CONTEXT. European Network to connect research and innovation efforts on advanced Smart Textiles
Full Title: CONTEXT. European Network to connect research and innovation efforts on advanced Smart Textiles
Keywords: Smart Textiles, Fog and Dew Harvesting Textiles, Hydric Crisis, Water Self-sufficiency
Research unit: Prof. Alessandra Zanelli, Prof. Carol Monticelli, Researcher Salvatore Viscuso, PHD Maria Giovanna Di Bitonto
Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC)
E-mail (referent): alessandra.zanelli@polimi.it; carol.monticelli@polimi.it
CONTEXT brings together European researchers, manufacturers and main relevant stakeholders in order to develop joint ideas and initiatives, which can be turned into advanced smart textile products. The POLIMI DABC research group is active into the WP4 Building and living, developing smart textile fog collector for enhancing the efficiency of the water harvesting system, usable in urban or land contexts and on the building facades. Textile architecture covers permanent tensile structures based on polyester or glass fiber fabrics, with a PVC or PTFE coating and awnings generally supported by polyester or polyolefin fabrics, with or without coating, especially for gardening. In the building and living sectors, one of the main concepts that is being explored is the zero- energy building, based in the improvement of materials used, construction methods and architectural design. In this scope the use of textile based materials, such as composite structures, that can contribute to both the reduction of the amount of raw materials that is used and the energy and water consumption reduction can be seen as a determinant factor in order to achieve this goal. Water emergency is one of the terrible effects of climate change, it is defined the Blue gold of 21st century. In this scenario, fog stands as a potential alternative water resource. Many territories worldwide are affected by fog phenomenon, here fog collectors have been developed to extract water from humid mass of air. The fog collector is a passive, low maintenance, and sustainable device; it is composed of a mesh and a supporting structure. The aim of the research is to enhance fog collector’s efficiency by improving its technology, in particular its components. The structure is meant to be studied, it shall be integrated in building envelope, in order to promote resilient constructions and make buildings water self-sufficient. It has to be easy kit to be installed easily by the end-users, if needed.
| Funding: COST Action CA17107 |
| Implementation: Year: 2018 Month: April |