| | 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. |
| | “Saturated Vapor Pressure.” Vapor Pressure, hyperphysics.phy- |
| | 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 , |
| | www.lenntech.com/calculators/tds/tds-ec_engels.htm. Accessed 25 |
| | Feb. 2017. |
| | “What Is Conductivity?” Environmental Monitor, 27 Jan. 2016, |
| | www.fondriest.com/news/what-is-conductivity.htm. Accessed 25 Feb. |
| | 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 |