US 12,246,278 B2
Liquid collection on wavy surfaces
Yuehan Yao, Evanston, IL (US); Youhua Jiang, Chicago, IL (US); Kyoo-Chul Park, Wilmette, IL (US); and Christian John Machado, Evanston, IL (US)
Assigned to Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/263,330
Filed by Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/045682
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/033667, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/716,000, filed on Aug. 8, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0154608 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 45/08 (2006.01); B01D 53/00 (2006.01); B01D 53/26 (2006.01); E03B 3/28 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 45/08 (2013.01) [B01D 53/002 (2013.01); B01D 53/265 (2013.01); E03B 3/28 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to collect liquid, comprising:
a wavy surface formed on a substrate, wherein the wavy surface includes a plurality of waves, and wherein the plurality of waves are configured to capture liquid from the air such that the liquid accumulates in valleys of the waves, wherein a first portion of the wavy surface includes no coating and no textures, wherein a second portion of the wavy surface includes a first set of textures and no coating, wherein a third portion of the wavy surface includes a hydrophobic coating and no textures, wherein a fourth portion of the wavy surface includes the hydrophobic coating and a second set of textures such that the first portion, the second portion, third portion, and the fourth portion of the wavy surface have distinct surface wettabilities; and
a liquid collection container configured to collect the liquid captured on the plurality of waves.