Group 2 Paper

RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALTERNATIVE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY USING PLC-BASED

PORTABLE SOLAR POWERED ATMOSPHERIC WATER EXTRACTOR
A Student Collaborative Research Presented to the Faculty of

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Submitted by:
Chavez, Julius Caezar C.
Dalipe, Amiel Joshua M.
Espiña, Michael James P.
Fullido, Arriane Charisse O.
Galon, Meljun C.
Lansang, Cristina Marie F.
Submitted to:
Engr. John Michael P. Alipio
Instructor
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Water is crucial for keeping the balance of the world’s ecosystem,
especially in maintaining an adequate food supply as well as sustaining a
productive environment for all living organisms. In an article entitled The
Importance of Water and Conscious Use of Water (Kılıç, 2020), the researchers
cited that due to rapid population growth, along with climate change, these put
pressure upon our water resources leading to increased water stress in many
countries. Based on an article reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority in
September 2020, the total water extracted from our natural water resources,
including lakes, rivers, streams and artificial reservoirs, have increased by 12.3%
in a span of nine years, from 2010 to 2019. In the same study, it is also stated
that the largest increase happened in 2017, where the water extracted was
212.20 bcm (billion cubic meters), an estimated 10.67 bcm increase from the
previous year.
The scarcity of potable water supply has also been a major problem in the
Philippines. According to an online article The Water Crisis: The Philippines
(Wateroam, 2020), there are about 7 million Filipinos who still consume water
from unsafe sources. To add, 24 million Filipinos do not have proper access to
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
proper water sanitation causing increased susceptibility to water-borne diseases.
This calls the need for an appropriate water purification system. This involves the
removal of unwanted particles from fluid via different techniques. The
researchers will employ a four-stage filtration system to ensure high-quality
potable water.
In the recent years, the rise of Industry 4.0 paved the way for promoting
the use of Internet of Things (IoT) in the digitalization, and automation of the
industrial and manufacturing sector. Sometimes called as “smart manufacturing”,
“integrated industry”, or “industrial internet” (Madsen, 2019), Industry 4.0 is
gradually taking place all over the world, incorporating not only cloud computing,
artificial intelligence but also the practice of sustainable and green
manufacturing. A good example is the use of IoT that serve as connection of
production areas with different sensors and devices. These devices can provide
vital information including the behavior, usage, performance indicators and
emissions of the manufacturing process (FutureBridge, 2020). These gathered
information are used to make better products, but also to mitigate any negative
impacts on the environment.
On the other hand, solar power has gradually become more popular and
cheaper at the same time. In the study The Rise of Solar Power (Clyde&Co,
2021), there was an 89% decrease in the solar photovoltaic (PV) power’s price
from new power plants in the past ten years. The study also revealed that in the
same decade, the price for coal power has only fallen to about 2%. These cuts in
costs are all made possible by the continuing development of technology along
with the growth of the solar industry ecosystem. Solar energy also proves to be
the cleanest and most abundant energy source.
As such, this research aims to incorporate the use of solar energy to
power a water extractor from the atmosphere. By also using the atmosphere as
the water source for this project, this project will help relieve the water abstracted
from natural water resources. This research also aims to make a standard
atmospheric water extractor into a portable one, which will be helpful in bringing it
into different places.
Objectives of the Study
General Objectives
The study aims is to create an “Alternative Potable Water Supply using
PLC-based Portable Solar Powered Atmosphere Water Extractor”.
Specific Objectives
The goal of the researchers is to develop a prototype that will provide the
following benefits to all people with the following stated objectives:
1. To plot stages undertaken in the development of the prototype
2. Determine the acceptability of the title in terms of ISO/IEC 25010
2.1 Functional Suitability

2.2 Performance Efficiency
2.3 Usability
2.4 Reliability
2.5 Maintainability
2.6 Portability
3. To incorporate the use of solar power as a form of renewable energy in
providing power needed for various processes that meet the requirements
for the prototype
4. To achieve safe drinking water extracted from humid air using four stages
of purification which are sediment filtration, carbon filtration, reverse
osmosis process and UV lamp disinfection and will also undergo lab
testing
5. Be able to produce 2 liters of potable water per hour
6. To operate for approximately 5 hours to 6 hours at maximum
7. Be able to charge the prototype for about 4 to 5 hours
8. To develop a user’s manual in the utilization of the device
Significance of the Study
The study focuses on solving water shortages in remote areas like
mountains as well as provide another potable water resource available on the
go. Extraction of water from the atmosphere serves as the fundamentals of this
project. The prototype is portable so that it is usable in any location or situation.

