| Category | ENEV | P16 | The Construction of a Water Purification System |
| Abstract | The purpose of this project was to construct a water purification system |
| using solar distillation. Solar distillation is the evaporation of water and |
| the condensation of the water into purified water. This is very applicable |
| and useful for people struggling to obtain safe drinking water around |
| the world. The apparatus was constructed of poly methyl methacrylate, |
| acrylic mirror, plastic pipe cement, and hinges. The apparatus was built |
| into a rectangular shape with an angled covering. A container was |
| constructed and placed into the apparatus to collect the purified water. |
| A hole was cut in the back of the apparatus and a 12 volt cooling fan |
| was placed in the hole. The fan was attached to a 12 volt battery to |
| supply the fan with energy. The 12 volt battery was connected to a |
| solar panel on the side of the apparatus so that the battery could be |
| resupplied by solar energy. Two heat lamps were placed on the sides |
| of the apparatus to provide heat to the apparatus and allow for |
| evaporation. The fan allows for the temperature to decease in the |
| apparatus allowing for the relative humidity to reach 100%. Around 22.7 |
| liters of water with a purity of 233 parts per million was placed into the |
| apparatus. The purity of water was determined using a total dissolved |
| solids concentration meter. This meter determined the total amount of |
| dissolved solids in the water. Ideal drinking water is between zero and |
| fifty parts per million is obtained using distillation. The system gained |
| heat until condensation started to occur on the cover of the apparatus. |
| Once this occurred, the fan was turned on for an hour. After an hour, |
| the fan was turned off and the system was allowed to regain heat for six |
| hours. This was repeated every day for two weeks. After two weeks the |
| distilled water was extracted and measure to be around 156 mL with a |
| purity of 25 parts per million. This is in the range of acceptable drinking |
| water and is 90% more pure than the contaminated water. This shows |
| that the water purification system is successful and can function without |
| any energy besides solar energy. |
| Bibliography | “Relative Humidity.” Relative Humidity, hyperphysics.phy- |
| astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Kinetic/relhum.html. Accessed 25 Feb. 2017. |
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| astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Kinetic/vappre.html. Accessed 25 Feb. 2017. |
| “TDS Meters, Monitors and Testing Instruments for Reverse Osmosis, |
| Water Filters and Purification.” TDS Meters & Instruments for Water |
| Filters and Purification, testmeter.co.uk/abouttds_health.html. Accessed |
| 25 Feb. 2017. |
| “Water Treatment Solutions.” Lenntech , |
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| Feb. 2017. |
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| 2017. |
| Eslitzberg, Maria, Johana Punifyer, and Introduction:. International |
| Advances in Engineering and Technology (IAET) ISSN: 2305-8285 |
| Vol.19 July 2013 Www.scholarism.net International Scientific |
| Researchers (ISR) POLLUTED WATER CAN BE PURIFIED BY SOLAR |
| ENERGY AND INCREASING SYSTEM EFFICIENCY (n.d.): n. pag. Web. |
| |
| Publications, Inc. Ogden. "Purifying Water Using Passive Solar Water |