Powder-based additive manufacturing of carbon nanotube/ thermoplastic polyurethane solar evaporators

• Main Author: Suhailah Binte Muhammad Arshad
• Other Authors: Zhou Kun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168268
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Various designs and methods have been designed and developed in solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) for water desalination to achieve highly efficient solar steam generation. However, the challenge of achieving superior efficiency than the present available designs remain to be overcome. In this work, we comprehensively analyse the performance of these developments as an inspiration of our highly efficient CNT/TPU tree-inspired and aloe vera-inspired solar evaporators that supplies as an all-day freshwater harvester. Moreover, we conducted the experiment using Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) techniques mainly using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF), to comparatively study the performance of the 3D printers and determine the suitable PBF technique for CNT/TPU material. Subsequently, analysing the material to achieve microporous structure and apply the parameters on the aloe vera and tree macrostructure designs. Our aloe vera-inspired structures exhibit high evaporation rate, excellent thermal management properties and high fog collection. Moreover, under 5 sun illumination, the water evaporation rate of aloe vera-inspired structures are 1-2 times higher than those of tree-inspired structures. The outstanding performance were achieved by the comparison of materials used in the CNT/TPU composites and various nozzle opening by MJF which were accomplished through multiple light reflections and excellent thermal conversion along the aloe vera-inspired structure to obtain efficient thermal recovery. Thus, the aloe vera-inspired structure demonstrates its potential in combatting the global water scarcity issues for its ability to quickly harvest freshwater in a short duration.