The study aims to make a prototype used for extracting water from the
atmosphere that will provide benefits to the following sectors:
Students will be provided with a valuable understanding in the water
extraction process from the atmosphere and raise their awareness to adapt the
practices in all aspects of minimizing water consumption.
Academe may apply this knowledge in engineering related subjects and
may serve as basis for understanding the actual operations and processes of
building solar powered machine that can convert humid air into a safe drinking
water. And through this project, the school administration will be able to provide
more resources for their students who will conduct the same study.
Future Researchers may use this study as a reference guide and source
material of useful information for their future research and studies in conducting
similar or related topics.
Travelers will benefit in this study since it is made portable. This research
project will provide a clean drinking water wherever solar energy is present. The
product will utilize humid air to form into water as it will go through series of
filters to provide a clean, safe, and quality beverage. This could be used in
isolated areas as travelers often join recreational activities such as, hiking and
camping in the woods.

Environment will be benefitting from this project as it adds another
alternative water source for the people to drink. It also promotes the use of
renewable energy like solar energy which helps provide another electricity
source, and doesn’t produce added pollution.
Scope and Delimitations
The project aims to develop a portable machine which will produce clean
water by extracting it from the atmosphere. It uses solar energy to power up
which makes it travel friendly, this means that it would fully operate during the
day and use a battery to store energy so that it may still be utilized at night. As
part of the Industry 4.0 and the Instrumentation and Control Engineering Course,
the researchers decided to use PLC as their basis for the development of this
project. This covers people who travel frequently for recreational purposes such
as mountain climbing, picnic, camping and the likes where water is not always
available.
Since the Philippines is a tropical country, extraction of humid air will not
be a problem. The prototype is designed mostly for traveling, so the change in
weather conditions will not cause major problems since people are most likely to
stay at home during the rainy season. However, the generation of water will vary
in several factors including operating time, temperature and humidity considering
it is portable and will only be used as an alternative water source. The quality of
the water produced will also be limited to four stages of filtration namely:
sediment filtration, carbon filtration, reverse osmosis process and UV lamp
disinfection.
Aside from the limitations set by the environment, the researchers also
limit several parameters regarding the operation and production of the
atmospheric water generator. The conditions set by the researchers are called
delimitations. The prototype uses solar energy to operate, however, it is made
portable so the solar panel is expected to be smaller than the home-based and
commercial AWG. Therefore, the operating time and the charging time of the
battery will be limited depending on its capacity. Since it will not run continuously
for 24 hours, the researchers also delimit the maximum amount of potable water
that will be produced in a day.
Definition of Terms
The following terms used in this study are defined conceptually and
operationally:
Condensation is the change of the physical state of matter from gas
phase into liquid phase.
Disinfection is the process of cleaning something, especially with a
chemical, to destroy bacteria.
Filtration is the action or process of filtering something.

Functional Suitability is the degree to which the set of functions covers
all the specified tasks and user objectives also at it provides the correct results
with the needed degree of precision while facilitating the accomplishment of
specified tasks and objectives.
Heavy Metals refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively
high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations.
Humid Air is a mixture of dry air and water vapor.
Portable is being able to be easily carried or moved
Potable means safe to drink; drinkable.
Prototype is an original model, form or an instance that serves as a basis
for other processes.
Purification is the removal of contaminants from something.
Reliability is the degree to which a product or component operates as
intended despite the presence of hardware or software faults and in the event of
an interruption or a failure, a product or system can recover the data directly
affected and re-establish the desired state of the system.
Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that uses a semi-
permeable membrane to filter out unwanted molecules and large particles such
as contaminants and sediments like chlorine, salt, and dirt from potable water.
Solar panel is used to absorb sunlight and converts it to become a source
of energy to generate electricity.
Sterilization is the method of making something free from microbes or
other living microorganisms.
Usability represents the degree to which a product or system can be
utilized by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness,
efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
Water Extraction is the process of taking water from a source (i.e., taking
water from humid air).

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter presents the review of related literature and studies obtained
by the researchers in relation to the subject matters of this research. This chapter
will focus on past projects related to “Alternative Potable Water Supply Using
PLC-Based Portable Solar Powered Atmospheric Water Extractor“, and it also
intends to further provide concepts and background that will serve as a basis for
future studies.
Atmospheric Water
Water droplets form in the atmosphere when the water vapor condenses
on surfaces with temperatures lower than the dewpoint temperature. These water
droplets are also called as dew water. These dew water may undergo purification
to be classified as a potable water. The advantage of atmospheric water as a
water source is that it does not require a huge water-transport infrastructure,
instead using several harvesting equipment planted in different locations. From
Producing Safe Drinking Water Using an Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG)
in an Urban Environment (Aviv, et al., 2020). In another article entitled A Review:
Dew Water Collection from Radiative Passive Collectors to Recent
Developments of Active Collectors (Khalil, et al., 2015), the researchers cited that
there are about 14,000 km 3 of atmospheric water assessed in the Earth while
there are only 1200 km3 of fresh water. The significant difference of potential
extractable water alone is enough to make atmospheric air as an alternative
water source, but there are only a number of studies related to atmospheric
water extraction.
Relative Humidity in the Philippines
The Philippines’ climate is classified as tropical and maritime which is
characterized by relatively high temperature, high humidity and prevalent rains.
Relative humidity is the measure of humidity in the air used by weather scientists
or meteorologists. It is defined as the percentage of moisture the air is holding
compared to the maximum it can hold at a given temperature. Relative humidity
is also important because it dictates cloud formation and precipitation which is
crucial in this study as it will serve as the water source. The increase in the air’s
relative humidity will also lead to increase in the cloud formation. This is because
the air molecules are moving faster and spread farther apart, creating more room
for evaporated moisture. Precipitation will then occur when the air reaches 100%
relative humidity, as it cannot hold water anymore. From Measuring Relative
Humidity and Dew Point (Noble Research Institute, n.d.)
Since the Philippines is a tropical country, a high relative humidity is
expected.
Atmospheric Water Extractors
Typically, there are two types of dew condensers, and these are the
passive and active dew condensers. The passive or radiative condensers mainly
rely on the physical processes alone responsible for dew formation in order to
collect atmospheric water without the additional of energy input. This is however
limited by several factors, such as relative humidity, wind speed, and the area’s
ambient temperature resulting to varying and usually low water yield per day. In
the same study, it was concluded that in 1 m 2 of passive condenser, 0.3-0.6
L/day of water can be extracted.
The other type of dew condenser, which is the active dew condenser, or
the so-called atmospheric water extractors or generators (AWE/AWG), works by
converting water vapor into liquid water, mostly by condensation. The relatively
moist air’s temperature is brought down below its dew point, causing the
formation of the liquid droplets which are then collected. The main advantage of
AWEs is its ability to produce water dry air and low temperatures, therefore the
ability to operate in a wider range of weather conditions compared to passive
condenser-based extractors. The other benefit is that it has higher yield of
potential potable water, which can reach up to 5000L/day. (Khalil, et al., 2015)
In this study, the researchers will employ an active condenser-based
atmospheric water extractor, wherein a condenser will be used to decrease the
temperature of the collected air to start the water droplets formation.
Portable Atmospheric Water Extractors
Portable devices were invented to make life easier and bring it in wherever
the user wants. There have been several inventions that provide the benefits of
having access to an alternative handheld device. One of the essential needs that
may be provided is water. It is one of the most basic human needs. The
researchers want to give an alternative way to obtain potable water by creating a
portable prototype to produce alternative water sources.
