Just Dew It

by Prof. John Howell

Huji

at Quantum optics seminar

Wed, 18 Nov 2020, 15:00
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84188957378
Abstract:
First of all, you should know that I do optics and quantum optics. However, while studying in my Ulpan, I started reading about some of the problems with water in the Middle East. As any good physicist would say, “I can solve that problem”. Okay, “solve” is a strong word, but at least take a stab at it. I started giving projects to the 2nd and 3rd year laboratory students to see if they could optimize geometries or materials for radiative cooling, extract moisture from the air in whatever way they wished and maximize dew collection, even during the day. We have now done several things of note including: deriving a first-principles radiative cooling-dew collection theory, optimizing radiative cooling geometries and enhanced the radiative power of a dew collection condenser by directing the long-wave infra-red blackbody radiation from the emitter and atmosphere by using reflectors.
I will discuss the history of dew, dew collection, give a mathematical background of radiative theory, discuss our generalized theory and present our latest dew collection results. Lastly, I will show what is possible in the future for dew collection. As is shown in the figures below, six condensers collected dew on two different nights, but only one condenser had reflectors, which greatly increased the yield. For a fun video watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlGmgOo2gWA .

Created on 14-11-2020 by Folman, Ron (folman)
Updaded on 14-11-2020 by Folman, Ron (folman)