Testing Procedures: Individual

Introduction

            Our final design must be a functioning, easily operated, durable product that will be able to provide clean healthy water to needy people.  The unit will clean water by use of the desalination process.  The water will evaporate and will drip into a cylinder, from where gravity will pull the water through a carbon filter and to a separate storage tank.  The product must produce at least 40L of water each day to be able to provide enough for a family.  The unit will also be able to harness solar energy by means of photovoltaic cells.  This gathered energy will power the germicidal lights, which will kill any germs and bacteria in the water. 

            We also expect to build the unit with materials accessible to Chile.  The price of the unit should be in a range where a Chilean family can purchase one, or if necessary, where charities can easily fundraise for one.  We hope that the unit will beseem into the lives of the Chileans, and that our product will become an everyday item.

            When testing the unit, we must make sure that the unit is functioning properly.  We will test all the parts of the unit to guarantee that the unit works as planned.  We will test the evaporation, the tubing, the solar panels, and the UV lights.  We will also be testing the structural integrity of the unit, along with the expenses and the unit’s availability.  We will test the sanitation of the water as well.  We will check the salinity, the pH, and we will test for heavy metals and parasites.

            EK, GG, and I will participate in the testing of our product.  I am in charge of the energy portion of this project.  I will be handling the testing of the solar panel, UV lights, and the wiring.  EK will be testing the mobility of the water, the structural integrity, and avalibility to Chileans.  GG will be testing the desalination process, the quality of the water, and whether or not the water is sufficient for the family.

            The optimum location would be Chile, but we are unable to accomplish this.  We will test the unit outside of our school, on a sunny day, if the whether permits.  This will probably occur in the spring or early summer.  Some testing, such as testing the strength of the materials and the functionality of the UV lights, we will do indoors.  The testing will occur while the product is dry and right side up.  The product will be on during all testing.

Testing Stages

Type: Exploratory/Comparison

Stage: Preliminary

State of Solution: Preconstruction

Conditions: Preconstruction

Parameter/Specification: Which green energy source would be most useful and practical for the unit?

Tools and Equipment: Computer with internet capabilities

Procedure:

1. Search the internet for information about various types of green energy sources
2. Compare and contrast different types
3. Pick an energy source to use

Target: Determine which energy source would be practical for our project.

Type: Exploratory/Comparison

Stage: Secondary

State of Solution: Preconstruction

Conditions: Preconstruction

Parameter/Specification: Determine which photovoltaic cells, solar panel brand, size, and watts we should use for our project, and purchase one.

Tools and Equipment: Computer with internet capabilities
Procedure:

1. Search the internet for different types of solar panels
2. Compare and contrast different types and prices
3. Select  a solar panel to buy

Target: Choose and secure a solar panel to use for the project.

Type: Assessment

Stage: Tertiary

State of Solution: During Construction

Conditions: Stationary, Outside, On

Parameter/Specification: Ensure that the solar panels generate enough energy to run the UV lights.

Tools and Equipment: Wattmeter

Procedure:

1.      Use a wattmeter to measure the amount of out put the solar panel generates.

2.      Compare to the number of watts need to run the UV lights

Target: Ensure that the solar panels function properly.

Type: Validation

Stage: Quaternary

State of Solution: Post-construction

Conditions: Stationary, Outside, On

Parameter/Specification: Are the electrical components working?

Tools and Equipment: Wattmeter

Procedure:

1. Check the wiring, the electricity should be transferring from the solar panel to the UV lights.
2. Check the UV light, they should be burning brightly and not flickering.
3. Check the solar panel, the photovoltaic cells should be generating energy.

Target: Guarantee that the electrical components of the unit are functioning correctly.