EAGER: Exploratory Natural Models for Fog Harvesting

本研究的重点是物理机制，使甲虫收集水滴从大气中，并量化水收集率作为传入的雾流条件的函数。这方面的基础知识是必要的，因为它与使用物理捕获（网，屏幕等）的工程系统相关。或相变（冷凝）以从大气中提取水。这项研究不仅对热传输社区感兴趣，而且对更广泛的仿生学社区也感兴趣。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。这项工作将多相流体输送与生物学，生态学和材料工程的元素相结合。更具体地说，这项工作将量化水收集率，不仅在化学和形态的甲虫的身体，但也相对于流动结构和液滴浓度边界层周围的动物。这将是第一次研究考虑甲虫和周围大气的整体系统，这是一种在复杂颗粒地形上流动的多相流体。研究的自然系统有可能告知基于仿生原理的水分收集设备的设计。 从根本上说，这项研究有望产生一个甲虫如何从大气中收集雾的机械模型。所产生的数据也将有助于围绕早期提出的雾晒模型的辩论，这些模型激发了热传输界的激烈活动和讨论。

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.