Optimal Design of Multilayer Fog Collectors

Azeem, Musaddaq; Guèrin, Adrien; Dumais, Thomas; Caminos, Luis; Goldstein, Raymond E.; Pesci, Adriana I.; Rivera, Juan de Dios; Torres, María Josefina; Wiener, Jakub; Campos, José Luis; Dumais, Jacques

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b19727

Cited by 46 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The multilayered structure increased the droplet capture area, which enhanced the fog capture efficiency (Figure b). These attributes led to the high efficiency of the multilayer 3D VMF compared to the findings of Musaddaq Azeem et al . , …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes for Enhancing Efficiency in Fog Water Harvesting

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Novel types of vertical filament mesh (VFM) fog harvesters, 3D VFM fog harvesters, and multilayer 3D VFM fog harvesters were developed by mimicking the water-harvesting nature of desert beetles and the spider silks from fog. Four different types of polymer filaments with different hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties were used. The polymer filaments were modified with the polyurethane–sodium alginate (PU–SA) mixture solution, and a simple spraying method was used to form alternating 3D PU–SA microbumps. Polymer VFMs exhibited a higher fog-harvesting efficiency than the vertical metal meshes. Moreover, the hydrophobic VFM was more efficient in fog harvesting than the hydrophilic VFM. Notably, the fog-harvesting efficiency of all VFMs increased by 30–80% after spraying with the mixed PU–SA solution to form a 3D geometric surface structure (3D PU–SA microbumps), which mimicked the desert beetle back surface. This modification caused the fog-harvesting efficiency of PTFE 3D VFM to be thrice higher than that of Fe VFM. This increase was attributed to the improved synergistic effects of fog capturing, droplet growing, and droplet shedding. The multilayer VFMs were more efficient in fog harvesting than the single-layer VFMs because of a larger droplet capture area. The fog-harvesting efficiency of two-layer and four-layer polymer VFMs was approximately 35% and about 45% higher than that of the single-layer polymer VFMs, respectively. The four-layer PTFE 3D VFM with the type B PU–SA bump surface (bump/PU–SA) had the highest efficiency of 287.6 mL/m2/h. Besides the high fog-harvesting efficiency, the proposed polymer VFMs are highly stable, cost-effective, rust-free, and easy to install in practical applications. These advantages are ascribed to the elasticity of the polymer filaments. This work provides new ideas and methods for developing high-performance fog harvesters such as the 3D VFM.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes for Enhancing Efficiency in Fog Water Harvesting

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Large mesh nets have been designed to harvest water from fog [6,7]. Therefore, many studies focused on fog collection and tried to understand this complex process: From the fog flow through the mesh to the droplet impact to water collection [8][9][10][11]. The aim is to make each step as efficient as possible.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capillary transport from barrel to clamshell droplets on conical fibers

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Droplets spontaneously move when they are placed at the tip of a cone surface. Using three dimensionally printed structures, we experimentally explore a large panel of configurations regarding the aperture angle of the cone. We evidence a change of the droplet geometry while moving along the conical fiber. This transition is a switch of configuration from barrel to clamshell shape. The consequence is a change in the droplet dynamics. We estimate the position of this geometrical transition and we propose two models to describe the motion of the barrel and the clamshell droplets. While both shapes are driven by capillary forces, the dissipation is dependent on the geometrical configuration. For barrel shape droplets the main dissipation appears to be in the liquid wedge. For clamshell shape droplets the dissipation occurs mainly in the liquid film close to the conical fiber.

show abstract

“…There are different types of screen materials that can be used to develop the fog collectors consisting of vertical mesh, such as aluminum, plastic, plexiglass, and alloy nets (Abdul-Wahab et al, 2010;Azeem et al, 2020;Li et al, 2020). The geography and topography of potential fog harvesting sites need to be conducive to dense fog, especially in dry areas where rainfall events are sporadic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Significant developments in fog collection have occurred since then. In the last decades, there has been an increasing number of research studies addressing such aspects of fog harvesting as technical features, policy and institutions, gender, community development, economics, capacity building, and its possible environmental impacts (Fessehaye et al, 2014;Qadir et al, 2018;Azeem et al, 2020;Li et al, 2020). Similarly, the number of operational fog water collection systems has also increased over time, with examples of functional systems emerging worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research History and Functional Systems of Fog Water Harvesting

Qadir

Jiménez

Farnum³

et al. 2021

Front. Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Water is among the top five global risks in terms of impacts translated through socio-economic and environmental challenges, influencing people's wellbeing. The situation is grim in water-scarce countries, which need to think and act beyond conventional water resources and tap unconventional water supplies to narrow the gap between water demand and supply. Among unconventional water resources, water embedded in fog is increasingly seen as a source of potable water in dry areas where fog is intense and prevalent. Although a low maintenance option and a green technology to supply freshwater, the potential to collect water from air through fog harvesting is by far under-explored. Based on the comprehensive analysis of fog water collection's research history since 1980, this study reveals that recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in research related to technological developments in fog collection systems. Also, there is an increased focus on associated policy and institutional aspects, economics, environmental dimensions, capacity building, community participation, and gender mainstreaming. In addition to research, fog water collection practice has also increased over time with emerging examples worldwide, notably from Canary Islands, Chile, Colombia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Israel, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Peru, and South Africa. The functional systems of fog water collection demonstrate community engagement, women empowerment, enhanced capacity and training, and active participation of local institutions as the key drivers for effective fog collection systems to provide a sustainable supply of freshwater to the associated communities.

show abstract

Optimal Design of Multilayer Fog Collectors

Cited by 46 publications

References 40 publications

Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes for Enhancing Efficiency in Fog Water Harvesting

Three-Dimensional Multilayer Vertical Filament Meshes for Enhancing Efficiency in Fog Water Harvesting

Capillary transport from barrel to clamshell droplets on conical fibers

Research History and Functional Systems of Fog Water Harvesting

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About