According to the study Atmospheric Water Generation Research
(Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.), AWGs produce potable water from
surrounding air. It serves as an alternative way to produce potable water and a
solution during shortages, contamination events, and other issues resulting in
lack of drinking water. The generators range from home-based units which can
produce 1 to 20 liters per day to commercial-scale units that can come up from
1,000 to over 10,000 liters per day, depending on the air temperature and its
humidity.
Most AWG uses a process called dehumidification. From the research
Portable Drinking Water Generator (Gopakumar, 2016), this method pertains to

extracting water vapor in air to produce water. If the air is cooled at the same
time it is extracted, it is called cooling dehumidification. However, it is heating
dehumidification if the air is heated when it is extracted. The researcher also
classified two distinctive ways of how the dehumidifiers remove water vapor from
the air: Refrigerant and Desiccant. Refrigerant dehumidification has a fan and
works the same process as the refrigerator, while the desiccant humidification
uses a special humidity-absorbing material that is open to the atmosphere to
absorb water vapor.
From Dehumidification of Atmospheric Air for Water Production (Vinay et
al., 2018), a cooling AWG has a compressor which circulates refrigerant through
a condenser and an evaporator coil to cool the air surrounding it. The water
condenses when the air temperature decreases up to its dew point, then a
controlled-speed fan pushes the filtered air over the coil. When it is passed into a
holding tank, the water produced will undergo a purification and filtration system
to make it potable.
The study was conducted in India and the production of water was
checked during morning, noon and night. The running time was kept constant to
10 minutes. At 12 midnight, the temperature was 27.5°C with 51% humidity from
air, and they were able to produce 21mL of water. By 6 A.M., the temperature
decreased to 23.5°C while the humid air came up to 64% and they produced
31.8mL of water. At 12 noon, the temperature went up to 30.5°C making the

humidity decrease to 55% and the water produced to 18mL. The data ended at 9
P.M., with a temperature of 29°C, humidity at 45% and 22.4mL of water
produced. From this study, the relationship between the air temperature and
humidity is seen to be inversely proportional. As the temperature decreases, the
humidity of air increases and more water is produced.
Based on the conducted research of Experimental Investigations on a
Portable Atmospheric Water Generator for Maritime Rescue (Du et al., 2020), a
portable solar-photovoltaic atmospheric water generator was created and tested
to provide fresh water to persons in distress in tropical seas or garrison soldiers
on a small island.
The completed water production of their research is 460mL/h as the best
production rate. And the water generated may be as high as 5.52 liters per day,
with an energy usage of fewer than 200 watts. The researcher achieved the said
amount of water with a temperature of 27°C and relative humidity of 92%. The
testing is conducted every one hour. For the first testing, the water production
rate is much lower than the following testing. From time to time, the water
production rate even goes higher until it reaches the high value produced. It
means that the device needed to 'start up' before it could run stably.
For the process of the device, the air path was pointed at the sea surface
to generate the natural water evaporator. NaCl solution was used to simulate
saltwater easily. To determine the absolute water content of airflow and the water
removal rate, relative humidity and temperature sensors are positioned at the
intake and exit of airflow, respectively (primary tank & secondary tank). The
condensed water in the catchment slot will go into the primary water tank, then
be pumped to the secondary water tank using ultrafilter to eliminate impurities
before being used when the intake valve is turned on.
On the other hand, the device consists of some components that needs a
power supply, and these are the following: compressor, the pump, and the
blower with a rated power of 196W, 8W, and 40W, respectively. Solar PV panels
convert solar energy into electricity for the compressor, pump, and blower.
Because of its high storage energy density, long service life, low self-discharge
rate, and lightweight, lithium batteries are used to store converted electrical
energy. When the AC is required for power consumption, a DC-AC converter
may be used. The power supply system is made up of two foldable solar PV
panels (150W each) and two 12V 100Ah lithium batteries. The two solar panels
are mounted on two sides and maybe spread out when used or folded to save
space. The prototype measures 1 meter in height, 0.8 meters in length, and 0.6
meters in width. The ABS shell is cuboid in shape and has side and top holes.
