An Experimental Study of the Collection of Fog Droplets Using a Mesh Fabric: Possible Application to Cooling Towers

Abstract

An experimental study is presented of the ability of fine meshes to remove fog drops from an air flow. Specifically, the collection efficiency (CE) was measured for fog drops passing through mesh fabrics. Meshes composed of cotton, nylon, and Teflon were investigated, and the effect of the material as well as mesh porosity was determined. Collection efficiencies ranging from 5% to 50% were obtained. The ultimate goal of this work is to employ such meshes in a parachute configuration above power plant cooling towers, so that condensed fog may be collected and returned to the cooling loop. It is shown that the drop diameters and velocities investigated here are similar to those observed above cooling towers.