Portable Desalination Kit (PDK): A Product Innovative Design For Survival
A Capstone Project
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
By:
Aneslagon, Karmelle
Barriga, John Ely
Batulan, Carlyn
Bitoon, Aireen
Capute, Carl Louise
Monsanto, Kareen
Omolon, Zongie
Pareja, Jhanine
Seballo, Henadyn
Ympas, Jaymil
BSIE 4A-DAY
2nd Sem A.Y 2022-2023
Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
INTRODUCTION
Rationale of the Study
Dehydration can quickly become a fatal consequence of not having access to clean
drinking water. Without the ability to hydrate, the individual's body will be unable to produce
energy, causing fatigue and confusion that can eventually lead to mental and physical exhaustion,
coma, and even death (Harvard University, 2017). Dehydration have many causes but what is
certain, is that when a shipwreck or boat strands offshore, passengers can easily be dehydrated
without the use of any emergency or survival kit for drinking. . According to Statista (2022), in
the years 2011 and 2021, 892 ships were missing at sea; the International Maritime Organization
reported a total of 1,342 ships went missing or sunk due to various causes from 2012 to 2016.
Between 2014 and 2019, 5424 accidents resulted in 6210 injuries and 320 accidents claimed 496
deaths (Panagiotidis et al., 2021).
The effects of these types of accidents, which can happen with alarming suddenness and
severity such as loss of life are a tragedy beyond measurement; however, there are also long-term
repercussions that could prevent further disasters from occurring in the future. Providing access
to reliable sources of drinkable water for individuals, who have been stranded on an island or at
sea, to survive while they await rescue is essential. Not only is fresh water essential in dire
situations, but people in general who lack access to fresh water could also be at risk for
dehydration and poor health due to improper sanitation, specifically in some coastal areas that
lack freshwater sources. One of the essentials for enduring any crisis is access to drinking
water—a commodity that not only provides hydration but also helps maintain energy levels for
individuals in distress. Studies suggest that exposure to salty waters has an inhibitory effect on
physical and cognitive performance which can further reduce one’s chance of survival by
impairing judgment and motor functions. It is also not suggested to drink seawater directly
because of the presence of salt. Humans that drink seawater are thereby ingesting salt and water
into their cells. While modest amounts of salt can be consumed by people without harm, the
amount of salt in seawater exceeds what the human body can metabolize (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Organization, 2023). As such, providing available water sources during these times
is not only desirable but critical to ensuring safety and well-being. In this regard, water
desalination can be very effective by converting saltwater into freshwater without needing
electricity or other hard-to-access resources. This is where portable desalination kits come into
play by providing freshwater to individuals who lack access to it, thus decreasing the risk of
dehydration.
The proponents aim to develop a portable desalination kit that can successfully convert
salt water into freshwater to aid those stranded at sea awaiting rescue, residents of coastal areas
who lack access to fresh water, fishermen, and seawater vessels owners and operators who
constantly traverse the open seas as part of their survival kit. The goal is to create a device
capable of producing fresh water when there are no other means of collecting it. The kit will be
designed with convenience and portability in mind. It will be lightweight so it can easily be
carried; compact for easy storing when not in use; and simple to set up and take down, making
them a hassle-free choice for anyone needing access to safe drinking water in a resource-deficit
environment. This will also support the sixth Sustainable Development Goals which is clean
water and sanitation, since through this product, people will be able to access clean water even in
dire situations.
Statement of the Problem
The study aimed to design a portable water desalination kit to produce fresh water
through the desalination process. Specifically, this answered the following queries:
1. How much volume is produced per daylight in mL?
2. What is its capacity in terms of
2.1 effective capacity, and
2.2 efficiency?
3. How can the useful life of the product be extended through
3.1 preventive Maintenance,
3.2 corrective Maintenance?
Objectives
● To remediate highly salinized water.
● To create a prototype of a portable water desalinator that can successfully convert
seawater into fresh water.
● To evaluate the prototype's capacity through the quantity of freshwater it can
produce.
Significance of the Study
This study aimed at creating a portable desalination kit to generate fresh water that will
be part of a survival kit. The study is conducted to benefit the following:
Sea travelers/Seafarers. They will have the opportunity to test the product to provide
statements regarding the innovation. Travelers are one of the main targets of this product to help
reduce dehydration, in times of open water emergencies.
Coastal settlers. The people residing near the coastal area who lacks access to fresh water
can also benefit from this product by putting seawater into the kit and harvesting it after daylight.
Fishermen. This will also be helpful to fishermen for they can carry the Portable
Desalination Kit on their “Baruto” and let it generate fresh water while they traverse the open
seas.
Instructors. Their discussion of relevant lessons will be aided by this study. They will find
it simpler to take on related questions to this topic.
Future Researchers. This study will be a helpful resource for researchers who intend to do
any related research that closely resembles the fundamental requirements of the Bachelor of
Science in Industrial Engineering degree.
Industrial Engineers. The product will provide insight for IEs for an innovation that is
useful for people in need for emergency and survival, and at the same time durable and portable.
Scopes and Limitations
The study focused on the capacity of the desalination kit to produce freshwater during
daylight, with the feature of being portable during emergency occurrences in coastal areas. Due
to time constraints, the researchers weren’t able to conduct water quality tests to confirm the
safety of the water for drinking. The supposed test should have covered three parameters of
water quality which are the physical, chemical, and biological parameters. To further emphasize,
only the capacity of the portable desalination kit to produce fresh water was measured, and its
safety for consumption was not assessed. Also, due to the proposed functionality which is
portability, the researchers utilized a thick plastic cover and acrylic sheet so it can be folded and
taken down when not in use. This may be considered a factor in terms of capacity when
compared to other designs that are not portable.
