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Bio-Inspired Retrofit May Save Manufacturers Millions of Gallons of Water Annually

Namib desert beetles capture water droplets from fog. To fight water scarcity, an MIT-spinoff uses the same concept to capture and recycle vapor from cooling tower plumes, saving water and cutting costs in manufacturing facilities.

Infinite Cooling developed an add-on process to capture cooling tower plumes’ water.
Infinite Cooling developed an add-on process to capture cooling tower plumes’ water.

As companies take aim at sustainability beyond recycling, reduction in water usage is a key KPI particularly as droughts and wildfires threaten so many states.

According to MIT-spinoff Infinite Cooling, “40% of all water used in the U.S. is in manufacturing sites and power plants. Much of this water leaves the facilities via high density water vapor from industrial cooling towers.”

Infinite Cooling was one of 10 nature-inspired startups selected as finalists in the Biomimicry Institute’s 2021 Ray of Hope Prize.  Namib desert beetles put their heads down and angle their wing scales vertically into the flow of desert fog. Water droplets aggregate on bumps on their wings, and run down troughs between the bumps so the insects can drink. (Image credit: Biomimicry Institute)Namib desert beetles put their heads down and angle their wing scales vertically into the flow of desert fog. Water droplets aggregate on bumps on their wings, and run down troughs between the bumps so the insects can drink. (Image credit: Biomimicry Institute)

Taking cues from animals’ enhanced fog harvesting strategies such as Namib desert beetles, the company developed an add-on process to capture cooling tower plumes’ water. With groundwater scarce, Namib desert beetles put their heads down and angle their wing scales vertically into the flow of desert fog. Water droplets aggregate on bumps on their wings, and run down troughs between the bumps.

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