WICK WETTING FOR WATER CONDENSATION SYSTEMS

A system and method for particle enlargement with continuously wetted wicks includes a container into which a flow of particle-laden air is introduced in a laminar manner through an inlet and to an outlet. The container has a first section, a second section and a third section though which the particle-laden air flows between the inlet and the outlet. The temperature of the second section is warmer than that of the first section at the inlet and the third section at the outlet. In one embodiment, a continuous wick spanning an interior wall of the first second, second section and third section, said wick being capable of internally transporting liquid water along its length is provided. Alternatively, a wick characterized by a bubble point pressure has one side in contact with air and an opposing side mounted adjacent to the interior wall of a housing with a gap formed between the wick and the housing, wherein the wick is used with a water reservoir such that the pressure difference between the air flow and the water filled gap is less than the bubble point pressure of the wick material.