Optimizing multi-cycle atmospheric water harvesting via sorbent utilization efficiency
Jimeng Ding, Michael R. Templeton, Yuan He, Peng Cheng, Wenhai Chu
Abstract
Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) technology may have considerable potential in mitigating freshwater scarcity, particularly if advancements can be achieved in sorbent materials and optimizing multi-cycle operations. This study introduces a SAWH device that employs a dual-salt composite sorbent and analyses its performance, with a specific focus on sorbent utilization efficiency, an important understudied parameter in SAWH technologies to-date. We investigated the effects of varying cycle numbers on water harvesting efficiency and analyzed multi-cycle processes from the perspective of sorbent utilization efficiency. Our findings elucidate the trade-off dynamics between sorbent utilization efficiency and water harvesting efficiency, highlighting the balance of material efficiency with water collection yield. These insights contribute a novel perspective to the development and optimization of SAWH technology, highlighting the critical importance of incorporating sorbent utilization efficiency in the pursuit of sustainable atmospheric water harvesting solutions.