Definition of Terms
For clarification, the important terms used in this study have been defined.
Baruto - a small non-motorized boat used by small-scale fishermen residing in the
coastal areas
Capacity - the ability of the portable desalination kit to produce freshwater during the
desalination process
Daylight - the number of hours when the desalination kit is placed under the sun to
promote the desalination process, particularly 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM.
Desalination – it is the process utilized by the product to convert seawater into
freshwater
Fishermen - small-scale fishermen that are from coastal area locales
Freshwater - the product of the portable desalination unit that is potable
Portability – the convenience of the desalination kit to be easily carried or moved by one
person and taken down when not in use
Quantity - the volume of freshwater produced by the portable desalination kit per day in
mL
Seawater – it is the raw water put into the desalination kit which will undergo the
desalination process
Survival – It is the condition of living or the state of being alive particularly when this is
done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it.
Water quality tests – tests that the freshwater produced by the desalination kit should
undergo to confirm its safety for drinking. It should cover the physical, chemical, and biological
parameters of water quality.
Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Water covers 70% of the surface of the globe, but only 2.7% of that water is fresh, and only 0.3%
of that freshwater may be used by humans directly (Zapata-Sierra et al., 2021). However
according to the study of (Jones et al., 2019), the global average of freshwater resources per
person has decreased by half in the previous 50 years due to the rise of the world economy,
population, and consumption of these resources, and developed cities, island regions, and ships
now have more urgent needs for these resources. (Zhang et al., 2022) also added that, by 2050, it
is expected that there will be a freshwater scarcity affecting 75 percent of the world's population.
Moreover, COVID-19's effects have made freshwater resource contamination more severe and
encouraged research advancement in the areas of freshwater protection and seawater desalination
A freshwater scarcity now exists as a result of the expanding global population, climate change,
pollution, rising consumer demand, and resource exploitation. Desalination of water is therefore
often utilized to produce freshwater. The correct mix of renewable energy and desalination
technology is necessary to meet water demands in a way that is economical, effective, and
environmentally friendly. This report presents a thorough analysis of numerous desalination
systems based on renewable energy sources. There is an explanation of the various forms of
energy, such as wind, solar thermal and photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, and pressure-retarded
osmosis. These renewable energy are applicable to a variety of desalination processes, including
membrane distillation, electrodialysis, mechanical vapour compression, multi-effect desalination,
and reverse osmosis. It should be emphasized that the most efficient desalination systems used a
mix of these renewable energy sources, and some also included an energy storage technology to
ensure a constant energy flow (Ghazi et al., 2022)
For the general welfare, the quality of drinking water is crucial. Access to clean drinking water
continues to be a major problem despite recent advances. One of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals is to provide universal access to water and sanitation by 2030, and the World
Health Organization estimates that about 10% of the global population lacks access to better
drinking water sources . Waterborne infections, among other illnesses, lead to diarrhea, which
claims the lives of up to one million people annually. The majority are younger than
five-year-olds. Chemical pollution is a persistent issue, especially in developed nations and more
and more in low- and middle-income nations. (LMICs). Among other health effects, exposure to
chemicals in drinking water may cause a variety of chronic diseases (such as cancer and
cardiovascular disease), poor reproductive results, and affects on children's health (such as
neurodevelopment) (Levallois et. al., 2019).
More than two thirds of the surface of the earth is covered by water, most of it salty and
unusable. Just 2.7% of the world's water supply is freshwater, and only 1% of that
supply—found in lakes, rivers, and groundwater—is readily accessible. Due to their location in
glaciers (locked in the polar ice) and deep aquifers, which are hidden parts of the hydrologic
cycle, the majority of freshwater resources are inaccessible. This means that just 3% of the
freshwater resources are safe enough to drink. Freshwater can also be obtained from the seawater
via desalinization method. Some countries lack access to enough freshwater (physical scarcity).
Although there is a lot of freshwater accessible in some countries, the cost of using it is high
(economic scarcity) (Dinka, 2017).
Despite the best efforts of governmental and non-governmental groups, a sizeable portion of
water supply plans remain inefficient, forcing consumers to obtain water from unimproved
sources, posing health hazards and decreasing productivity. Furthermore, households are hesitant
to collect water from unimproved sources due to discontent, adequacy, income, distance, and
lengthier waiting periods (Addisie et al.,2021). Drinking water should be free of all diseases that
could endanger human health and meet the requirements for physicochemical contaminants.
Furthermore, the long-term survival of drinking water sources depends on user perceptions of
water quality (Ochoo et al., 2017; Sherry et al., 2019). Even if they have no detrimental effects
on human health, consumer perceptions and aesthetic qualities should be taken into consideration
when analyzing drinking water sources (WHO, 2018). Both a necessary natural resource for
human survival and a successful economic growth instrument, water.
Water scarcity is a developing issue that requires the use of better and cutting-edge technologies.
Desalination techniques appear to be the simplest option to create drinking water when taking
into account the available water resources (Pagliero, 2021). One of the most crucial methods for
water treatment and drinking water production in the world is desalination technology, which
creates freshwater by eliminating salt and other mineral components from seawater (Lin et al.,
2021). The majority of desalination facilities are found in nations like the United States and the
Gulf states that lack freshwater supplies but are wealthy in energy. Moreover, seawater
desalination technology has advanced quickly in China and India, and both countries have
conducted extensive seawater desalination research (Liu et al., 2019; Eke et al., 2020). The
open-source water resource technique of seawater desalination is becoming more and more
cost-effective and sensible. It can successfully address the issue of drinking water shortages in
coastal cities (islands), as well as the shortage of highly pure water for industrial purposes.
