EAGER: Exploratory Natural Models for Fog Harvesting

本研究的重点是甲虫从大气中收集水滴的物理机制，并将收集水的速率作为传入雾流条件的函数进行量化。该领域的基础知识是必要的，因为它与使用物理捕获（网，屏幕等）或相变（冷凝）从大气中提取水的工程系统相关。这项研究不仅对热输运界有兴趣，而且对更广泛的仿生学界也有兴趣。这项研究的影响可能超越跨学科的界限，并有可能最大限度地提高具有巨大技术重要性的基础知识。本研究将多相流体输运与生物学、生态学和材料工程相结合。更具体地说，这项工作将量化水收集率，不仅根据甲虫身体的化学和形态，而且根据动物周围的流动结构和液滴浓度边界层。这将是一项研究首次考虑甲虫和周围大气的整体系统，这是一种流过复杂颗粒状地形的多相流体。所研究的自然系统有可能为基于仿生原理的集湿装置的设计提供信息。在基础方面，这项研究有望产生一个甲虫如何从大气中收集雾的机制模型。所产生的数据也将有助于围绕早先提出的雾晒模型的辩论，这些模型在热运输界引发了激烈的活动和讨论。

The present study focuses on the physical mechanisms that allow a beetle to collect water droplets from the atmosphere, and quantify water collection rates as a function of the incoming fog stream conditions. Fundamental knowledge in this area is necessary because of its relevance to engineering systems that use either physical capture (nets, screens, etc.) or phase change (condensation) to extract water from the atmosphere. The research is of interest not only to the thermal transport community, but also to the wider communities of biomimetics. The impact of this study may transcend interdisciplinary boundaries and has the potential to maximize fundamental knowledge of immense technological importance.The work combines multiphase fluid transport with elements of biology, ecology and materials engineering. More specifically, the work will quantify water collection rates not only in terms of the chemistry and morphology of the beetle's body, but also with respect to the flow structure and droplet concentration boundary layer around the animal. This would be the first time that a study considers the integral system of the beetle and the surrounding atmosphere, which is a multi-phase fluid flowing over a complex granular terrain. The natural system studied has the potential to inform the design of moisture harvesting devices based on biomimetic principles. On the fundamental side, the research is expected to produce a mechanistic model of how the beetles harvest fog from the atmosphere. The data produced will also contribute to the debate surrounding earlier proposed fog basking models that have inspired intense activity and discussion in the thermal transport community.