Progress and perspectives of sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting for sustainable water generation: Materials, devices, and systems

Zhaoyuan Bai; Pengfei Wang; Jiaxing Xu; Ruzhu Wang; Tingxian Li

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2023.12.018

Progress and perspectives of sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting for sustainable water generation: Materials, devices, and systems

Sci Bull (Beijing). 2024 Mar 15;69(5):671-687. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.12.018. Epub 2023 Dec 9.

Authors

Zhaoyuan Bai¹, Pengfei Wang¹, Jiaxing Xu¹, Ruzhu Wang², Tingxian Li³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
² Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Research Center of Solar Power and Refrigeration (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
³ Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Research Center of Solar Power and Refrigeration (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: Litx@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38105159
DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.12.018

Abstract

Establishing alternative methods for freshwater production is imperative to effectively alleviate global water scarcity, particularly in land-locked arid regions. In this context, extracting water from the ubiquitous atmospheric moisture is an ingenious strategy for decentralized freshwater production. Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) shows strong potential for supplying liquid water in a portable and sustainable way even in desert environments. Herein, the latest progress in SAWH technology in terms of materials, devices, and systems is reviewed. Recent advances in sorbent materials with improved water uptake capacity and accelerated sorption-desorption kinetics, including physical sorbents, polymeric hydrogels, composite sorbents, and ionic solutions, are discussed. The thermal designs of SAWH devices for improving energy utilization efficiency, heat transfer, and mass transport are evaluated, and the development of representative SAWH prototypes is clarified in a chronological order. Thereafter, state-of-the-art operation patterns of SAWH systems, incorporating intermittent, daytime continuous and 24-hour continuous patterns, are examined. Furthermore, current challenges and future research goals of this cutting-edge field are outlined. This review highlights the irreplaceable role of heat and mass transfer enhancement and facile structural improvement for constructing high-yield water harvesters.

Keywords: Atmospheric water harvesting; Heat transfer; Mass transport; Thermal design; Water sorbents; Water vapor sorption.

Publication types

Review