Reverse osmosis and distillation are now the two main methods used in seawater desalination
technology. By employing distillation units to evaporate seawater into steam and subsequently
condense it into fresh water, distillation is one of the most effective and reliable processes for
desalinating seawater (Xiang et al.,2020). Desalination plants employ specialized procedures that
mostly fall into two categories: thermal desalination and reverse osmosis (Benitez, 2023).
Communities without access to piped-in potable water supplies frequently store collected water
from rivers, springs, communal stand-pipes, and boreholes. Even when water is piped into the
house, it is frequently not always available, necessitating water storage. Many containers, such as
jerry cans, buckets, drums, basins, and indigenous pots, are used to hold water. When it is
possible to gather water from sources of high quality, it has been noted that contamination during
transport, processing, and storage, as well as inadequate hygiene procedures, frequently arise and
can have a negative impact on health (Edokpayi, 2018).
People spend less time and effort physically collecting water when it comes from improved and
more accessible sources, allowing them to be more productive in other ways. By eliminating the
need for lengthy or dangerous treks to collect and carry water, this can also increase personal
safety and decrease musculoskeletal disorders. Improved water sources also mean less money
spent on health care because people are more likely to stay healthy and avoid medical expenses
as well as be more productive at work. Access to better sources of water can lead to better health
and thus higher school attendance, which can have positive long-term effects on children who are
particularly at risk from water-related disorders (WHPO, 2022).
Due to the shortage of freshwater resources and the high expense of transferring freshwater from
far-off sources to water-demand areas, water scarcity is increasingly becoming a serious issue in
the United States and around the world. The development of seawater and brackish water as
substitute sources of potable water has received fresh attention as a result of this circumstance.
The carbon impact of water consumption as well as the energy use of water infrastructure have
both become urgent concerns. Consequently, the viability of exploiting seawater and brackish
water depends on the consequences of the water and energy nexus. Total dissolved solids (TDS),
which is the total of all the metals, cations, and anions that may dissolve in water, is the
measurement that best reflects the saltiness of water. (Younos et al., 2019)
One of the most pressing health problems in the world today is a lack of clean water. Despite
being a worldwide priority agenda item, people in developing nations do not have access to safe
and sufficient drinking water. According to estimates from 2015, 56% of the world's population
lacked access to safe water. Unsafe water sources are key conduits for the spread of infectious
diseases. According to the global burden of illness study, contaminated water sources contributed
to 1.2 million deaths and 71.7 million years of life lost to disability in 2015. (DALYs). Global
health is fundamentally dependent on having access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation. By
expanding access to clean drinking water and enhancing sanitation and hygiene, nearly ten
percent of the world's disease burden might be avoided. Safer water may avert 280,000
drownings, 500,000 malaria deaths, 860,000 malnutrition-related deaths in children, and 1.4
million diarrhea-related deaths each year. Additionally, 5 million people can be shielded from
developing lymphatic filariasis, and a further 5 million from developing trachoma (Gizaw et.
al.,2022).
The most notable advantages of desalination include the drinking water supply during harsh and
unanticipated weather occurrences like drought. Desalination has been used for numerous
applications including municipal, industrial, power generating, in tourism facilities, and for
military activities. The desalination industry has been quick to adapt to new and more effective
technical developments over time because of increased investments and competition on the
desalination and material supplier markets. It has been established that more precise desalination
membranes improve desalination efficiency, lower overall desalination expenses, and
consequently lower the cost of desalinated water for the end user (Reyes et.al, 2017).
Security of freshwater is essential for maintaining human health, economic growth, and
environmental activities. As a result, the management of water utilities should place a high focus
on the security and safety of drinking water. Due to both natural and manmade causes, water
pollution has grown to be a significant environmental issue. Despite the rapid advancement of
science and technology worldwide, human activity is heavily contaminating water supplies.
Also, there are a limited amount of freshwater resources in the world, making it important to
recycle water for various purposes due to climate change, the creation of industrial waste, and
urbanization in semi-arid and desert regions. (Sohail et al., 2022)
Each material thing, whether it be a liquid, solid, or gas, has a characteristic density that can be
calculated by knowing the entity's mass and volume. A number of units of mass divided by units
of volume are obtained as a consequence of the computation. Scientists devised a concept called
specific gravity, which is density divided by the density of water at 4 degrees Celsius and at
atmospheric pressure, to avoid having to express the units, which can be laborious. As a result,
water has a specific gravity of 1 at that temperature and pressure, while water with impurities has
a specific gravity that is somewhat different from 1 (Deziel, 2018).
Its specific gravity is 1, since water at 4 degrees Celsius is the normal temperature used by
scientists to calculate specific gravities. A water sample, however, taken at a different pressure or
temperature, or one that contains impurities, has a somewhat varied density. You may find out
information about a sample by measuring its density and dividing it by the density of pure water
at 4 degrees Celsius to obtain its specific gravity. The sample contains impurities if its specific
gravity is greater than 1, its temperature is 4 degrees Celsius, and it is at atmospheric pressure.
The specific gravity of the water sample can tell you the concentration of an impurity if you
know which one it contains (Deziel, 2018).
