Grantee Research Project Results

Development of an Affordable Solar Thermal Pasteurizer for Waterborne Diseases in Rural Guatemala

EPA Grant Number: SU835713
Title: Development of an Affordable Solar Thermal Pasteurizer for Waterborne Diseases in Rural Guatemala
Investigators: Song, Ted , Green, Cassidy , Lopez, Ernesto , Haileyesus, Ethiopia , Vance, Spencer
Current Investigators: Song, Ted , Green, Cassidy , Lopez, Ernesto , Haileyesus, Ethiopia , Desai, Ishant
Institution: John Brown University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015 (Extended to August 31, 2017)
Project Amount: $14,520
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

Most of the freshwater in the area of Escuintla, Guatemala is not apt for human consumption because it contains industrial waste, volcanic chemicals, viruses, and bacteria coming from the surrounding regions. The project’s objective is to design a scalable, modular, and affordable PV-powered water purification system that is viable for implementation in Escuintla Department, Guatemala. The proposed design is intended to use solar thermal pasteurization for disinfecting water for a community of 500 people with the minimized usage complexity, cost, environmental impact, size, and maintenance requirement.

Approach:

In order to kill the microbial life responsible for inadequate drinking water, the proposed system will undergo heat transfer involving solar radiation and the fluid, and structures will be designed for the purpose of housing several components of the system including—but not limited to—the water reservoir and the parabolic solar trough. In addition, an installed microprocessor will allow the automation of the process by implementing digital sensors that collect temperature, pressure, and flow. Since one of the main goals is to minimize the complexity of usage, the entire process will be monitored by a control system in such a way that users can interact with the system’s operation through a LCD screen.

Expected Results:

A prototype that is capable of purifying water using solar thermal pasteurization will be built during the project period. The built prototype will be operated without the power grid since the PV-energy storage system is a sole energy source for the prototype. Furthermore, data sets concerning the capacity of purification and limitations of this process would be collected, which may become the foundations for further research on this type of water treatment. As the proposed PV-powered pasteurization system will rid the contaminated public water and allow for a healthier lifestyle for the local people in Escuintla Department, Guatemala, an awareness of the capacity and sustainability of renewable energy is anticipated to be created in the public and in the communities of Escuintla.

Supplemental Keywords:

Water purification, heat transfer, solar energy, photovoltaics, automation, pasteurization

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.