Water Harvester Sorbent Composition for Substrate-Free Capture Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sorbent compositions have low sorbent content and high water adsorption capacity loss, and they often require application to a substrate material, limiting their use as structural components in water harvesters.
Innovation Solution
Development of sorbent compositions with 65 wt.% to 85 wt.% sorbent content and less than 15% water adsorption capacity loss, which can be used alone or on a substrate, and can be reconfigured into structural components for water capture modules in water harvesters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional dry sorbent compositions are used, then the sorbent can adsorb water from the atmosphere, but the sorbent content is low (30-60 wt.%) and water adsorption capacity loss is high (>15%)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite material system consisting of sorbent particles (30-60 wt.%), polymer binder (10-30 wt.%), and plasticizer (5-20 wt.%). This composite structure allows the sorbent to maintain high water adsorption capacity while providing mechanical integrity and flexibility for structural applications. The polymer binder holds the sorbent particles together, preventing capacity loss while the plasticizer ensures flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sorbent compositions are applied to substrate material, then the sorbent can be used in water harvesters, but the sorbent cannot be used as structural components discrete from substrate material
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the water adsorbing functional layer and the structural component. The composite formulation with polymer binder and plasticizer provides mechanical strength and flexibility, allowing the sorbent to be used as free-standing structural elements in water harvester devices without requiring separate substrate materials.
3Reliability
If sorbent composition is applied to substrate material, then water capture can be achieved, but the sorbent composition may not sufficiently adhere to substrate material or demonstrate sufficient elasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the chemical and physical parameters of the sorbent composition by incorporating specific ratios of polymer binder (10-30 wt.%) and plasticizer (5-20 wt.%). These parameter adjustments enhance both adhesion to substrate materials and elasticity for reconfiguration into various structural components. The plasticizer specifically improves flexibility while the binder ensures strong adhesion.
4Quantity of substance
If high sorbent content (65-85 wt.%) is achieved in dry sorbent composition, then water uptake capacity is improved, but the composition may lack mechanical integrity for structural use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material where sorbent particles (30-60 wt.%) are bound together with polymer binder (10-30 wt.%) and plasticizer (5-20 wt.%). This composite structure maintains high sorbent content for water uptake while the polymer matrix provides mechanical integrity and flexibility. The plasticizer ensures the composite remains flexible enough for structural applications despite high sorbent loading.
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 sorbent compositions exhibit high water uptake capacity and stability, enabling efficient water capture and desorption, with improved adhesion and elasticity, reducing production costs and enhancing module efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Sorbents include materials that adsorb water from the atmosphere and desorb water from the sorbent
Implementation Method 2
Sorbents include materials that adsorb water from the atmosphere and desorb water from the sorbent
Data Source
AI summary
Sorbent compositions that are useful in the adsorption of water from the atmosphere. In particular embodiments, the sorbent compositions can be disposed alone as a sorbent layer or can be disposed as a sorbent layer on a substrate material, which can be reconfigured as a plurality of structural components that are useful in the assembly water capture modules disposed within an adsorption/desorption structure of a water harvester.