The ratio of a material's density to that of a reference substance is referred to as its specific
gravity. Since water is the most typical example of a liquid, the relative density of liquids is
frequently used to describe their specific gravity. The specific gravity of water will be the subject
of this article, which will also examine what it is, how it is calculated, and how it is relevant in
various contexts. In physics and engineering, the phrase "specific gravity" is used to characterize
a substance's density in relation to that of water. Water has a specific gravity of 1, making it a
fluid. This means that for determining the specific gravity of other substances, water serves as
the standard reference (EngineeringHulk, 2023)
At standard conditions, which are defined as a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius and an air
pressure of 1 atm, water has a specific gravity of 1.0. (760 mmHg). Thus, under these
circumstances, the density of water is 1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or 1 kilogram per liter
(kg/L). Water's specific gravity, however, can vary based on its pressure and temperature
(EngineeringHulk, 2023). Water has a specific gravity of one at standard pressure and
temperature. Water's specific gravity, however, can change with temperature and pressure.
Temperature has an impact on water's specific gravity since it alters the density of water. Water
loses density when temperature rises, and this loss of density is accompanied by a drop in
specific gravity. On the other hand, as water's temperature drops, its density rises and its specific
gravity rises as well. Pressure has an impact on water's specific gravity as well. Water becomes
more dense and has a higher specific gravity as pressure rises. The density and specific gravity of
water both decrease as pressure is reduced (EngineeringHulk, 2023)
Water is a vital component in keeping all living things alive. Utilizing water wisely is crucial.
Because of the imbalance in nature brought on by several human errors, it is quite difficult to
obtain consumable water these days. There are numerous desalination techniques in use today,
however they are either expensive or ineffective. Therefore, a portable desalination device that
can be used in both the summer and winter and requires no energy has been developed. The
water is desalinated using solar energy. The concept is transportable and can be used to extract
useless water and transform it into drinkable water in ponds, lakes, and oceans that have become
contaminated (Kabade et al., 2018).
According to (UNICEF, 2017), the Philippines has an estimated population of 100.7 million
people, of which 91% have access to at least basic water services. However, access is extremely
unequal throughout the nation, with regional basic water service access varying from 62% to
100%. Only 80% of households in the poorest quintile have access to basic water services,
compared to almost 99% of those in the top 5% of income levels. Additionally, about 20 million
Filipinos lack access to basic sanitary facilities, and about 6 million still defecate in the open.
Despite the fact that over 75 million Filipinos nationwide have access to basic sanitation
services, there are still large disparities, especially considering that regional coverage only ranges
from 22% to 86.
Communities are denied employment opportunities, left vulnerable to sickness, and more
severely affected by poverty when they lack access to clean water. As was evident in the
Philippines, this situation calls for a comprehensive and powerful strategy, as well as everyone's
collaboration. Giving communities water bottles won't solve the problem of the Philippines' lack
of access to clean drinking water. Giving communities the means to produce and have access to
clean water for years to come requires a bottom-up strategy (Buffaloe, 2021).
By conserving and recycling water, making sure the water they drink is safe, and covering water
containers to protect against contamination and vectors, individuals can make a personal
contribution to protecting their health from the effects of scarce water resources. While
individual contributions are important, governments still have a duty to provide people with
reliable and safe drinking water sources through long-term solutions. Due to the current state of
the climate and the growing population's demand for water, an excessive reliance on surface
water sources like rivers and lakes as well as groundwater will not be viable in the future.
By conserving and recycling water, ensuring the safety of the water they drink, and
covering water containers to prevent contamination and vectors, individuals can make a
difference in protecting their health from the effects of limited water supplies. In the Philippines,
techniques like the implementation of enhanced rainwater collection systems and cutting-edge
desalination technologies in conjunction with renewable energies can be utilised.The Philippines
can provide water for all, preserve people's health, and advance sustainable development by
implementing creative and long-term solutions.
(Magtibay, 2019).
Governments nevertheless have a duty to offer people with long-term solutions that will
ensure people have access to clean and dependable drinking water sources, despite the
importance of private efforts. As things stand, the increasing population demand for water and
the effects of climate change mean that a reliance on surface water sources like rivers and lakes
as well as groundwater will not be sustainable in the long run (WHO, 2019).
According to the lay press, 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. While this is not
supported by medical literature, dehydration is common in elderly patients. It has been reported
to occur in 17% to 28% of older adults in the United States (Taylor and Jones, 2022).
Dehydration is the absence of a sufficient amount of water in your body. The best way to beat
dehydration is to drink before you get thirsty. Between about 55% and about 78% of your body is
made of water. Newborn babies are about 78% water, a year-old baby is 65%, adult men are
about 60%, and adult women are about 55%. Your brain is made up of 73% water, and so is your
heart. Your bones are 31% water, your muscles, and kidneys are 79% and your skin is 64%. A
whopping 83% of water makes up your lungs (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). A dehydrated body does
not have enough water and other fluids to perform its regular functions due to exchanging or
losing more fluid than it consumes. It will become dehydrated if it doesn't replenish lost fluids.
Severe diarrhea and vomiting are the most typical causes of dehydration in young children. The
amount of water in older persons' bodies is naturally reduced, and they may have medical issues
or be taking medications that make them more susceptible to dehydration (Mayo Clinic, 2022).
"Hydration is vital for survival," says Ronald A. Navarro, MD, Kaiser Permanente's coordinating
chief of orthopedic surgery. "The cells in our bodies contain water and are surrounded by water.
When we’re dehydrated, these cells are less permeable, which means they have trouble
absorbing nutrients and removing waste" (Permanente, 2022). A person can become dehydrated
at any time, but certain groups are at a greater risk than others. These include babies and infants,
who have a low body weight and are sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss; older people,
who may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated and need to keep drinking fluids;
people with a long-term health condition, such as diabetes or alcoholism; and athletes, who can
lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods (NHS, 2023).
