Electrostatic Foam Suppression Module

Abstract

Urban water bodies, such as Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake, face escalating challenges due to recurring toxic foam formation, largely driven by untreated industrial and domestic effluent discharge. Traditional mitigation methods such as chemical defoamers and mechanical interventions offer limited, short-term relief and frequently introduce secondary pollutants. This paper presents the development and deployment of a low-cost, floating Electrostatic Foam Suppression Module (EFSM) designed for integrated air and water remediation. The water treatment system operates by generating a high-voltage electrostatic field between a suspended mesh and grounded base, destabilizing foam by disrupting the surfactant-stabilized film structures, leading to rapid collapse. The setup achieves up to 92% foam reduction within one minute, without chemical input. Complementing this, an onboard electrostatic precipitator (ESP) targets airborne particulate matter near the foam site. Built primarily from recycled materials and mounted on a buoyant thermocol platform, the EFSM also includes an ESP32 microcontroller for IoT-based air quality monitoring and real-time operational control. Its modular, energy-efficient design enables easy scaling for decentralized deployment in polluted urban water bodies. The dual-functionality and sustainable build demonstrate strong patent potential, offering a novel, eco-friendly solution for tackling environmental degradation in urban ecosystems

Introduction

I. Context & Motivation

• Sustainability has become essential to combat growing environmental threats such as pollution in urban water bodies.

• Bellandur Lake (Bengaluru, India) is a prominent example, suffering from recurring toxic foam and even surface fires due to industrial effluents, household detergents, and organic waste.

• Traditional mitigation (mechanical, chemical, thermal, ultrasonic) is often ineffective, energy-intensive, or environmentally harmful.

II. Proposed Solution: Electrostatic Foam Suppression Module (EFSM)

• A non-chemical, low-energy system that uses high-voltage electrostatic fields (10–30 kV) to:

  • Collapse foam structures

  • Prevent reformation

• Inspired by Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) but adapted for water surface foam.

• Operates using:

  • Mesh electrode suspended above the foam

  • Grounded counter-electrode (water or aluminum sheet)

  • IoT control unit (ESP32) for automation and data logging

  • Powered by rechargeable or solar battery

III. Technical Mechanism

• Foam Suppression Principle:

  • Electrostatic field causes dielectric stress and bubble polarization

  • Disrupts surfactant-stabilized foam, leading to rapid film rupture and collapse

• ESP Integration:

  • A shared high-voltage source also powers an ESP unit for air purification by ionizing and trapping airborne particles

• Eco-Design:

  • Uses recycled materials

  • No chemicals, low maintenance, and minimal energy consumption

IV. Experimental Results

• Lab tests simulated polluted foam using detergents and organic matter.

• Without electrostatic field: only 10% foam suppression in 10 mins.

• With electrostatic field:

  • 85% collapse in 5 mins

  • 92% suppression in 60 seconds (from 1000 cm³ to 80 cm³)

  • Consistent results: 85–95% efficiency under varied conditions

V. Comparative Advantages

VI. Applications & Extensions

• Deployable in:

  • Urban lakes (like Bellandur)

  • Foam-generating drain outlets

  • Industrial discharge zones

• Add-ons:

  • LoRa/Wi-Fi modules for real-time data and public safety alerts

• Affordability:

  • ?1300 per unit → ?13,000 for 10 units

• Sustainability:

  • Solar compatibility

  • Modular and decentralized system

• Dual functionality makes EFSM suitable for foam suppression + air purification in polluted urban environments.

VII. Limitations & Future Scope

• Durability of HV units in outdoor environments

• Performance variability due to different foam chemistries

• Mesh maintenance and cleaning over time

• Further scaling and long-term field trials needed for broader adoption

? Key Takeaways

• The EFSM is a novel, eco-friendly, and low-cost solution for controlling urban water and air pollution.

• It significantly outperforms traditional methods in energy efficiency, sustainability, and suppression effectiveness.

• With real-world deployment potential and IoT integration, the EFSM is a scalable solution for urban environmental management.

References

[1] K. Wang, J. Fang, H. R. Shah, S. Mu, X. Lang, J. Wang, and Y. Zhang, “A theoretical and experimental study of extinguishing compressed air foam on an n-heptane storage tank fire with variable fuel thickness,” Process Saf. Environ. Prot., vol. 137, pp. 1–12, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.psep.2020.03.011 [2] Y. Liu, X. Wang, and H. Zhang, “Simulation research of electrostatic precipitator power controller based on FPGA,” Appl. Math. Nonlinear Sci., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 529–540, 2022, doi: 10.2478/amns.2022.2.0068. [3] Y. T. E. Anshori, R. M. Kunda, and F. Manuhutu, “Design and construction of a real-time air quality monitoring system using IoT-based ESP32 to strengthen environmental policies,” J. Penelit. Pendidik. IPA, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 145–152, Feb. 2025. [4] R. Das, H. N. Chanakya, and L. Rao, “Foam control in lakes and sewage receiving water bodies: A pre-emptive approach using decentralized inline water treatment design,” Environ. Pollut., vol. 346, p. 123622, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123622. [5] Solberg Manufacturing, Inc., Foam Systems Design & Applications Manual, Tech. Rep. F-2013014-6_EN, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://ufppro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Kopiya-SOLBERG-Design-Application-Manual-F-2013014-6_EN-1.pdf [6] R. Das, H. N. Chanakya, and L. N. Rao, “Unravelling the reason for seasonality of foaming in sewage-fed urban lakes,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 886, art. 164019, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164019 [7] M. Fauvel, A. Trybala, D. Tseluiko, V. M. Starov, and H. C. H. Bandulasena, “Stability of two-dimensional liquid foams under externally applied electric fields,” Langmuir, vol. 38, no. 20, pp. 6305–6321, May 12, 2022, doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00026.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Shwetha K.P., P.V. Sai Amuktha, Adiraju Mahathi, Shradha R, Shreni C Shetty. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.