Atmospheric Water Capture Channels With Hydrogel-Desiccant Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atmospheric water capturing technologies rely on a single sorbent material that performs multiple roles sequentially, leading to delayed capture and harvesting rates, and have not demonstrated water capturing rates near the solar or thermodynamic capabilities, particularly in dry environments with low humidity.
Innovation Solution
An atmospheric water capturing device comprising a plurality of channels with porous water-permeable membranes and a liquid desiccant, utilizing a bio-inspired design that allows simultaneous water capture and distillation through separate, specialized materials, including a capture gel and an evaporator gel, to enhance capture and harvesting rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sorbent material is used to perform multiple roles sequentially, then device complexity is reduced, but water capture rate and productivity are delayed and limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple channels, each containing specialized sorbent materials optimized for specific functions (water capture, condensation, distillation). This segmentation allows parallel processing of different water treatment stages, dramatically increasing overall water capture rate while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Each channel is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - capturing water vapor, condensing it to liquid, and distilling it for purification. The sorbent materials and channel structures are engineered to handle multiple operational roles within a single integrated unit, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Device complexity
If sequential processing is used for water capture and harvesting, then device structure is simplified, but capture and harvesting rates are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables continuous water capture and harvesting operations by implementing parallel processing across multiple channels. While one channel is capturing water vapor, others are simultaneously condensing and distilling water, eliminating idle time and ensuring continuous productive operation without requiring complex sequential control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Sorbent materials are pre-positioned in optimal configurations within each channel to immediately begin water capture upon contact with humid air. The channels are pre-configured with appropriate sorbent types and arrangements that facilitate rapid initial water uptake, reducing capture delay before the main harvesting process begins
3Device complexity
If existing atmospheric water capturing approaches are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but water capturing rates do not approach solar or thermodynamic capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes porous sorbent materials with optimized pore sizes, surface areas, and hydrophilic properties to dramatically enhance water vapor adsorption capacity and rate. These porous materials provide extensive surface area for water capture while maintaining structural integrity, enabling water capturing rates that approach solar and thermodynamic limits without requiring overly complex system architectures
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs composite sorbent materials combining different functional components - hygroscopic salts for water absorption, porous matrices for surface area, and hydrophilic coatings for enhanced moisture uptake. These composite materials synergistically improve water capturing rate and efficiency, allowing the system to reach near-solar-limit productivity while maintaining relatively simple device structure
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 achieves high water capture rates at low humidities, approaching the solar limit of 10 kg m−2 day−1, even in dry conditions, by leveraging the synergistic action of the capture and evaporator gels, enabling continuous water production.
Implementation Method 1
porous water-permeable membranes, each porous water-permeable membrane having a surface that at least partly defines a respective channel
Implementation Method 2
porous water-permeable membranes
Implementation Method 3
A liquid desiccant is in contact with a side of each porous water-permeable membrane opposite the surface of the porous water-permeable membrane that at least partly defines the respective channel
Implementation Method 4
The first section may be configured to wick water from the received ambient atmosphere
Implementation Method 5
The second section may be configured to evaporate water stored in the at least one channel
Data Source
AI summary
An atmospheric water capturing device for transforming water vapor into liquid water has a plurality of channels. The device further includes a plurality of hydrogel membranes. Each hydrogel membrane having a surface that at least partly defines a respective channel of the plurality of channels. A liquid desiccant is in contact with a side of each hydrogel membrane opposite the surface of the hydrogel membrane that at least partly defines the respective channel.