The air path, which is made up of a retractable aluminum cylinder, is attached to
the side aperture, with the other end pointing downwards near the surface of the
sea.
From CES 2020 Innovation Award Product Solar Genny by Watergen
(Watergen, 2020), an existing Solar-Powered AWG was selected as CES 2020
Innovation Awards honoree in the category Sustainability, Eco-Design & Smart
Energy. The product is based on Watergen's initial device GENNY which is an at-
home water appliance. According to Genny Water Treatment (Watergen, 2019),
this device undergoes six stages: Removal of Particulate Matter, Water creation,
Filtration and Mineralization, Safety or Purification, Water Maintenance, and
Certification. The innovation uses renewable energy, specifically solar, making it
suitable for remote areas where electricity is a challenge. According to Solar-
powered GENNY pulls clean water from the air (Engadget, 2020), it draws moist
air in through a filter at the back of the device like a dehumidifier then cleans and
dispenses it out the front like a standard water cooler. Using four 23-foot or 7-
meter solar panels, a 9 KWH of energy per day can produce 13 liters or 3.5
gallons of water with temperature ranging 15 to 40°C, and relative humidity of
more than 25%.
PLC Application in the Industrial Sector
Critical Infrastructure such as water supply systems mainly used electronic
control system and it includes several elements such as Programmable Logic
Controllers (PLC), actuators, sensors, and networking devices. One of the PLCs
responsibilities was to collect data from its input then based on the memory
programmed will decide what outcome it must produce. After deciding, PLC will
then send the command to the output devices such as valves, pumps, or motors
to execute it.
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) made automation easy, creating
various technologies that will be of great help to achieve safe and comfortable
living for everyone. PLCs in industries ensure low-cost, safe, fast computational
abilities and have small physical size good for business owners who wants
secure programming for their systems. The advancement of technology not only
develops the way of living but also the progress and expansion of low-cost
computers like PLCs. For that reason, several control techniques were created
making processes for numerous water treatment satisfy the standard for potable
water.
Since water is one of the basic needs of humans to survive, big
corporations began the task of creating businesses based on distributing drinking
water to the public. Hence in the past, manual labor was a substantial part of
manufacturing and distributing water to the consumers. But nowadays,
automation plays a big role in developing multiple manufacturing systems. As it
aids in mass production, reducing human errors and provides low-cost labor. As
specified in the study of Automation in Drinking Water Purification, Distribution &
Theft Identification Using PLC and HMI (Shah & Vagdoda, 2017), Programmable
Logic Controller (PLC) is of great help in automating systems since it lessens
human intervention and ensures proper distribution.
With the use of PLC, an intelligent automated system can be developed.
The PLC automation occurs when valves open and close accordingly as the
sensor's differences in flow rate were calculated by PLC. If any deviation from the
setpoint occurs in the system, the controller would assume it as leakage or theft
in the piping that will shut-off the valves automatically. As shut-off valves are
closed, wastage of water will be prevented that could save money from
unnecessary trouble. When deviation occurs, GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications) modem will notify the operators in time to save the process
material from spoiling or leaking.
Another good example of a PLC-based control system occurs at industrial
water plants. As stated in Development of a Programmable Logic Controller
Based Control System for a Water Plant (Abdelrahman, 2021), the procedure
starts with controlling and monitoring the water sucking pumps to provide raw
water directly to the S stream. The operation of the designed system will begin
when water starts to fill the vessel as level sensors are placed to monitor the
changes inside. By using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), two sensors
are linked to raw water and will start to pump by using signals from the control
unit, the process valves of washing filter will open and close automatically. As the
level sensors operate, the sand filter will proceed to filtrate the water. Flow rate
and turbidity of water will be used as a basis to detect if the water is filtered right
and will only add chemicals if it does not meet the standard requirements.
In addition, the main purpose of research was to create a program to
automate and control the process operation of filtration. At the same time, to also
manage the production process and increase its effectiveness to the best
possible level while also having only little to no use of excess chemicals. As a
result, newly designed control system was created. The design is composed of a
sucking pump directly installed to raw material. The newly created design of the
system acquires results that proves its reliability and applicability.
