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Side structural regulation strategy of 3D gear evaporators for enhanced solar water evaporation and salt harvesting.

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Title: Side structural regulation strategy of 3D gear evaporators for enhanced solar water evaporation and salt harvesting.
Authors: Tao, Junyang1 (AUTHOR), Feng, Zihan2 (AUTHOR), Zhai, Shan1 (AUTHOR), Huang, Suji1 (AUTHOR), E, Yi1 (AUTHOR), Zhu, Fengshuai1 (AUTHOR), Lin, Liangyou1 (AUTHOR), Qian, Jingwen1 (AUTHOR) qianjingwen@hubu.edu.com, Irshad, Muhammad Sultan1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Xianbao1 (AUTHOR) wxb@hubu.edu.cn
Source: Desalination. Nov2025, Vol. 614, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Evaporators, Solar energy, Salt industry, Carbon-based materials, Water purification, Wastewater treatment, Energy conversion, Evaporative cooling
Abstract: Interfacial water evaporation driven by solar energy is believed to be one of the most effective methods to reduce water pollution and scarcity globally. However, lower evaporation and salt accumulation still limit its practical application towards zero-liquid discharge. Here, a side structural regulation approach of 3D gear evaporators is sequentially designed by adhering low-cost activated carbon onto a gear-shaped hepa filter, aided by a centralized water supply through the cotton pith. These 3D gear evaporators harvest multiple energy sources with their sawtooth structure to maintain the cooling evaporation surface property, linearly escalating the evaporation rate from 3.79 kg m−2 h−1 to 8.35 kg m−2 h−1 by increasing the light incidence angle (75°). This unprecedented enhancement is due to a higher evaporation area index (EAI) which is higher than many cylindrical 3D evaporators. More importantly, concentration gradient allows salt crystallization at the edges and endows a salt harvesting rate of 72.8 g m−2 h−1 with highly saline brine (20 wt%) and zero liquid discharge in brine management. The evaporator acquired excellent purifying efficiency for simulated saltwater, dye wastewater, and real oily wastewater, generating over 4 kg m−2 of fresh water daily during a five-day outdoor trial—sufficient to satisfy the daily drinking requirements of 2–3 people. By designing an array structure on the side of a 3D gear evaporator, not only enhanced evaporation rate (3.79 kg m−2 h−1), but the water supply channel is also modified, leading to localized salt deposition with a collection rate of up to 72.8 mg h−1. The side array structure can achieve high energy conversion under different solar incidence angles, and the cooling evaporation surface can also gain energy from ambient. [Display omitted] • The evaporation area index of the 3D gear evaporator exceeds 28. • The 3D gear evaporator exhibits evaporation rate of 3.79 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun. • Computational Fluid Dynamics was utilized to explain the salt collection mechanism. • Commercially available, low-cost materials were used to construct evaporators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Interfacial water evaporation driven by solar energy is believed to be one of the most effective methods to reduce water pollution and scarcity globally. However, lower evaporation and salt accumulation still limit its practical application towards zero-liquid discharge. Here, a side structural regulation approach of 3D gear evaporators is sequentially designed by adhering low-cost activated carbon onto a gear-shaped hepa filter, aided by a centralized water supply through the cotton pith. These 3D gear evaporators harvest multiple energy sources with their sawtooth structure to maintain the cooling evaporation surface property, linearly escalating the evaporation rate from 3.79 kg m−2 h−1 to 8.35 kg m−2 h−1 by increasing the light incidence angle (75°). This unprecedented enhancement is due to a higher evaporation area index (EAI) which is higher than many cylindrical 3D evaporators. More importantly, concentration gradient allows salt crystallization at the edges and endows a salt harvesting rate of 72.8 g m−2 h−1 with highly saline brine (20 wt%) and zero liquid discharge in brine management. The evaporator acquired excellent purifying efficiency for simulated saltwater, dye wastewater, and real oily wastewater, generating over 4 kg m−2 of fresh water daily during a five-day outdoor trial—sufficient to satisfy the daily drinking requirements of 2–3 people. By designing an array structure on the side of a 3D gear evaporator, not only enhanced evaporation rate (3.79 kg m−2 h−1), but the water supply channel is also modified, leading to localized salt deposition with a collection rate of up to 72.8 mg h−1. The side array structure can achieve high energy conversion under different solar incidence angles, and the cooling evaporation surface can also gain energy from ambient. [Display omitted] • The evaporation area index of the 3D gear evaporator exceeds 28. • The 3D gear evaporator exhibits evaporation rate of 3.79 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun. • Computational Fluid Dynamics was utilized to explain the salt collection mechanism. • Commercially available, low-cost materials were used to construct evaporators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00119164
DOI:10.1016/j.desal.2025.119206