Theoretical evaluation of the evaporation rate of 2D solar-driven interfacial evaporation and of its large-scale application potential

Abstract

2D solar-driven interfacial evaporation (2D SIE) is a low-cost, environmentally friendly water treatment solution. Studies have improved the performance of single-stage evaporation close to its upper bound in controlled environments. However, the most critical parameter – the rate of evaporation – was only assessed by laboratory-scale measurements and data are typically obtained under a specific set of conditions. Previous studies did not evaluate or modeled evaporation rates in the case of changing environmental variables, for example, temperature, humidity, or wind speed. To effectively utilize the 2D SIE technology at real scale and understand its potential in different scenarios, the spatial and temporal variability of environmental parameters must be considered. To preliminarily address this issue, we propose the first model for assessing the evaporation rate of 2D SIE systems in real environments. Based on this theoretical model, we thus explore the potential deployment of the 2D SIE technology globally. This study provided a basis for further model development and it discusses key information to guide further improvements of 2D SIE systems design and its large-scale implementation.