Portable Solar Water Purifier

MEC 420 Project Report

Heat Transfer
Instructor: Dr. Mohammed Sultan Khan
MEC 420

Section 2

Fall 2016/17

Submission Date: November 21, 2016

Group Members
Jibran Hassan Ansari 1044736
Mohammad Tahir Mahmood 1040411

Ahmad Baradei - 1045759

Abstract
The Purpose of this project is to design a water distillation system
that can purify water from nearly any source, a system that is relatively
cheap, portable, and depends only on renewable solar energy.
Distillation is one of the many processes that can be used for water
purification. This requires an energy input as heat, electricity, and solar
radiation can be the source of energy. Solar Distillation is a process to
produce portable water using free of cost solar energy. This energy is used
directly for evaporating water inside a device usually termed a Solar Still.
Solar Stills are used in cases where rain, piped, or well water is
impractical, such as in remote homes or during power outages. Solar
Distillation is an attractive alternative because of its simple technology,
non-requirement of highly skilled labor for maintenance work and low
energy consumption (Sharma & Srivatsa, 2004)
Solar Distillation is by far the most reliable, least costly method of
99.9% true purification of most types of contaminated water especially in
developing nations where fuel is scarce or too expensive. Solar Distillation
is used to produce drinking water or to produce pure water for lead acid
batteries, laboratories, hospitals and in producing commercial products
such as rose water. No additional heat or electrical energy is required in
our still and even after the sun sets. Distillation continues at a slower
pace. Our project goal is to efficiently produce clean drinkable water from
solar energy conversion.

Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................... 2
List of Figures..................................................................................................... 4
Introduction........................................................................................................ 5
Problem Statement............................................................................................ 5
Preliminary Investigation and Background Research..................................6
Initial Design Details......................................................................................... 9
Option A.............................................................................................................. 9
Option B............................................................................................................ 10
Option C........................................................................................................... 10
Detailed Design................................................................................................ 11
Materials used and justification........................................................................11
Pipe PVC...................................................................................................... 11
Sheet Clear Polypropylene Bag...................................................................11
Base Cast iron pot...................................................................................... 11
Beaker Plastic............................................................................................. 12
Calculations....................................................................................................... 13
Results and Discussion....................................................................................15
Cost Summary................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion......................................................................................................... 16
References........................................................................................................ 16

List of Figures
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure
Figure

1
2
3
4
5
6

Patent US 20040108280 A1.....................................................................6

Patent US4253307 A................................................................................ 7
Patent US20140360859 A1......................................................................8
Option A sketch........................................................................................ 9
Option B sketch........................................................................................ 9
Option C sketch...................................................................................... 10

Introduction
Even in the 21st century, clean water is not guaranteed to a big part
of the population around the globe. According to water.org, a renowned
activist group focused on providing clean water solutions to the less
fortunate, more than 663 million people lack access to safe water. This
figure is roughly equal to 1 in every 10 people in todays population
(water.org, 2015). Around 71% of the earths surface and 60% of a human
body is made up of water. As essential as water is in making and
sustaining life, its provision to every human being is still not guaranteed in
this zenith of a space age century we are living in.
An attempted solution to combat the lack of clean drinking water is
discussed in this report. Solar distillation is by far the best method to
achieve the criteria mentioned in the below section. The method is
already proven. The challenge is to fit the existing solar distillation
apparatus in the criteria and the design constraints given. The options are
to directly heat the water by concentrating solar energy on the water
container or to charge cells and then use an electric heater to achieve the
given task. The output and the results from both the options will be
measured and weighed and then the best choice for the task will be
chosen.

Problem Statement
The idea is to design and construct a water purifier that works with
solar energy. The design constraints for it are that it should be able to fit in
a typical student backpack and that the purification output rate should be
at least 60ml per minute.

Preliminary Investigation and Background Research

Patent 1

Patent Name: Solar powered water purifier

Patent Number: US 20040108280 A1
2002
Inventors: Daniel Saraceno

Figure 1 Patent US 20040108280 A1

Filing Date: Dec 9,

The patent relates to a generally self-contained, highly maneuverable,

portable water purification system. The apparatus is contained in a
rectangular container that is mounted on a trolley with wheels for easier
maneuverability to the water source. Solar power is used to power the
pump of the system and to power the water purifying radiation source
(Patent No. US20040108280 A1, 2002).
A few advantages of the system are that it is easy to transport to a water
source even by one man. Its a small system with all its components safely
secured in a single cabinet. The system is capable of producing drinkable
water from any water source even with a moderate amount of sunlight.
Added to that, the system can also be used as a portable power source in
addition to its capacity as a water purifier.
The disadvantage of the system is that tit still does not fit the size criteria
of the project given. The output water is at a higher rate than required in
our design constraint but even the size of the apparatus is bigger

