Hand powered portable ultraviolet sterilizing water bottle with active UV dose sensing

Abstract

A portable hand powered water sterilization device was created to address a portion of the growing epidemic of global water contamination. As being more supply chain independent and having an active dose sensing component that monitors the water to insure sterilization, our device boasts far more than any current off-the-shelf devices. The device is completely hand powered via a hand crank generator. A spermicidal ultraviolet light bulb, rated at 253.7nm (UV-C), was integrated with a common NalgeneTM water bottle. Along with the bulb, UV. dose sensing electronics and a hand crank generator were incorporated as well, with the generator supplying power to both the bulb and the photodiode circuitry. Results show that eradication of common waterborne bacteria, protozoa, and viruses occurs after cranking the generator for approximately 41 seconds in clear water and up to 65 seconds in turbid water. The total weight added to the water bottle was less than a pound.