Fog-based electrical power generator and self-powered system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11938441-B2
Application number	US-202117533155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2021
Priority date	Dec 8, 2020
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A fog-based self-powered system for collecting atmospheric water and generating electricity is presented. The system includes a mesh-based fog harvester for accumulating water droplets from atmospheric moisture. A droplet distributor receives accumulated water droplets from the mesh-based fog harvester. A droplet electrical generator harvests energy from the water droplets accumulated in the droplet distributor. The droplet electrical generator includes an electret surface for receiving the water droplets from the droplet distributor and at least two electrodes. A water reservoir receives water droplets from the droplet electrical generator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fog-based self-powered system for collecting atmospheric water and generating electricity, comprising:
a mesh-based fog harvester for accumulating water droplets from atmospheric moisture; a droplet distributor configured to receive accumulated water droplets from the mesh-based fog harvester;
a droplet-based electrical generator for harvesting energy from the water droplets accumulated in the droplet distributor;
the droplet-based electrical generator including an electret surface for receiving the water droplets from the droplet distributor and at least two electrodes;
a water reservoir for receiving water droplets from the droplet-based electrical generator.

2. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the mesh-based fog harvester is a three-dimensional mesh-based fog harvester.

3. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional mesh-based fog harvester has a planar shape, a cylindrical shape, or a semi-circular shape.

4. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the mesh-based fog harvester includes a polymer mesh with a superhydrophobic coating.

5. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 4 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating comprises nano-silica and a polysiloxane.

6. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 5 , wherein the polysiloxane is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

7. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the droplet distributor includes a flow rate controller.

8. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the droplet distributor includes first and second chambers.

9. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 8 , wherein the second chamber includes a constricted portion to regulate droplet flow.

10. The fog-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the mesh-based fog harvester includes a metal mesh.

11. The mesh-based self-powered system of claim 1 , wherein the droplet-based electrical generator includes a PTFE film on an indium tin oxide electrode.

12. The mesh-based self-powered system of claim 11 , wherein the droplet-based electrical generator further includes a metal electrode on the PTFE film that electrically communicates with the indium tin oxide electrode.

Assignees

• Univ City Hong Kong

Inventors

• Wang Zuankai
• Wang Steven
• Ling Chen
• Yao Xiaoxue
• Wong Yat Hei

Classifications

• B01D5/009 Primary

  Collecting, removing and/or treatment of the condensate · CPC title

• B01D5/0015

  Plates · CPC title

• B01D5/0051

  Regulation processes; Control systems, e.g. valves · CPC title

• B01D5/0057

  in combination with other processes · CPC title

• E03B3/28

  from humid air (condensing of vapours in general B01D5/00; dehumidification of air for air-conditioning F24F3/14) · CPC title