Header
Define a Problem
We create a Gantt chart to be able to manage our time and be successfully planned out for the entire project. We divide the responsibilities for the project so that we can have an equal work load and efficiently get done with the entire project.
We divided up the groups responsibilities so that it was an equal amount of work and we were efficient in getting it done
Nathan: Brainstorm, research and generate concepts
Me: Define a problem, select approach
Together: Explore possibilities, make model, test and evaluate, refine design, communicate processes and results
Nathan: Brainstorm, research and generate concepts
Me: Define a problem, select approach
Together: Explore possibilities, make model, test and evaluate, refine design, communicate processes and results
Brainstorm
Research and Generate Ideas
- One homemade water filter we researched was the BioSand filter. This filter uses sand, gravel, and natural biological processes to filter out containment's in water, making it safe for drinking. Some advantages with this filter is that its very effective in removing bacteria. Also the filter is very durable, it can last around 15 years. Lastly this filter doesn't run on any type of electricity. There are not really any flaws in this filter other than finding the materials and something to build the filter with. https://ohorizons.org/solution?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6NjNBRDKARIsAFn3NMrYjP-XZTv1WL6s41ANM4sA3v8s3fsJ20It7QKcFJx7k31a70YSJY4aAjG7EALw_wcB
- Another water filter we researched was a filter that boiled the water. Boiling the water for around 10 minutes is the best way to make sure it is safe to drink. This is a suggestion from most of the survival books and experts. The only problem is that this filtering system uses a lot of energy to make the water safe enough to drink. Also if the water really dirty and muddy this method wont work very well. https://www.lifeadvancer.com/make-homemade-water-filter
- Lastly another method we researched was using iodine to clean the water. Not only does iodine disinfect the water, it purifies it. There are a few problems in using iodine though. Iodine takes a very long time to disinfect water. You usually have to wait about 30 minutes before drinking the water. https://www.lifeadvancer.com/make-homemade-water-filter
Explore Possibilities
We found that the only material that we tested that really made a difference was the charcoal, which we claimed very quickly as our unique item. For our design we decided to mainly use coffee filters and charcoal.
Select an Approach
Develop a Design Proposal
Make a Model Prototype
Test and Evaluate the Design using Specifications
Test One - 267.7
Test Two - 140.5
Test Three- 28.5
After our third test we met the expectations required to make the water clear enough. Our first test we just had a coffee filter with rocks in it and mesh around the cap of the water bottle. Next we added a coffee filter filled with charcoal which lowered our turbidity but still not enough to meet the requirements. Lastly we added another layer of charcoal and a coffee filter which brought the turbidity down to 28.
Test Two - 140.5
Test Three- 28.5
After our third test we met the expectations required to make the water clear enough. Our first test we just had a coffee filter with rocks in it and mesh around the cap of the water bottle. Next we added a coffee filter filled with charcoal which lowered our turbidity but still not enough to meet the requirements. Lastly we added another layer of charcoal and a coffee filter which brought the turbidity down to 28.
Refine and Design
Before building our filter we knew we were going to use charcoal in our design because charcoal was the only test that brought the turbidity down. So we just used a layer of coffee filter and charcoal and tested it out. The results did not meet the requirements needed. So we thought about adding some other materials like a layer of rocks before the layer of charcoal, which brought the turbidity down but still didn't meet the requirements. Lastly we thought if charcoal is the only element that drops the turbidity, then lets just add another layer of charcoal. So that's what we did and finally met the requirements needed.
Communicate Process and results
Conclusion/ Reflection
Tyler and I started out researching some ideas on how to make a homemade water filter. We found out that sand, charcoal, rocks, and cloth can make a pretty effective filter. Next we decided to get the tests out of the way and find out how well each material filters the water. We found out that charcoal is the best material that lowers the turbidity. With teams calling certain items, we decided to call charcoal which eventually made a lot of people very upset. Next we started to build our filter. We took a water bottle and cut the end of it off so we could put our materials in the water bottle. Then we decided to take a mesh like material and rubber band it around the cap of the water bottle. Inside the water bottle our first layer was some rocks in a coffee filter then above that we had a layer of charcoal in a coffee filter. Then we tested our design and the turbidity was around 60, which isn't low enough to pass the requirements. So to fix our problem we added another layer of charcoal in a coffee filter and that brought our turbidity down to 28.5 which met the expectations. During this project I learned from my research that iodine purifies water. But the downfall is that it takes a while to do so. The only thing I would do differently is try to work on the weebly a couple days before it is due besides the next day and be up all night finishing it. I wouldn't recommend you change anything for this project, I liked having to build a water filter and testing it.