Nanoengineered fog harvesting meshes for retrofit water conservation
Advanced nanoengineered meshes with slippery coatings and electric field attraction enhance fog harvesting efficiency without impacting cooling tower draught. Suitable for retrofitting, the solution offers improved durability and reduced maintenance.
Overview
The nanoengineered fog harvesting meshes provide a breakthrough solution for water conservation by significantly enhancing the efficiency of fog capture. Utilizing a combination of robust nanoengineered surface treatments and electric field attraction, this technology aims to retrofit existing fog harvesting systems. Traditional mesh systems often face challenges such as droplet accumulation, corrosion, and contamination, which this innovative approach effectively mitigates. The solution enhances fog harvesting without affecting the draught pressure in cooling towers, making it an ideal retrofit solution.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Nanoengineered Slippery Coatings: These coatings offer exceptional robustness and contamination prevention, ensuring durability and effective droplet removal.
- Electric Field Attraction: Enhances microdroplet capture and coalescence, allowing for the use of sparser meshes.
- Scalable Solvothermal Process: The coatings are applied through a scalable method that grows nanoporous materials on surfaces, facilitating wide-scale application.
- Low Maintenance: Designed to last over one year without requiring maintenance, reducing operational costs.
Technology readiness level
Currently at Technology Readiness Level 5, this solution has undergone significant research and development. Future validation includes prototype development, laboratory and on-site testing, fluid dynamics simulations, and environmental and economic impact assessments. These steps aim to optimize the design and assess its real-world performance, ensuring readiness for broader application.
About University College London
University College London is a comprehensive public research university in central London, integrated with major NHS teaching hospitals for clinically embedded research and rapid translation. Co‑located labs, maker spaces, and pilot‑scale facilities span Bloomsbury and the expanding East London campus, offering flexible industry access and residency options. Corporate engagement teams structure sponsored research, secondees, and bespoke consortia to align capabilities with product roadmaps. Research is supported by competitive funding from UK Research and Innovation, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Wellcome Trust, and European programs. A dedicated technology transfer company manages IP, licensing, and spinouts, with pathways to seed investment and scale‑up partners.
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