Patent 2

Patent Name: Solar power generator and water purifier

Patent Number: US 4253307 A

Filing Date: Aug 27, 1979

Inventor: Derrick A. Smith

Figure 2 Patent US4253307 A

This disclosure relates to a combined solar power generator and water

purifier. The design includes a hollow heating element floating in the
container that has the water to be purified. The apparatus has a refractor
lens window disposed within an upper half of the globular boiler which can
be controlled to direct the sun's rays towards the refractor lens window to
generate heat to boil the water. A reservoir is connected to the outlet from
the condenser which is lower than that of the primary turbine, but at a
level which is higher than that of the globular boiler, for receiving such
substantially pure water. A secondary turbine for the generation of
electricity is disposed at a level which is lower than that of the reservoir
but which is higher than that of the globular boiler. The secondary turbine
is connected to the outlet from the reservoir and is driven by water from
the reservoir. A pure water effluent is provided from the secondary turbine
for use wherever pure water is required (Patent No. US4253307 A, 1979).
The described system is extremely efficient and works as a solar power
generator as well as a water purifier. The system has controllable lens
settings plus controllable valves to maximize the purification and the
energy production process. It is an extremely efficient and is easy to
modify to fit most needs.

The disadvantage of this system, however efficient and good it is, is that it
still is large with many complicated parts connected together and thus is
not small enough to satisfy the design needs.

Patent 3

Patent Name: Solar Water Purifier

Patent Number: US 20140360859 A
Jun 7, 2014

Filling Date:

Inventor: Namir Faidi, Stevan Davidovich

Figure 3 Patent US20140360859 A1

A sun powered water purifier is disclosed. The solar based water purifier
utilizes excess heat from a solar panel, or direct sunlight from the sun, to
boil, evaporate, and condense water to create a flow of filtered water. In
one exemplification, a boiling tank is mounted under and in direct contact
with a solar panel to devour excess heat. In another epitome, a
translucent wall of the boiling tank is exposed to solar energy. Crude water
enters the boiling tank from a basin tank. Once in the boiling tank, steam
and water vapor leaves the tank and is channeled through pipes to a
condenser. The condenser is situated inside the basin tank (Patent No.
US20140360859 A1, 2013).
An advantage of this setup is that the heat recovered from condensation
can be used to preheat the inlet water to the boiling tank.

One disadvantage would be that it requires power for the DC pump and
the filter has to be changed every day which would result in a very high
cost over time.

Initial Design Details

Option A

Figure 4 Option A sketch

The above design includes a series of solar panels connected with hinges
that fold in a circular pattern around the rest of the system. In the middle
of these panels is a stand with a collecting beaker below. Above the
beaker is a condenser whose inlet pipe is connected to the container in
which the unpurified water is added. An electric heater is submerged in
this container that boils the water and starts the purification process.
The system is quite small when folded and should be able to fit in a typical
students bag pack. However, its ability to give the required amount of
purified water per minute is yet to be calculated.

Option B

Figure 5 Option B sketch

A solar still distills water, using the heat of the Sun to evaporate, cool then
collect the water. There are many types of solar still, including large scale
concentrated solar stills, box and pit stills, and stills made from water
bottles or plastic bags. For our project were going to consider a Solar still
using mirrors as reflectors. There is a dark bottle with a quark inside a
glass jar with a lid. From this bottle there is a copper pipe in a quark going
to a 12-ounce bottle that the contents are going to drip into. The glass jar
with the bottle inside will sit in the frame of mirror to attract more heat.
The still will continue to produce distillate after sundown until the water
temperature cools down. Typical efficiencies for single basin solar stills
approach 60 percent.
Option C

Figure 6 Option C sketch

This design includes a clear polypropylene sheet used as a film, a PVC

pipe for the movement of vapor into the collection beaker after
10

condensation, aluminum pot (painted black) to that we can assume it as a

blackbody and that all the radiation is absorbed by the material. Insulation
will be added on the sides of the pot and the inlet of the tube to ensure no
steam escapes for us to collect the maximum clean purified water.

Detailed Design
We came up with three initial designs of the apparatus which also
included a solar panel and a heating element. After a few considerations
and discussion with Dr Khan, the team choose option 3 which is an
aluminum dish with a clear polypropylene sheet covering. Water was pre
heated so that it started boiling and then added to the system (poured
into the aluminum pot) so that evaporation can take place. The beaker
was kept at a lower height than the pot to ensure there was a slope to
allow the vapor to flow easily. The polypropylene sheet was kept at angle
too so that any water droplets that were stopped on the sheet can flow
down to the pot as droplets.

Materials used and justification

Pipe PVC
Can be cut, shaped, welded and joined
easily in a variety of styles.
Abrasion resistance, light weight, good
mechanical strength and toughness.
Positive environmental impact and nontoxic.

Sheet Clear Polypropylene Bag

Cost effective
Durable - hinges wont break
Completely recyclable - Environmentally
friendly because it does not contain any
chloride
Compact - Less bulky and easy to carry
Transparent and thin thus allows most of the
heat and radiation from the sun to pass
through easily
11

Base Cast iron pot

Durable, distributes heat evenly and retains
heat well.
The outer surface was painted black to
absorb maximum wavelength and thus to
heat faster

Beaker Plastic
Condensed water will be collected in the beaker.
Material can be anything but we chose plastic since its readily
available and really inexpensive.

