A system for local fog generation, air humidification and enhanced natural condensation
DREVO Cloud & Mist System— an engineering system for creating localized zones of fine water aerosol on ridges, summits, and upper slopes in order to increase air humidity, enhance natural fog formation, and improve water collection efficiency.
The system is not designed to artificially generate rain clouds on a regional scale.
Its purpose is to create a favorable microclimate that enhances natural processes:
fog formation;
dewfall;
condensation of moisture;
moistening of vegetation;
reduction of soil overheating;
reducing fire hazard.
The main principle:
Use a small amount of water to initiate processes that return significantly more atmospheric moisture to the soil and vegetation.
1. Main tasks of the system
DREVO Cloud & Mist System is designed for:
restoration of degraded mountain ecosystems;
increasing air humidity;
surface cooling;
support of young forests;
restoration of mosses and lichens;
increasing the efficiency of fog eliminators;
increase in dew formation;
reducing soil evaporation;
reduction of slope temperature;
local reduction of fire hazard;
improving the microclimate.
2. Operating principle
The system sprays water through high-pressure nozzles, forming droplets with a diameter of several tens of micrometers.
Part of the drops:
evaporates;
cools the air;
increases relative humidity.
Another part:
settles on vegetation;
wets the stones;
gets into the soil;
retained by mosses and lichens.
If the air temperature approaches the dew point and an updraft is present, the moisture can promote the formation of natural fog or enhance an existing cloud layer.
3. Benefits on ridges and peaks
Enhancement of natural condensation
Even a small increase in air humidity near the ridge can increase the amount of moisture settling on:
хвое;
leaves;
mist eliminator meshes;
stones;
mhah;
lichens.
Supporting young forests
In the first years after planting trees, the main problem is drying out of the top layer of soil.
Fine mist is capable of:
reduce water stress;
reduce leaf temperature;
increase the duration of photosynthesis;
reduce the amount of watering.
Moss restoration
Mosses are able to absorb water directly from the air.
Even a short-term increase in humidity can significantly improve their vitality.
Restoration of lichens
Lichens also use atmospheric moisture.
It is they who begin to form the first stable biological communities on bare rocks.
Microbial support
Increasing humidity:
activates soil bacteria;
improves the development of fungi;
accelerates the formation of humus.
4. Improving the efficiency of mist eliminators
Artificial aerosol is capable of increasing the number of droplets passing through the mesh of fog eliminators.
As a result, the amount of water collected by the system increases.
However, effectiveness depends on:
wind direction;
air speed;
humidity;
temperatures;
droplet sizes.
5. Cooling of slopes
Evaporation of water absorbs a large amount of heat.
This allows:
reduce surface temperature;
reduce the heating of the stones;
reduce overheating of young plants;
create a more comfortable microclimate.
The most pronounced effect is observed at low relative humidity and with ventilation, but at the same time the water consumption for evaporation increases.
6. Reducing fire hazard
Before the fire hazard period, the system can be used for:
local increase in fuel moisture;
wetting the grass;
moistening the litter;
cooling of young plantings;
creation of temporary wet strips.
It does not replace proper fire extinguishing.
7. Working with the wind
The ridges have stable air currents.
This is why they are the most promising location for aerosol systems.
Wind can carry fog:
along the ridge;
down the slope;
through young forests;
to the mist eliminators.
At the same time, strong winds sharply reduce spraying efficiency, so the system must automatically change operating mode.
8. Work at night
Night spraying is usually much more effective than day spraying.
Reasons:
lower temperature;
less evaporation;
higher relative humidity;
the dew point is easier to achieve;
less water consumption.
This is why it is recommended to transfer the main working hours to the evening and night hours.
9. Work in the morning
In the morning the system can:
increase dew formation;
maintain natural fog;
reduce plant stress after sunrise.
10. Use in winter
At sub-zero temperatures, normal spraying is limited due to the risk of icing.
In winter the system can be used:
selectively;
during periods of positive temperatures;
to control snow retention;
together with monitoring.
11. Integration with the spring restoration system
Increasing the humidity in the upper zone contributes to:
better soil moisture;
increased infiltration;
reduction of surface runoff;
maintaining the nutrition of springs.
The effect appears gradually and depends on the scale of the system.
12. Integration with reforestation
On young plantings the system can be used:
first 3-5 years;
during periods of drought;
after landing;
during extreme heat.
Once a stable forest community has formed, the need for artificial moisture should decrease.
13. Intelligent control
DREVO AI controls the system based on data:
temperatures;
air humidity;
wind speed;
dew points;
solar radiation;
weather forecast;
soil moisture;
plant conditions;
water level in tanks.
The system is activated only when maximum efficiency is expected.
14. Water sources
Water can come from:
mountain reservoirs;
rainwater storage tanks;
melt water;
restored springs;
mist eliminators;
purified industrial water of appropriate quality.
Using drinking water for continuous spraying is not advisable.
15. System design
The complex includes:
pumping station;
tank;
filtration;
pipelines;
high pressure injectors;
sensors;
automatic valves;
solar powered;
communication system;
DREVO AI Controller.
16. Restrictions
The system must not:
work in strong winds;
spray water during icy conditions;
create waterlogging of slopes;
provoke erosion;
wasting water without the expected effect;
disrupt natural ecosystems.
17. Environmental benefits
When properly managed, the system helps to:
decrease in surface temperature;
increasing air humidity;
restoration of mosses;
development of lichens;
improving conditions for mushrooms;
support of young trees;
increasing biodiversity;
increasing forest resilience;
reducing fire risk;
restoration of the hydrological cycle.
18. Implementation stages
Stage 1.Pilot installation on one ridge.
Stage 2.Compatibility with mist eliminators and sensors.
Stage 3.Integration with the Mountain Digital Twin.
Stage 4.Scaling to the entire watershed network.
The final principle
DREVO Cloud & Mist System does not replace natural clouds.
It enhances the natural processes of atmospheric humidification, fog formation and condensation, creating a favorable microclimate for the restoration of mountain ecosystems.
If designed correctly, the system can become an important element of the complex.DREVO Living Mountains, together with:
DREVO Mountain Sponge;
Mountain Springs Recovery;
Living Mountain Observatory;
Mountain Forest Corridors;
TREVO AeroSense Drone;
Mountain Digital Twin.