Technical Overview and Physical Principles of a Concentric Vortex Fog Collector: A Conceptual Engineering Note

Atmospheric water harvesting has emerged as a promising strategy for mitigating water scarcity in arid and semi-arid environments where conventional freshwater resources are limited. This technical note presents the conceptual foundations, physical principles, and architectural design of a vortex-driven atmospheric water harvesting device based on concentric cyclone structures and multi-stage helicoidal flow pathways. The proposed system employs controlled vortex dynamics to induce centrifugal separation of suspended microdroplets within a compact cylindrical-conical geometry. By forcing humid air to follow alternating descending and ascending helical trajectories through concentric chambers, the device increases the effective interaction length between the aerosol flow and the collector surfaces, potentially enhancing droplet migration, coalescence, and capture efficiency. In addition to vortex-assisted separation, the concept incorporates surface-wettability engineering through the combination of hydrophilic internal walls and hydrophobic brachistochrone-guided drainage pathways designed to accelerate liquid removal and minimize re-entrainment. This document provides a detailed scientific overview of the physical principles underlying the technology protected under Chilean Patent CL 62867 B1. Note: The official patent document in Spanish (granted under registry CL 62867 B1 by INAPI) is provided alongside this technical note as supplementary material.