Water collecting apparatus and water collecting method
A water collecting apparatus ( 100 ) includes a moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) and a heat-conducting member ( 20 ). The moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) includes a polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with temperature. The heat-conducting member ( 20 ) is disposed facing a portion of an outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) and has thermal conductivity. The heat-conducting member ( 20 ) is preferably disposed so that another portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) is left exposed. The portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) and the other portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material ( 10 ) are collinearly positioned.
1 . A water collecting apparatus comprising:
a moisture-absorbing material including a polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with changes in temperature; and
a heat-conducting member disposed facing a portion of an outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material and having a thermal conductivity,
wherein the heat-conducting member has an air-conducting unit configured to allow an air current to be applied to the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material.
2 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heat-conducting member is disposed such that another portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material is left exposed.
3 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material and another portion of the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material are collinearly positioned.
4 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heat-conducting member includes, as the air-conducting unit, a through-hole passing through the heat-conducting member.
5 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the heat-conducting member is formed in a mesh shape.
6 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material includes a plurality of surfaces, and
the heat-conducting member is disposed facing all but one surface of the plurality of surfaces.
7 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material includes;
a facing surface positioned on a side facing the heat-conducting member, and
a non-facing surface positioned on another side not facing the heat-conducting member.
8 . The water collecting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the moisture-absorbing material is porous,
the moisture-absorbing material includes;
a first layer, and
a second layer having a smaller surface area than the first layer, and
the second layer is disposed closer to the non-facing surface or is disposed in a location farther away from the facing surface than the first layer is.
9 . A water collecting apparatus comprising:
a moisture-absorbing material including a polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with changes in temperature; and
a heat-conducting member disposed facing a portion of an outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material and having a thermal conductivity,
wherein the outer surface of the moisture-absorbing material includes:
a facing surface positioned on a side facing the heat-conducting member, and
a non-facing surface positioned on another side not facing the heat-conducting member,
the moisture-absorbing material includes:
a first layer, and
a second layer being higher than the first layer in temperature at which the degree of hydrophilicity of the polymer compound is higher than a predetermined threshold, and
the second layer is disposed closer to the non-facing surface or is disposed in a location farther away from the facing surface than the first layer is.
10 . A water collecting apparatus comprising:
a moisture-absorbing material including a polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with temperature; and
a light source configured to irradiate the moisture-absorbing material with light,
wherein the moisture-absorbing material includes, at a portion where light strikes, a photothermal conversion body configured to convert light into heat, and
an amount of the photothermal conversion body included in the moisture-absorbing material decreases as a distance from the portion where light strikes increases.
11 . A water collecting apparatus comprising:
a moisture-absorbing material including a photoresponsive polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with light; and
a light source configured to irradiate the moisture-absorbing material with light,
wherein the photoresponsive polymer compound is included in a portion, of the moisture-absorbing material, where light strikes,
the moisture-absorbing material further includes a temperature-responsive polymer compound having a property in which a degree of hydrophilicity changes with changes in temperature, and
the photoresponsive polymer compound generates heat in response to light.