Optimal Design of Multilayer Fog Collectors

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Abstract
The growing concerns over desertification have spurred research into technologies aimed at acquiring water from non-traditional sources such as dew, fog, and water vapor. Some of the most promising developments have focused on improving designs to collect water from fog. However, the absence of a shared framework to predict, measure and compare the water collection efficiencies of new prototypes is becoming a major obstacle to progress in the field. We address this problem by providing a general theory to design efficient fog collectors as well as a concrete experimental protocol to supply our theory with the parameters necessary to quantify the effective water collection efficiency. We show in particular that multi-layer collectors are required for high fog collection efficiency and that all efficient designs are found within a narrow range of mesh porosity. We support our conclusions with measurements on simple multi-layer harp collectors.
Funding Information
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/M017982/)
  • Technick? Univerzita v Liberci (SGS 21313)
  • Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Cient?fico y Tecnol?gico (ID15i10387)
  • Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cient?fico y Tecnol?gico (1130129)

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