Every year, there are maritime accidents and events that cause death, destruction of property and
ships. Over a five-year period, from 2015 to 20194, the PCG registered 4,467 maritime
accidents/incidents within Philippine territorial seas. MARINA keeps track of the marine
mishaps that occur on the national fleet outside of national waters, but no specific information
has been discovered. According to their respective attributions, MARINA and PCG are often in
charge of investigating such accidents or events. The Philippine National Police - Maritime
Group (PNPMG), a third government body, is also capable of conducting an investigation. The
findings of their probe, nevertheless, may focus more on the crimes committed on board the
Philippine-registered ship in the nation's territorial seas than on the issue of safety. There are now
three organizations with the legal authority to carry out casualty inquiries. This indicates that
there isn't a single board in the Philippines responsible for investigating all accidents and events
(Ferre, 2022). Investigating marine safety is essential for figuring out what causes maritime
mishaps and accidents. The results of this inquiry can help prevent accidents and increase
maritime safety. By pointing out systemic faults and offering suggestions to fix them, it seeks to
increase maritime safety and safeguard the marine environment (Farid & Elashkar, 2020).
Desalinated water is absolutely safe to drink as long as it's clean, and a lot of it is already drank
both domestically and overseas. Around six years ago, San Diego opened a sizable new
desalination plant, and another one is soon to receive approval. The West Coast is covered in
other vegetation. Desalination has been used for decades in regions of the world that are
energy-rich but lack freshwater; the Middle East and North Africa account for nearly half of the
world's supply (Birnbaum, 2021). It has been stated frequently that the ocean is a sustainable
source of vital resources for civilisation. The growth of saltwater desalination in recent decades
has brought this goal closer to reality because applying the identical extraction procedures to
desalination concentrate rather than to unconcentrated seawater would inevitably be more energy
advantageous. Yet, "concentration mining" has seen comparatively little actual commercial
growth(Sharkh, 2022).
Since aquatic species have differing capacities for survival and growth at various salinity levels,
salinity is a crucial indicator in saltwater or in estuaries where freshwater from rivers or streams
mixes with salty ocean water. Many freshwater creatures cannot survive in salinities more than 1
ppt, whereas saltwater organisms can thrive in salinities up to 40 ppt. The amount of dissolved
oxygen in water is influenced by salinity. As salinity rises, oxygen solubility in water declines.
At the same temperature, the solubility of oxygen in seawater is around 20% lower than in fresh
water (Horiba, 2016).
For human survival, clean drinking water (potable water) is a must. In the world, more than 1
billion people have only insufficient access to clean drinking water. Also, there are concerns with
inadequate sanitation that lead to poor water quality for nearly 2.6 billion people. Every year,
more than 1 million individuals pass away from diseases spread by using contaminated water.
The improper disposal of pesticides, fertilizers, medications, and a wide range of other
substances results in drinking-water pollution. As a result, heavy metals, radionuclides,
pesticides, plastics, organic nutrients, inorganic pollutants, medicines, and other contaminants
end up in our drinking water sources. One of the main causes of many different human ailments
is contaminated drinking water (Ahuja, 2021).
(Yoon et al., 2022) concluded that, to address water issues in remote places and during
emergencies, a portable seawater desalination system would be particularly desired. While
numerous portable reverse osmosis desalination devices are now commercially available, due to
the need for high-pressure pumping and frequent maintenance, they are insufficient for
delivering dependable drinking water in remote places. We present a field-deployable
desalination system that uses multistage electromembrane processes to produce drinking water
from brackish and seawater. These processes include two stages of ion concentration polarization
and one stage of electrodialysis. The multistage configuration is optimized using a data-driven
predictive model, and the model's predictions and the outcomes of the experiments agree well.
Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
This chapter discusses the research design, the research location, and the participants, as
well as the tools and methods the researchers used to gather all the necessary data for this study.
System Overview
Portable desalination kits are innovative technologies that can help address the challenges
of providing safe drinking water in water-scarce areas. One of the mechanisms employed by this
unit involves the use of the sun’s energy to warm up the saltwater and promote the process of
desalination.
The saltwater used in portable desalination kits comes from the ocean or seawater
sources, which have very high concentrations of salt and other impurities. The saltwater is placed
into the base of the portable desalination unit, where it is heated up using the sun’s energy. This
heating process involves the use of a material, which absorbs the sun's energy and converts it
into heat. This heat is then used to warm up the saltwater, promoting the desalination process.
Distillation is the process of heating and vaporizing water, then condensing the vapor
back into a liquid form. When the saltwater is heated up in the portable desalination unit, the heat
causes the water to vaporize, leaving behind salt and other impurities. The vapor then passes
through a condenser, where it is cooled and condensed back into liquid form, producing
freshwater. The freshwater produced is then stored in a separate container or tank and is thus
considered fresh water.
Research Study
Quantitative research, particularly in clinical trials, is the foundation of this study. This
study uses an experimental approach to track the input and output of water. Researchers
discovered potential restrictions on the system's efficacy as well as opportunities for its
improvement through such studies.
The information required for the study was gathered by the researchers. The desalination
kit will be used in times of emergency, or anywhere within the coastal areas that are
freshwater-scarce. The plastic construction makes the device simple to store and locate in an
emergency pack, and the sun’s energy is utilized by the portable desalinator to convert seawater
into potable water.
Analysis and interpretation of data could be determined by the results of this study.