Tape was used

for insulation on the sides
of the base and inlet of
the pipe to the base

Calculations
Several

analyses

which

should

be

done

on

the

apparatus

components in order to achieve a minimum liquid water volume flow rate

of 60 mL/min at the outlet. All these analyses follow thermodynamics and
heat transfer laws.
First it should be noted that the volume flow rate of liquid water at the
outlet of the apparatuss condenser is equal to the volume flow rate of
vapor at the outlet of the boiler. This is to the fact that the flow is steady.
Second, the pot is covered with black paint, giving it the ability to absorb
a large percent of the radiated heat from the sun.
To find the heat transfer rate needed to heat the water and give a flow
rate of 60 mL/min, the following analysis should be done:
12

3
mL
kg
6 m
3 J
V =60
=1 10
, water at 100 : hfg =2257 10
, =0.6 3
min
s
kg v
m

First, we get the evaporation rate of the vapor leaving the boiler:
kg
m
evap=V v =(1 106) 0.6=6 107
s
Next, we get the evaporation heat transfer rate:
,
water =hfg m=
Q
( 2257 103 ) ( 6 107 )=1.3542 W
Now, we get the heat transfer rate needed to boil the water. This will be
due to the radiation of the sun through the black surface of the container
keeping the surface temperature of the container at least 100C.
Container properties : D=18.2 cm, L=0.1m ,
8

=0.98, =5.67 10

W
, T s=100 C , T =T surr =35 C
m2 K 4

rad = 1 DL ( T s4T surr 4 ) =16.45 W

Q
2

The heat transfer rate radiated by the sun on the container is actually 17
W, which means that there is enough heat being transferred to the
container to keep it at 100 C. This is achieved by placing a mirror to
concentrate the sunrays at half the area of the container.
Now, to see if this heat transfer rate and container properties are effective
in producing at least 60 mL/min or 6x10^-7 kg/s of liquid water.
Properties of air at 35 C :

K air =0.0264

2
W
m
6 m
3 1
, =16.04 10
, =3.315 10
, Pr=0.712, g=9.81 2
mK
s
K
s
3

RaL =

g ( T sT ) Lc

Pr=5.87 106

1
4

Nu=0.59 RaL =29

h=

K air
W
Nu=7.66
L
m. K

13

Applying Energy Balance:

conv + Q
rad
evap hfg =Q
m
m
evap=

conv + Q
rad
Q
hfg

[ h ( T T
s

m
evap=

( 1 ) =1.36 10

) + ( T s T Surr ) ] 2 DL
4

hfg

kg
s

This gives:
m

m
V = evap =2.27 106 =135.7 mL/min
v
s
3

Therefore, the volume flow rate of the collected water is 135.7 mL/min,
which is higher than the minimum required flow rate of 60 mL/min.
(Adrienne S. Lavine, 2011)

Results and Discussion

The experiments were conducted a total of 6 times since the first
two tries had a few leaks and faults. The leaks were fixed and the
experiment was repeated and the results were quite promising because of
the very small percentage of error which resulted. Table 1 shows the
14

experimental data of the working apparatus. The accuracy of the results

shows that the way condensed water was collected proved effective.

Trial

Surface
Temperature
C

Volume flow rate

mL/min

86

113

95

111

90

120

92

127

94

123

89

122

Average Volume flow rate: 119.33 mL/min

Percentage error: 12.06%
The initial design chosen by the team was design 1 but due to
addition of solar panels in that design, the team changed to design 3
which was simpler. From the calculations, it can be seen that the energy
given by the sun is enough by itself to get a volume flow rate of 135.7
mL/min. Therefore, the essential part of the project is to select materials
whose properties doesnt hinder the heat transfer between the medium to
the water. This was done and is mention in the detailed design section of
the report. It can be seen that by conducting this simple experiment, the
team managed to obtain an average of 119.33 mL/min of pure water.
The apparatus can be further improved by having a foldable pan
than when closed can fit a bag pack and while operating can be opened to
increase the surface area and thus the heat collection. Another good
addition will be to have proper seals as the tape used in the above
experiment kept on leaking and thus didnt give us as accurate results as
we wanted.
15

Conclusion
In conclusion this was a very simple project since the energy
provided by the sun is enough alone to get more than the required rate of
water. The only areas the project can go wrong is due to leaks and wrong
material selection. The required volume flow rate was achieved and the
apparatus combined is small enough to fit a decent size school bag pack.
All in all, this project helped the team apply the concepts learnt in class.

16

References
Adrienne S. Lavine, F. P. (2011). Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer. Wiley.
Namir Faidi, S. D. (2013). Patent No. US20140360859 A1.
Saraceno, D. (2002). Patent No. US20040108280 A1.
Sharma, M., & Srivatsa, K. (2004). Solar Water purifier. Retrieved from Sristi
Organization: http://www.sristi.org/cms/engenious/case1.pdf
Smith, D. A. (1979). Patent No. US4253307 A.
water.org. (2015). Facts About Water & Sanitation. Retrieved from water.org:
http://water.org/water-crisis/water-sanitation-facts/

17