Method for increasing visibility through fogs

Abstract

Abstract This disclosure related to a method for increasing visibility through warm natural or artificial fogs. It is based upon the absorption and degradation of microwave energy into heat to accelerate the evaporation of the smaller fog droplets which are the greatest hindrance to the transmission of light through fog. The method can be used within the 100 to 230,000 megahertz range, however, the most practical frequencies are those between 500 and 23,000 megahertz. Visibility can be doubled or tripled in a matter of seconds when microwave energy is emitted on both sides of a landing strip by means of a series of individual generators spaced 7 feet apart and operated at the kilowatts power level. The method comprises continuously sweeping microwave beams vertically from both sides of the runway at a maximum sweep speed of about 1 degree per second. In difficult cases, with denser fogs, the evaporation of droplets is increased by combining the microwave emission with ultrasonic waves from a number of airborne ultrasonic generators operating at intensities above 150 db and within the 16 to 100 kHz. range. The method can economically handle any kind of natural warm fogs and may thus allow continuous year round operation at certain airports.

Inventors

• 👤 Raymond Marcel Gut Boucher

Bibliographic Details