Research Environment
Figure No. 1
Location for the local target market of PDK
The coastal area of Luyang Carmen, Cebu, is where potential users of the portable water
desalinator were picked. Here, many fishermen utilize "Baruto" which are small non-motorized
boats. Luyang is a coastline area, hence fishing provides the majority of their income. The device
may be utilized whenever they go on open waters and will serve as their emergency kit in case
they forgot their water to produce fresh water.
Research Instruments
Experiment - To evaluate the performance of a portable water desalination unit, a series
of experiments was employed. It measured the amount of potable water produced by the
desalination unit during daylight. This involved monitoring the input and output of water.
Through such experiments, researchers were able to identify potential constraints that could limit
the effectiveness, as well as opportunities for improving its performance.
Time Study- The widely used tool for IEs is utilized generally in this study to provide
data on how much time will the PDK generate water and how much amount per period this will
generate to happen.
Comparative Study- This ensures the capability of the product being affordable as to how
the product is intended to function in comparison to certain portable desalinator brands. This will
compare the prices, the amount yield, and the percentage differences.
Hypothesis Testing- This will state that the PDK will produce significantly with respect
to the null or the alternative hypothesis and therefore will not provide any lapses to the
experiment and the production capacity of the product.
Description of Experiments
In experimenting, the desalination unit must be prepared. Preparations include measuring
the amount of saltwater before adding it to the unit. It was then placed under direct sunlight
during daylight, and monitored periodically. Measurements of the rate of water produced should
be taken periodically to determine the capacity of the desalination unit.
After daylight, the desalination unit should be harvested, and the produced water
carefully collected in a separate container. The quantity of the produced water should be
measured to evaluate the capacity of the desalination process. Once the experiment is completed
and data has been collected, the produced fresh water should have undergone water quality
testing to confirm its safety for consumption. However, due to time restrictions and as stated in
the limitations of the study, the researchers weren't able to conduct a water quality test, hence the
safety of the produced fresh water by the PDK is not assured.
Data Analysis
Observation
Input
Number of
Output
Efficiency
hours it was
placed under
the sun
Day X
(Volume of
8 hours
seawater in mL)
(Volume of
%
freshwater in
mL)
Table No. 2
Capacity of the PDK to Produce Freshwater
The table above shows how the capacity of the PDK is measured. The input which is the
seawater will be measured in mL, and the number of hours (converted into minutes) it was
placed under the sun was gathered, and the volume of freshwater produced is measured. This
data was used to calculate the efficiency of the PDK.
Efficiency rate
0-20% = Very Poor
Interpretation
The portable desalination kit had very low
efficiency in converting seawater into fresh water.
21-40% = Poor
The portable desalination kit had low efficiency
in converting seawater into fresh water.
41-60% = Fair
The portable desalination kit had an average
efficiency in converting seawater into fresh water.
61 - 80% = Good
The portable desalination kit had high efficiency
in converting seawater into fresh water.
81 - 100% = Very Good
The portable desalination kit had very high
efficiency in converting seawater into fresh water.
Table No. 3
Interpretation of the Efficiency Rate of PDK
The table above shows how the efficiency rate of PDK is interpreted. The percentage will
determine its efficiency and the scoring procedure will be based on the statements above.
Consecutively, the researchers used the Key Performance Indicators to highlight the
problems that are in need to be addressed. This will help the researchers and the person within
the scope of the significance of the study to clearly understand the solution given on each KPI.
The Production Capacity, which is the most important factor of the product, particularly on how
much the desalinator yields in a day, the formula:
EC = (working minutes per day/ minutes per unit)
Efficiency= Actual Output / Effective Capacity
where the effective capacity is taken from the working minutes in a day divided by the minutes
or hours in every ml of water. The efficiency will be taken from the actual output from the
standard desalinator and will be divided by the effective capacity. The Product Cost is also a
factor to test if the product is affordable to the intended target market.
TC = Cost of Raw Materials + Cost of Direct Labor + Cost of Overhead
This formula sums all the cost spent by the researchers and creates a price comparative study to
the other portable desalinator brands.
Table No. 2
Price Comparative Between Desalinator brands
Competitors
Price
Yield
% Difference
Brand X
(units in Peso)
(units in ml)
% (X/PDK)
Brand Y
(units in Peso)
(units in ml)
% (Y/PDK)
PDK
(units in Peso)
(units in ml)
% (PDK/PDK)
The table above shows the illustration of price comparison between different desalinator
brands and their differences between yield of water and percentage. This will enable the
researchers and also the target market to identify if the PDK is more sustainable in terms of
affordability and if the price of the PDK is not that high or low. For the last factor, the reliability,
which determines if the portable desalinator kit is a reliable product after using for a certain
period of time.
−𝑇/𝑀𝐵𝑇𝐹
P (failure before T) = 1-𝑒
Figure No. 2
Probability of Failure Rate in PDK
The graph above shows certain amounts and percentage taken from the distribution table of
reliability score values. This will denote how much of a chance the portable desalinator kit will
likely to fail after using for a certain period of time. The formula P is to probability and T is to
Time which equates to the Euler’s number at the exponent of the fraction of T which is length of
time before service fails and MBTF of Mean Time Before Failures.
Block Diagram
The figure below shows the block diagram system which presents the process of how the
Portable Desalinator works. According to (Williams, 2022), so much of Earth's life depends on
freshwater but unfortunately, it is a scarce resource, and without access, so many people around
the world struggle to meet their most basic requirements. Many people may advise desalination
as a solution to this issue, which involves taking the salt out of seawater and turning it into
freshwater.
