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dc.contributor.advisorDavid Wallace.en_US
dc.contributor.authorQuinlan, Saundra Sen_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2006-05-15T20:39:53Z
dc.date.available2006-05-15T20:39:53Z
dc.date.copyright2005en_US
dc.date.issued2005en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32928
dc.descriptionThesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaf 23).en_US
dc.description.abstractWater purification proves to be a difficult task in many developing nations. The SODIS (SOlar water DISinfection) process is a method which improves the microbiological quality of water making it safer for drinking and cooking using the UV-A rays and heat from the sun. Even simple processes such as this, require components that are not easily attainable in many rural areas-in this case the recommended two-liter bottle. Amy Smith, an instructor in MIT's Edgerton Center, researched and tested the effectiveness of polypropylene collapsible water pouches in the SODIS process. Thus, a heat-sealing device that can be used in developing nations to manufacture collapsible water pouches is needed. This device is intended to allow individuals in developing countries to take advantage of the SODIS water purification process. The approximately 60 watt prototype of the heat-sealing device is powered by a 12-volt solar deep-cycle battery and is made of simple materials so that it can be used and maintained in a variety of developing nations. A 20 inch nickel chromium strip is used as the heating element and Teflon forms a barrier between the heating element and the material to be sealed. A 4-mil polypropylene sheet is the pouch material of choice.en_US
dc.description.abstract(cont.) It is placed on top of the Teflon strip, before a lever arm is lowered, the device is turned 'on' and the sheet is sealed via the heated nickel chromium strip. Although the alpha prototype presented in this thesis has a number of positive attributes, such as using easily accessible or shippable components and making use of available power sources and/or batteries, there are areas for improvement. Making the device more robust, user friendly and versatile and making the seal strength more consistent and accurate are important characteristics that should be considered when designing a beta prototype.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Saundra S. Quinlan.en_US
dc.format.extent26 leavesen_US
dc.format.extent1525088 bytes
dc.format.extent1523498 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
dc.subjectMechanical Engineering.en_US
dc.titleDesigning of a prototype heat-sealer to manufacture solar water sterilization pouches for use in developing nationsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeS.B.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
dc.identifier.oclc62775571en_US


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