Abstract
AbstractSolar steam generation with low-cost and excellent energy efficiency is of great significance for alleviating an energy crisis, reducing water pollution and promoting seawater desalination. However, there are still numerous challenges for solar steam generation system to practical energy utilization. In this review, based on our previous research, we summarize various methods of solar steam generation, photothermal conversion mechanism and efficiency. We studied a series of effecting factors for solar steam generation. Our systematic investigation provided a clearer understanding of how to design and optimize the photothermal conversion system to improve the steam generation rate and energy conversion rate, including improving light absorption, reducing heat loss, and optimizing water supply. This article aims to make a comprehensive review of present solar steam technology, so that people can better apply photothermal conversion technology. Meanwhile, it also provides a route for the selection of photothermal materials, the design and optimization of the photothermal conversion system.
Highlights
Solar steam generation with low-cost and excellent energy efficiency is of great significance for alleviating an energy crisis, reducing water pollution and promoting seawater desalination
Compared with the conventional bulk heating-based evaporation, interfacial solar-driven steam generation system can limit the heat to air/water interface and form the heat localization, reduce thermal loss and improve energy conversion efficiency
We list the light absorption rate and photothermal conversion efficiency of photothermal materials in the literature related to interfacial water evaporation in recent years
Summary
Abstract: Solar steam generation with low-cost and excellent energy efficiency is of great significance for alleviating an energy crisis, reducing water pollution and promoting seawater desalination. There are still numerous challenges for solar steam generation system to practical energy utilization. In this review, based on our previous research, we summarize various methods of solar steam generation, photothermal conversion mechanism and efficiency. Our systematic investigation provided a clearer understanding of how to design and optimize the photothermal conversion system to improve the steam generation rate and energy conversion rate, including improving light absorption, reducing heat loss, and optimizing water supply. This article aims to make a comprehensive review of present solar steam technology, so that people can better apply photothermal conversion technology. It provides a route for the selection of photothermal materials, the design and optimization of the photothermal conversion system
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