PLC for Home-based Application
Besides, PLCs are not only limited to industrial operation but also for
home-based application. Multiple appliances were made automated for
everyone’s convenience such that, several devices at home were improved and
made environment friendly. Some applications even help consumers be less
susceptible to illness. An example of such application is the use of air purifiers
that may reduce the user’s chances of inhaling harmful chemicals from indoor
environments, neutralize unpleasant odors and reduces the chances of acquiring
airborne diseases.
To further improve the current air purifier the researchers conducted a
study named An Air Circulation Purifying System based on PLC (Chen et al.,
2018) where the researchers analyzed several factors such as: wind resistance,
filtration speed, volume of clean air and testing net filters to find which is suitable
for both indoor and outdoor use. Basing on the result, the researchers designed
a system with the additional use of Siemens S7-200 series PLC programming
software, wherein a program that can automatically change and replace the filter
was designed.
Furthermore, the only available purifying systems are only used for indoor
purposes. With that, indoor, and outdoor air circulation does not improve under
the current air purifiers available in the market. The two most common filters
used were activated carbon filter and high-voltage electrostatic. Activated carbon
filters impure air, as the efficiency lasts for a short amount of time. The activated
carbon needs to be replaced after contaminants have filled the bonding sites.
While high-voltage electrostatic filters were used to seize dust and small particles
of air but only filter dust and not harmful gasses. Both the filters mentioned need
to be regularly cleaned and replaced so that it can function to its fullest. Not
complying to the maintenance of purifying could lead to secondary type of
pollution.
PLCs Protection Against System Attackers
PLCs nowadays are of great importance in developing operating systems
especially in the manufacturing sector. It offers numerous advantages that can
be utilized to create advanced technology that may serve as a path to a new era
of innovation. As its role was becoming vital, more responsibilities were allotted
to it as well as the threats to destroy the system operation. While advancement in
technology allows operators to manage process operations online, various
attackers will still take advantage of such availability.
A mechanism of detecting such attacks on the PLC memory is possible as
stated in the study of Implementation and Detection of Novel Attacks to the PLC
Memory of a Clean Water Supply System (Durazno et al., 2018). The research
proposes a novel attack vector for modifying PLC memory where it will affect the
values of sensors including water flow meter or the operation of actuators such
as pumps. The proposed vector would also be able to modify and manipulate
control variables placed on the PLC’s memory or reprogram decision making
rules. The result of the study shows the successful implementation of the
proposed novel vector including the credibility of detecting such threats.
Summing up, the automation of water system by using PLC eliminates
human error as it will provide accurate measurements. Since it is automated,
human intervention is reduced. The researchers will then proceed to make a

prototype of Portable Air to Potable Water System as it was developed to help
consumers acquire drinking water wherever they are. The study intends to make
human life simple, water saving, time saving as well as electricity saving.
Researchers decided to design and develop several Programmable Logic
Control (PLC) techniques until the specific working requirements were satisfied.
Other Existing Atmospheric Water Extractors
Other researches on water extraction from the atmosphere are currently
existing, and almost all studies employ Arduino as the main controller of the
prototype. In a webpage entitled What Does Arduino Mean? (Techopedia, n.d.),
Arduino is defined as an open-source and easy-to-use programming tool used for
writing code and uploading it to an Arduino board. This board can accept inputs
from varying kinds of sensors like light, proximity or even an air quality sensor
and then turn it into a certain output like turning on lights, or activating a motor.
Arduino is often used because it is (1) ready to use, (2) featuring a huge
collection of open-sourced codes and it is (3) relatively cheap.
In a study named A Smart Embedded System for Humid Air Condensation
and Water Harvesting, the researchers used Arduino UNO in the real-time
automation of the condensation chamber’s temperature wherein it was utilized to
measure the inlet ambient air temperature (AAT) and relative humidity (RH)
which dictated the corresponding dew point at the given time. Arduino UNO’s
were also used to control the Peltier heat sinks which serves as the cooling
system in the prototype. The prototype’s LCD screen is also connected to the
Arduino through Serial Data Line (SDA) and Serial Clock Line (SCL) wherein the
RH, AAT, chamber temperature, outlet air humidity, current dew point and
system efficiency are displayed.