To give an idea of how Portable Desalinator Kit work is that this device is a sort of
survival kit specifically for people in shorelines that has less access to drinking water that could
be prone to dehydration. It is a portable kit that is made from two structures with pyramid and
base that creates the Portable Desalinator Kit where the flow of process has been modified and
observed from the input (undrinkable water) to output (drinking water).
Figure No. 3
Flow of Functionality on PDK
By the usage of Reverse Osmosis Process and with the help of direct sunlight, makes the
This process is more efficient and easier to desalinate seawater at the inside because the base
serve as the foundation and through the sun’s energy, it produces heat to evaporate the water to
the pyramid and sustain drinkable water to the outside base where the fresh water flows.
System Flowcharts
Figure No. 4
Flow of Functionality on PDK
The figure above presented the flow of functionality of the Portable Desalinator Kit
which can provide fresh water from seawater to serve to the less access of water to prevent from
dehydrations and emergency where out of water access from high distance of civilization. The
first flow of making this is the assemble of the structures which are the external based which is
the foundation of fresh water or drinkable water and internal based which is the foundation of
the seawater. The based is made of clear acrylic with a thickness of 3mm in each area. and the
pyramid which is the protection of the water from the based.
Proceed to the input of seawater at the based, followed by using of reverse osmosis
process by the help of direct sunlight to produce heat and continuously evaporating the seawater
in the pyramid itself. The output is being collected in the external based as the fresh water or the
drinkable water. When the output is being collected, this is directly sealed and put in a clean
water bottle and ready to serve as a drinking water to everyone.
Pictorial Diagram
The figure below is the pictorial diagram of Portable Desalinator Kit where pictures are
used to represent the many parts of a given system or process. In here, levels of detail can vary
for the purpose of making the various components simpler to identify the step by step process in
desalinating the seawater to drinkable water. In order to desalinate seawater, first step is to put
the seawater into the basin and proceed to next step which is water heating wherein it is a method
of heat transfer that raises the temperature of water by using an energy source by the use of direct
sunlight.
Followed by desalinating the seawater through distillation to purify the
liquid by
separating the elements that make up a seawater. This process will take some time or more
depending on the hot weather in a daily basin. After a long day of processing, progress has been
made which is the drinkable water. The drinkable water flows down to the catch basin where it
contained, and lastly, store the water in a water storage or bottle to keep it sealed.
Figure No. 5
Pictorial Diagram for PDK
Ortographic Views
Figure No. 6
Front View
Figure No. 8
Back View
Figure No. 7
Right Side Elevation
Figure No. 9
Left Side Elevation
Above are the figures of the orthographic view which is the whole structure of Portable
Desalinator Kit. These views are composed of Front View, Back View, Top View, Bottom View,
Right Side Elevation and Left Side Elevation with specific measurements from each area and
sides. For the first view is the Front View with a measurement of 383.90 of its height from the
pyramid to base structure. The pyramid measures 331.86mm of its length, while the base
measures 304.80mm. For the rest of views, a Catch Basin is clearly viewed. This was where the
drinkable water contained and from desalination process with a measurement of 31.75 and 41.45,
since it is needed to differ its sizes so that flow of the drinkable water is continuous and easier to
contained.
Figure No. 10
Bottom View
Figure No. 11
Top View
Isometric and Exploded View
Figure No. 12
Composition of Part in PDK
The figures above is the exploded view together with the isometric phase of the Portable
Desalinator Kit. This is done to separate each piece of the object and set each piece in relation to
the other pieces of the object. In the first figure, it has all the piece of every part of the object
before assemble. The pyramid is already a one piece since it it is assembled already then
followed by the pieces or the holding structure of the object which are the base pieces. Next
figure is the whole structure of the Portable Desalinator Kit with its pyramid and base where all
the pieces were assembled already with the material use of clear acrylic. Followed by the two
last figures, these are the structure of base without the pyramid. The first base it has its cover to
protect the seawater while not in use. Lastly the last figure, is the base without the cover and it is
clearly shows the catch basin where the flow of the drinkable water has been and the main base
is to contain the seawater for desalination process.
Chapter 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Time Study
Table No. __
Time Study from PDK with Aluminum Extension
The researchers conducted a time study between the manufactured two models of desalinator.
There are two model specifically: a.) with Almuminum Extension and b.) with only Standard
Acrylic. In the first study, the PDK with the almuminum extension was taken to the
experimentation and after a week, the data was obtained. The researchers filled the basin with the
full amount of seawater. The readings were in hour units and contained an average of 8.31 hours.
The standard time was 7.77 hours.
The daylight as what is averaged in a perfect day with no rain is at exactly 12 hours. After the
repeated experimentation, the researchers concluded a 60 ml average of water yield between the
days the desalination is conducted. This results into the 92.7 ml of water which can be obtained
in day, 648.66 ml of water in a week, and 2750.32 ml of water in a month.
Table No. 3
Time Study from PDK without Aluminum Extension
The researchers conducted the second experiment which is the PDK without the
aluminum extension. The results after a week were obtained and shown above. The readings
were also in hours with an average of 10.5 hour-time in a day. The standard time shown was 9.82
hours. After, the yield amount was determined for this base model. The PDK without the
aluminum extension was shorter in yield by 40% because the PDK base model has only 20 ml
yield per day. On average this yields to 36 ml for a maximum day, 257 ml for a full week, and
1088 ml in a month. By observation, the first model is the chosen product to be manufactured by
the research team to produce higher yields in terms of water volume.
Costing
Table No. __
Raw Materials Expenses
No.
Material
Quantity Used
Price
Total Price
1
Shoe Glue
4pcs.
