Please join us for Eric’s defense (our 2nd
ESE IGP Student Defense since launching the program) on Nov.
16, 2010 (Tuesday) 2:30pm in CIVL G212. This
December we will graduate our first two ESE PhD students!
Disinfection
of drinking water using solar UV: A low cost system applicable in developing
countries
Eric Gentil Mbonimpa
Ph.D. Defense Seminar
Major Professor: E. R. Blatchley III.
Nov.
16, 2010 (Tuesday) 2:30pm in CIVL G212
Potable
drinking water is a scarce resource in many parts of developing countries,
especially rural areas. The WHO/UNICEF (2006) estimated that around 1.1 billion
people do not have access to potable water and 2 million a year die due to
diseases caused by pathogens in water. Due to limited financial means of these
countries, low cost point-of-use systems are thought to be appropriate
technology to treat water. Systems using solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation could
be successful since many vulnerable countries are located where solar radiation
is intense and abundant throughout the year. The goal of this study is to
develop a simple and low cost point-of-use solar UV reactor to disinfect water.
In
this study wavelength-dependent microbial dose-response behavior was
investigated using surrogates to pathogenic microbes. A solar radiation
prediction method based on the SMARTS model was used to predict solar UV
intensity as function of geographic location and time. A numerical modeling
procedure using the discrete ordinate (DO) model and CFD software (FLUENT) was
used to simulate UV dose (distribution) delivery to microorganisms. Then, the
dose distribution was combined with the dose-response behavior using a
segregated-flow model to predict microbial inactivation by the reactor.
A prototype was
produced and tested to validate the numerical modeling procedure. The inactivation
results from the prototype were in agreement with numerical inactivation
prediction. The modeling procedure permits parameters such as reactor
dimensions and material properties to be varied to meet a treatment goal. For
future study, other potential materials should be investigated and prototype
tests should be carried out in regions where the system it to be applied.
Linda S. Lee
Ecological Science &
Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Program Head
Professor, Environmental Chemistry, http://www.agry.purdue.edu/staffbio/lslbio.htm
Purdue University, Department of Agronomy
Crop Soil & Environmental Sciences
915 W. State Street, 3-363 Lilly Hall
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
Office: (765) 494-8612; Fax (765) 496-2926