| This study was designed to develop and construct an economically feasible prototype desalination unit for households in water scarce areas. The prototype desalination unit was developed to provide an alternative means of providing potable water to households in coastal communities by purifying seawater, river water, or stagnant water to an acceptable consumption salinity of less than <1 ppt.;A mixture of simulated ocean water at varied salinities as well as actual seawater samples were collected, treated and tested through this desalination prototype. The saline water samples ranged from 9 ppt through 37 ppt to duplicate actual usage situations. The control sample consisted of water <1 ppt taken from a tab outside the Agricultural Engineering lab. Results of the test yielded a measurable salinity of less than <1 ppt, comparable with potable drinking water standards of the World Health Organization.;The calibrated YSI Model 51 B Dissolved Oxygen Meter measured the initial salinities as well as the salinity of each distillate. Total desalination time per 3.78 1 (1 gallon) of distillate was calculated and compared for variance, and was used to calculate the prototype's effectiveness to provide a benchmark for comparison in actual usage. The capital cost and operational cost for the prototype were calculated. The prototype desalination unit successfully desalinated 100% of all the tested salinities. |
