Transcript Clearwater Idaho Aid - University of Idaho

Biofilter Project
Clean Water for Everyone
Presented on November 14, 2005
Problem Definition:
How can we provide clean water for
the people of East Africa?
The real goal is clean water.
Ideally, this will be by designing a portable
biofilter.
Research Topics:
 Culture
Pathogens
Turbidity
Purification
Large and Small Particle
Filtration
Needs:
1. The filter must produce safe drinking water 100% of the
time.
2. A simple water quality test must be available to establish
the safety of the water output.
3. Components of the filter must be accessible to rural
areas (either present or available in the closest urban area).
4. The filter must be able to function with manual power
only. Auxiliary power, if available, could be substituted for or
augment manual power.
Wants
• The components of the filter should be transportable
by human power or animal power to areas not
accessible to vehicles.
• The filter should be as simple to assemble, operate
and maintain as possible.
• The filter should be scalable to adjust to the amount
of water and materials available.
• Deployment plans for filter implementation must
consider the culture and technical sophistication of
the people who will be using it.
Specifications
Clean Water:
• The water should be less than 5 NTU and filtered to a
point .2 microns
Source: World Health Organization
Portability:
• The people themselves could carry the filter, whether it is
one unit or is easily broken down, and put back together.
Deliverables and Constraints
Deliverables:
A filter which meets the needs of the project.
Constraints:
Simple
Economical
Uses native materials
Reliable
SAFE
Potential Filters Mediums:
1. Sand
2. Ceramic
3. Charcoal
4. ANU Coffee/Clay
5. Fabric
6. Many more…
CONCEPT 1: LEVER PUMP FILTER
Benefits
Portable
Easily Renewable
Filters
Speedy Filtration
Inexpensive
Risks
Moving Parts
Instruction Needed
for Construction
Not Tested
Process
Dirty water enters upper reservoir
Upstroke on lever arm opens inlet valve,
dirty water enters pressure chamber
Down stroke of lever arm closes inlet
valve, presses water through
multistage filtration
Clean water enters clean water
reservoir and stored
Repeat process as many times as
needed
Water squirt indicator notifies user of
filter exhaustion
CONCEPT 2: SLOW SAND FILTER
WATER
SAND
GRAVEL
Benefits
Inexpensive
Tested and Proven
Simple Construction
Large Volumes of
Water
Risks
Stationary
Education for Use
and Maintenance
Biological Layer
Growth
Process
Water enters the pre filter for large particle
filtration and turbidity filtration.
Water enters the slow sand filter.
Bacteria and remaining particles filtered with
the Schmutzdecke and multiple layers of
sand
Clean drinking water exits.
After time, Schmutzdecke needs to be
removed and grown again. Takes about a
week with proper care.
CONCEPT 3: SLOW SAND FILTER
Benefits
Easily Replaceable Filters
Speedy Filtration
Portable
Risks
Complicated Design
Intensive
Construction
Not Tested
Process
1. Dirty water poured into
pump housing through
spout
2. Turing hand crack
presses water through
the filter layers
3. Clean water stored in
the bottom of the filter
4. Repeat as many times
as needed
5. Water squirt indicator
notifies user of filter
exhaustion
Recommendation:
Design Matrix:
Slow Sand
Lever Arm
Press Pump
Risk Solutions
4
2.5
2
Portability
1
4
3
Safety*
4
3*
3
Cost
3
3
1
Feasibility
3
3
1
Total:
15
15.5
10
The team is committed to designing a better method of providing East
Africa with clean water. We believe that with further research, and
time the Lever Arm Design can do that while still being portable.
However, permanent slow sand filters are proven, reliable, and can be
improved upon.
Foreseeable Threats:
1. Can we reliably detect and identify pathogens?
2. Will the coffee/clay filter work?
3. Will the filters used, meet those specifications
expected?
Outlined Schedule:
•December: System Integration (Phase 3)
•January: Detail Design (Phase 4)
•February - March: Fabrication (Phase 5)
•March - April: Validation (Phase 6)
•End of April - Beginning of May: Delivery
Webpage:
http://seniordesign.engr.uidaho.edu/2005_2006/clearwater
Questions?
For more information, check out
http://seniordesign.engr.uidaho.edu/2005_2006/clearwater/index.html
Or contact the team
[email protected]