₱12.00
₱48.00
2
Tube Sealant (Clear)
1 tube
₱150.00
₱150.00
3
Plastic Cover
1 meter
₱85.00/meter
₱85.00
4
Aluminum Steel
10pcs./pack
₱60.00/pack
₱60.00
5
Level Hose
1 meter
₱15.00/meter
₱15.00/meter
6
Acrylic Sheet (3mm)
1 unit
₱300.00
₱300.00
Initial Total
₱658.00
Cost:
Above is the table of raw materials expenses from the production of Portable Desalinator Kit.
This is categorized by name of materials, its quantity, price and total price to clearly classify each
expenses and cost during the making and process.First material is the shoe glue for as an
adhesive to the acrylic sheet which is four (4) pieces has been consumed for a cost of ₱48.00 in
total. Followed by tube sealant aside from shoe glue with clear effect to keep the acrylic sheet
sealed with a pricing of ₱150.00, and for another material which is plastic cover to keep the
pyramid closed for a purpose of the desalination process with a one (1) meter of purchased that
cost ₱85.00. Next material is to keep the pyramid stand and properly positioned as a supporter of
the plastic cover which cost of ₱60.00 per pack for ten (10) pieces already. Followed by the level
hose that cost of ₱15.00 per meter as a connection and receives the drinkable water from
desalinating process to the water storage or water bottle. Lastly the main material for the base
area is the acrylic sheet with one unit only to assemble the base structure for a price cost of
₱300.00. These are the purchases for the making of Portable Desalinator Kit with an initial total
cost of ₱658.00.
Table No. 4
Labor Costs for Portable Desalinator Kit
Table No.__ presented the labor costs for Portable Desalinator Kit with 3 labors as the main
processes in finalizing this project. First labor is the sealant labor to prevent from leakage of
water which cost of ₱150.00 then next is for lay-outs by having an autocad professional to have
done with a labor cost of ₱350.00 and lastly for the tailor labor to protect the base and holds the
fresh water then flows to outer layer base or the water catchment. These labors has an initial total
costs of ₱550.00 of completing these processes. In totality, the cost for manufacturing the model
is ₱1,208 pesos.
Price Comparative Study
The table above shows the prices of each desalinator brands. Note that the brands are
considered from portable ones. Compared to PDK, Empress ST-200 has a difference of 2.065,
DH-Gate Desalinator has 1.39%, and Marine Generator has 0.82% difference compared to the
PDK. The table also shows the affordability of the PDK model since it is only ₱1,208 pesos if
bought in cash comparing to other brands which ranges from ₱400,000 to ₱1,070, 854.00 pesos.
Table No. 5
Comparative Study Between Portable Desalinator Brands and PDK
COMPETITORS
PRICE
YIELD(L)
P/V
% DIFFERENCE
Empress ST-200
₱400,000.00
15
26,666.67
2.06%
DH-Gate Desalinator
₱452,979.00
25
18,119.16
1.39%
Marine Generator
₱1,070,854.00
100
10,708.54
0.82%
PDK
₱1,208.00
0.09267
12,949.17
Hypothesis Testing
The researchers before concluding the production capacity of the product raised a
concern if the model can really produce the desire volume of water in a day. Certain factors such
as the weather includes in the hypothesis testing given that the Null hypothesis is 100 ml and
Alternative Hypothesis is not 100 ml. By testing, the sample mean is 92.67 with a sample size of
3 and a standard deviation of 0.81. Note that the confidence level of the hypothesis is at standard
95 percent.
Table No. _
Ho: µ= 100 ml
Ha: µ ≠ 100 ml
=
92.67−100
0.81/ 3
= -15.67
Utilizing the formula of standard z-score, the researchers found that the z value of the
hypothesis is -15.67 found the leftmost part of the curve.
Figure No. 13
Bell curve of two-tailed values
As the figure and calculation shows, the z value points to -15.67 and is located far left of the
curve. This suggests that the null hypothesis is therefore rejected and the data obtained from the
time study and the production capacity is accepted without assumptions. This also depicts that
the volume of water is an average of 92.67 based from the table above.
Production Capacity
Figure No. 14
Production Capacity of Portable Desalination Kit
Figure X shows the production capacity of the desalination unit. The experimentation took 7
days, 12 hours a day from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a constant temperature of 31°C daily and
the gathered data are as presented. Within the experimentation days, it produced a total of 648.66
ml with an average of 92.67 ml a day. This is for the Actual Output. However, the effective
capacity is what the researchers are looking for with respect to the product since certain factors
will also affect how much water is produced and desalinated. The operation used is EC= working
minutes per day/ minutes per unit which is equal to 466.2 min./ 7.77 and shall have a derived
volume of 60 ml. The Efficiency= Actual Output / Effective Capacity is
Reliability
By means of extensive testing, the researchers of the Portable Desalinator Kit with 3
models have an expected life of 2 weeks within the utilization of the product. The following
formula was used to calculate the probability of having one of the desalinators:
a.) End after 2 weeks of service
Figure No. 15
The graph shows a probability of 37% of PDK failing after 2 weeks of service which tells that
there is a lower chance of failing after being utilized for 2 weeks. Under the bell curve, the graph
shows a distribution of the data above.
Figure No. __
Figure No.16
The graph tells that the chance of PDK ending the product's usability is higher at about 63% in
comparison to the previous figure where the chances are only 37 percent. Both show how the
product will be reliable considering that specific parts of the product such as the pyramid portion
can be worn out after 2 weeks.
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(n.d.).
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0only%20make,even%20as%20you%20become%20thirstier.
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