Preliminary Air Filter
An air filter is defined as a device with a porous structure which is
composed of different layers of permeable and fibrous materials which helps trap
dust particles, pollen and other foreign particles in the ambient air. Various air
filters exist and they differ on their capabilities of air filtration dictated by the size
of particle that they can entrap. There are many types of air filtering materials
and among them are cotton, absorbent cloth, filter cloth, and the fibrous filters
which are the (1) Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Filters (HVAC), (2)
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and (3) Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA)
filters. From Design and Fabrication of Economical Air Filter (Bhava et.al., 2015).
In this study, the researchers will use a panel HEPA filter to serve as the
preliminary air filter. In a presentation entitled Air Filtration (Rudnick, n.d.), HEPA
filters are characterized by being throwaway, pleated, and having a fibrous filter
in a rigid frame. HEPA filters are composed of paper-like mat of glass fibers that
are made perpendicular to the designated airflow. An organic binder is added for
additional structural strength. When the foreign particles come in contact with
glass fibers, they attach and adheres firmly. In a separate article, A HEPA filter is
said to be replaced when it loses its efficiency or it reaches its final
recommended pressure drop.
Potable Water Quality
In an article Potable Water (Water Education Foundation, n.d.), it is
discussed that water coming from surface and ground sources needs to be
treated to levels so that it will meet the state and federal standards for
consumption thus making it potable. Based on the Philippine National Standards
for Drinking Water of 2017 (Department of Health, 2017) the following are criteria
to be followed as standards for drinking-water quality: (1) Drinking-water must be
clear and does not have objectionable taste, odor and color. It must be pleasant
to drink and free from all harmful organisms, chemical substances and
radionuclides in amounts which could constitute a hazard to the health of the
consumer. (2) The quality of drinking-water shall be measured in terms of its
microbiological, physical, chemical and radiological constituents. (3) The
parameters of drinking-water quality shall be classified as mandatory, primary
and secondary. Furthermore, the following are standards for water sampling and
examination: (1) Initial examination shall be conducted for new or newly
constructed water sources while periodic examination shall be done for existing
water sources. Water samples for initial and periodic examination from all water
sources shall cover microbiological, physical, chemical and radiological

parameters. (2) The minimum number of samples to be collected and examined
periodically shall be based on the source and mode of distribution of drinking-
water supply. (3) The collection of water samples shall comply with the standard
sampling requirements. (4). Only certified sampling personnel shall collect water
samples for regulatory purposes. (5) All water samples for regulatory purposes
shall be examined only in DOH Accredited Laboratory. The standard methods of
examination shall be based on the “22nd edition (2012) of the Standard Methods
for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" unless otherwise stated in the
Manual of Operations. (6) Examination of water samples for radiological quality
shall be done by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Lastly, the standards
for other methods of distribution of drinking-water are the following: (1) Drinking-
water from refilling stations, vending machines, mobile tanks and bulk water
supply shall be subject for initial and periodic examinations for microbiological,
physical, chemical and radiological quality. (2) All standard values of mandatory
parameters shall be applicable to product water from refilling stations and
vending machines, except for the standard values of pH and total dissolved
solids (TDS). The pH value shall be 5-7 while the TDS levels of product water
shall not exceed 10 mg/L. to validate the efficiency of reverse osmosis or
distillation process (3) Water from mobile tanks shall have chlorine residual (as
free chlorine) of at least 0.5 mg/L but not to exceed to 1.50 mg/L at the point of
delivery. (4) Bulk water supply shall maintain chlorine residual (as free chlorine)
level between 0.3 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L or chlorine dioxide residual between 0.2 mg/L
to 0.4 mg/L prior to distribution. (5) All water-refilling stations, vending machines,
mobile tanks and bulk water supply shall comply with the standard minimum
number of samples and frequency of sampling requirements.
