Solar Water Filtration System

Our University of Idaho Senior Design Team, H2Orphans is developing and building a solar-powered water filtration system that is durable and provides clean water for third world countries with the collaboration of Orphans to Ambassadors.

Many regions in Africa don't have any sort of infrastructure to provide clean drinking water for drinking and cooking. The orphanages that we are designing for already have a pre-existing rain catchment system but it still contains pathogens and sediments that could be harmful to human health.

Design Goals

 * Provide a sustainable solution to clean drinking water in the most self-sufficient manner possible.
 * This design must be robust and parts should be simple to replace in the field.
 * Reduce exposure to water borne illnesses.
 * Reduce the fuel (wood) needed to purify water by boiling water.

Initial Design Specifications

 * The system produces 100 gallons/day of water.
 * The potable water meets the following WHO regulations:
 * Total Coliform: not detectable in 100 ml sample
 * E.Coli O157: not detectable in 100 ml sample
 * Turbidity: <5 NTU
 * The transportable components of the system are contained within two pelican cases (22”long x 18” wide x 10”).
 * The transportable components and casing weigh no more than 50 lbs each (100 lbs total).
 * The system has a digital display for the power supply and water usage.
 * The inlet connection is a ¾” female swivel.
 * The outlet connection is a ¾” male threaded.
 * An instruction manual is provided with the system.
 * A tool/repair kit is provided with the system.
 * Replacement parts are provided with the system. (5 years of operation)

First Semester Project Phase
The design direction that we ended up picking was carbon UV filtration with a battery supported pump. We found that this system would not only best meet the needs of our client, but would provide clean water that fit in a low maintenance, durable, and sustainable package.

Currently our team has specked the filtration components, pump, battery and flow meter as linked below. Initially Orphans to Ambassadors provided us with a few components to help us in our design, these idem are also listed/linked.

Specified Components

 * UV/Carbon Filter System (PURA UVB1)


 * Cole Parmer PD Pump


 * Battery


 * Water Meter

Supplied Components

 * Pump and Controller


 * Solar Panels


 * Pelican Case


 * Pre-filtration Canister

Second Semester Project Phase
At the start of the second semester we gathered all of the components to begin testing. And currently have split the team into 2 sub-teams, where one is focusing on the testing/validating the water quality needs and the other is working on the energy balance of the system, specifying a controller/electronics, and making a Solidworks model of the system.

Water Quality Testing
Currently we are running preliminary water quality tests with bacterially spiked water to determine which media is best for quantifying the bacteria in solution. We are also ensuring that our system is currently installed and working properly and that all of the bacteria that are entering our filtration/disinfection unit are being mutated so that they are unable to replicate and cause harm to a human being. We'll be getting the final results from our preliminary test back on Friday. We plan to run our first 500 gallon test next week to see if our system is satisfactorily filtering and disinfecting the test water for potential consumption.

Process:

We are spiking the influent water with approximately one billion bacteria (E.coli, Shigella and other Enterrobacteriacea) per 45 gallons and running it through our filters/UV disinfection system. Periodically we sample the water before the UV/carbon filter to ensure that the bacteria are entering the disinfection unit alive and unharmed, and then we are also sampling after the disinfection unit to make sure that the bacteria have been mutated. We are using 3M Petrifilms to culture/grow our bacteria.

Energy Analysis
The energy analysis is an analysis of energy usage for approximating the required batteries and solar panels to meet the desired specifications. I also included the calculations for the amount of filters and bulbs that will needed to be included for 5 years of normal maintenance.

Results of Analysis:
 * System run time for 100 [gallons/day] = 1.282 hr/day
 * Amount of 80W Solar panels need (Using new panels and the average yearly sunlight) = 0.8454 panels
 * Amount of 80W Solar panels need (Using old (20+ years) panels and the time for the lowest yearly sunlight) = 2.07 panels
 * Number of batteries needed for a day with min sunshine (35 Ah, 12V, Lead-Acid) = 1.361 batteries
 * Number of batteries needed for 3 days without sunshine (35 Ah, 12V, Lead-Acid) = 3.025 batteries
 * Filters to include for 5 years (replace every 6 months) = 9.993 filters
 * Uv Bulbs to include for 5 years (replace every 1.14 years) = 4.38 bulbs

Conclusions from Results:
 * With 2x80W solar panels there should be adequate daily power for the system. Although one panel would function to the system, two provides a factor of safety.
 * With at least 2x35Ah Lead-Acid batteries should be supplied for a days with minimal sunshine.
 * Filter to include is 10 for a 5 year maintenance interval, and that would be for both the 5 and 10 micron sizes.
 * UV Bulbs to include is 5, again for the 5 year maintenance interval.

Links for the EES analysis can be found below in the Document Archive

System Model
Links for the Solidworks Model can be found below in the Document Archive

Current Budget/Expenses
Links for the Current Budget/Expenses Model can be found below in the Document Archive

Sponsor
Orphans to Ambassadors is working with multiple orphanages in developing countries to build a long term solution to address the lack of clean drinking water available at children’s homes and orphanages. The organization has begun building the first generation solar powered water filtration system in which a small 12 volt pump (powered by 60 watt solar panel) pulls water from a holding container and pushes the water through a basic carbon filter and into a storage tank for cooking and drinking. Our job as a team is to improve the current system to meet the World Heath Organizations criteria for clean drinking water. Water Sanitation Health W.H.O.

''Orphans to Ambassadors is a nonprofit working with orphans and sustainable technology to create cleaner futures. Not only do the technology, education, and practices give children cleaner water and food, brighter and safer energy, and more free time to be kids, we’re also creating renewable foundations in developing countries where any growth means more technology: the cleaner now the better tomorrow.''

Orphans to Ambassadors

Team Documents
Updated: Detailed Timeline

Current Budget/Expenses

Meeting Minutes

First Semester Design Review Presentation

Models
EES Energy Balance - Analysis

EES Energy Balance - Printout (.PDF)

Solidworks Model(.SLDASM/.SLDPRT)