution

A composite hydrogel sponge with a polyacrylamide hydrogel water supply layer and a polyacrylamide/graphene composite hydrogel evaporation layer, combined with a solar desalination device featuring a focusing system, is used to enhance photo-thermal conversion efficiency and evaporation rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing solar desalination technologies are used, then the process is simple and uses renewable energy, but the evaporation rate and efficiency are low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaporation rateVSAvoidenergy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by integrating graphene into the hydrogel structure to create a polyacrylamide/graphene composite hydrogel. The graphene component enhances photo-thermal conversion efficiency, allowing the material to convert solar energy into thermal energy more effectively, thereby increasing evaporation rate and efficiency while maintaining simplicity of the solar desalination process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical and chemical parameters of the hydrogel material by incorporating graphene at specific mass ratios (0.90-1.35 parts graphene to 12-18 parts polyacrylamide) and controlling particle size (0.40-10.00 nm). These parameter changes optimize the photo-thermal conversion properties, enabling higher evaporation efficiency without complicating the overall system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional desalination technologies are used, then treatment effects are achieved, but energy consumption and carbon emissions are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesalination effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical and chemical desalination systems with a solar thermal evaporation system. The polyacrylamide/graphene composite hydrogel absorbs solar energy and converts it to thermal energy, driving water evaporation and condensation without requiring external power input, thereby eliminating carbon emissions and reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective desalination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of water (liquid to vapor through evaporation, then vapor to liquid through condensation) as the core desalination mechanism. The composite hydrogel facilitates this phase change by providing efficient photo-thermal conversion, allowing water to evaporate and condense in a cyclic process that removes salts and contaminants without energy-intensive processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 composite hydrogel sponge and solar desalination device significantly improve evaporation efficiency and reduce energy consumption, achieving sustainable and carbon-free seawater desalination with high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

The composite hydrogel sponge has high photo-thermal conversion efficiency, thereby improving an evaporation rate and evaporation efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-thermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The water and vapor pass through a transparent glass cover and condense into liquid water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

The composite hydrogel sponge has a special porous structure of the sponge, which is beneficial to the rapid transmission and supply of water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS11834351B1Composite hydrogel sponge and its preparation method and application, solar desalination device

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 GUANGDONG OCEAN UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A composite hydrogel sponge and its preparation method and application, and a solar desalination device are provided. The composite hydrogel sponge includes a water supply layer and an evaporation layer disposed on the water supply layer. A material of the water supply layer is polyacrylamide hydrogel, and a material of the evaporation layer is polyacrylamide/graphene composite hydrogel. The polyacrylamide/graphene composite hydrogel includes the polyacrylamide hydrogel and the graphene dispersed in the polyacrylamide hydrogel. The composite hydrogel sponge has a special porous structure of the sponge, which is beneficial to the rapid transmission and supply of water; meanwhile, the graphene on the surface of the evaporation layer can fully receive solar energy to achieve higher photo-thermal conversion efficiency.