Hardware | LZU-HS-China-E

Overview
Components and view
Process
History
Advantages in reality

Overview

In order to successfully separate the chromous ion from the high-salt wastewater, we design a machine called "HSWP" (High-salt Wastewater Processor), which mainly consists of six parts.

Activated sludge and high-salt wastewater will be added into the machine and mixed thoroughly so that engineered bacteria can fully absorb chromous ions. After 3 hours of sedimentation, we extract and test upper processed wastewater, checking whether it is qualified to go on further purification. For the rest of the wasted sludge, they will be buried or disposed of in other methods.

Components and view

Function of each components:

A. mix the waste water and sludge.

B. place for precipitation.

C. entry for waste water.

D. entry for sludge.

E. place to store sludge with heavy metal

F. entry for water to the next purification stage

Process

STEP 1. First, the wastewater with heavy metals and activated sludge will be added to the container through different entrance tubes respectively. For the sludge, it has the function of absorbing chromous ions and staying salt-tolerated because it contains our engineered bacteria. For those two tubes, one is for adding wastewater and the other is for adding activated sludge, as Fig.1 shows.

Fig.1

STEP 2. Operating the agitator to blend the activated sludge with the wastewater so that all wastewater can be evenly exposed to our engineered bacteria. This allows the engineered bacteria to absorb the surrounding chromous ion fast and more effectively. Depending on the concentration of heavy metals in the sewage, the experimental process will be conducted for different hours, as Fig.2 shows.

Fig.2

STEP 3. Let the mixture of wastewater and activated sludge stand for 3 hours, precipitating the sludge with heavy metals at the bottom. At the same time, the sludge containing chromous ions will precipitate at the bottom.

STEP 4. After the precipitation, wastewater will be on the top and the sludge with heavy metals at the bottom. The agitator will emit ultraviolet light as a sterilizing effect to ensure that bacteria will not cause secondary pollution to the wastewater (Fig.3), and the clean water will be discharged and go through the tube on the left side as Fig.4 shows. Before it's transported to the next water purification process, it will be tested again to ensure the heavy metals are precipitated.

Fig.3

Fig.4

STEP 5. The chromous ion and sludge residue will be thrown directly. In Fig.5 there is a movable door that opens during step 5, the precipitated sludge will go down and reach the sink through the tube on the right. (Fig.6) Since the sludge is already full of heavy metals and cannot be reused, these sludges and heavy metals will be buried or disposed of in other ways.

Fig.5

Fig.6

History

1st Version

This is the first version of the hardware. Mainly, we designed the overall shape, including 2 entrance tubes (B&C), an agitator (A), a door at the funnel (D) and a sink to store the sludge (E). Both wastewater and sludge enter the device through B and the agitator will be turned on, after the process of mixing, and precipitating, the cleaned water goes out through C for further purification and the sludge with heavy metal goes down through D and reach E eventually.

2nd Version

In the 2nd version, two changes are made, at A and F. At A, we added the UV light bulb on the top of the blade, the UV light will be turned on after precipitation, which can help make the water as a cleaner as possible. And at F, we added another tube, so the entry of wastewater and sludge are separated, so the process is more organized and standardized.

3D Modeling

3rd Version

In the 3rd version, we present the device in a 3D model, the components and functions are still the same.

Final Version

In the final version, we change two details, as follows:

1. In the 3rd version, the blades are trapezoidal and only the upper edges have a UV light, which may not kill all the bacteria. So after revising, the blades are made helical and there is UV light along the blade, not only on the upper edges. This can help the water and sludges mix better and have the UV light work more efficiently.

2. In the 3rd version, the edges of the sink are right-angled. Considering the usage in reality, the edges are rounded in the revision. This can help reduce some potential hurt that can be caused by sharp edges. Also, the rounded edges are also easier to clean.

Advantages in reality

The hardware is heavy and large since it's made of metal, which makes it not easy to break. Also, in the final revision, the edges of the sink are rounded, this reduces some potential problems that can be caused by sharp edges and make it easier to clean, which helps reality a lot. Also, the materials used are very simple, only the metals and UV light bulb, so the cost it takes are affordable for most consumers.

Our team didn't print the 3D model out since the scale is big but we've asked the professionals whether the model could be used in real life, it can be used theoretically.

LZU-HS-China-E