Water Purification
According to World Health Organization (Drinking-water, 2019) the use of
safe and readily available water for drinking, domestic use, food production or
recreational purposes is important for public health. With that being said, having
clean water is crucial to be able to be healthy. Furthermore, water purification
must be practiced to improve water quality thus having a sanitized water for safe
and potable water. According to an article entitled Water Purification (Ecologix
Environmental System, n.d.) water purification is the process of removing
undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gases
from contaminated water. The goal of this process is to produce water fit for a
specific purpose. Most water is disinfected for human consumption (drinking
water) but water purification may also be designed for a variety of other
purposes, including meeting the requirements of medical, pharmacological,
chemical and industrial applications.
In addition, stated in the article Water Purification (Anderberg, 2021) that
water purification makes water potable by deactivating harmful pathogens but it

doesn’t eliminate contaminants. Filtration must be done first to filter dirty water
before undergoing purification. Purification may be done through boiling, use UV
light and the use chemical agent.
The article Water purification (Scrotch et al., 2018) discusses the process
of water purification. The first process is pretreatment where biological
contaminants, chemical and other materials are removed from water. Screening
is part of the process to remove large debris in surface water then the addition of
chemicals will control the growth of bacteria. Next in line is the preconditioning in
which sodium carbonate is added to treat water with high mineral content thus
removing calcium carbonate. Perchlorinating will be the next step where chlorine
will be applied to the raw water to remove high concentrations of natural organic
matter. However, there are downsides because scientists argue that the organic
matter reacts to chlorine and may result to the formation of disinfection
byproducts (DBP) which may result to health problems particularly in the
digestive system. After the pretreatment, series of treatments will be done. First,
coagulation will be done to which chemicals are added that causes the small
particles in water to clump together. Next, the water will undergo flocculation
where water is mixed with large paddles have much larger clumps (or “floc”) that
eventually settles at the bottom of the tank. After the suspended particles have
settled at the bottom, the water will now leave the flocculation basin and enter a
sedimentation basin where remaining particles and sludges are filtered and
treated. Then filtration will be done to remove other remaining suspended
particles and unsettled floc. Lastly, disinfection will be done to remove harmful
pathogens by adding disinfecting chemicals. Chlorine is one the commonly used
chemical to disinfect which has danger not only in the environment but also to
human beings. As a result, the use of ultraviolet radiations or hydrogen peroxide
are considered as alternative. After all the process, the water treated may now be
distributed to households.
In the same article Water purification (Scrotch et al., 2018), it may be
concluded that water purification is crucial to provide clean potable water by
removing concentration of contaminants such as parasites, bacteria, algae and
the like. It also meets the needs of medical, pharmacological, chemical and
industrial applications for clean and potable water.
Water Filtration
From the book Advances in Technical Nonwovens (Kellie, 2016), it is
stated that water filtration is the process of removing or reducing the
concentration of particulate matter, including suspended particles, parasites,
bacteria, algae, viruses, and fungi, as well as other undesirable chemical and
biological contaminants from contaminated water to produce safe and clean
water for a specific purpose, such as drinking, medical, and pharmaceutical
applications.
According to the article entitled How to Filter and Purify Water (Anderberg,
2021), the use of cloth or mesh net (sieve) may filter some bacteria as the water
flows through the cloth or mesh net. Filters work to get rid of water impurities but
is not completely effective in making the water potable. Although it is filtered
water is not completely effective in making the water potable, based on the
research Water Filtration (Jacobsen, 2019) filtered water may be consumed
immediately because it is ensured that it has best flavor unlike purification that
may alter its taste due to the chemicals added. There are many filtration systems
that may be used to filter impurities from water.
One of the commonly used filtration systems is the sediment filtrations.
Based on the article Sediment Filter for Well Water and More (ESP Water
Products, n.d.) sediment filters are designed to filter and capture sand, silt, dirt
and rust from water. The use of sediment filter filters the particulates thus
protecting the succeeding filtration system from being damaged.
According to the article entitled Carbon Filters (ESP Water Products, n.d.)
carbon is a commonly used medium in filtering water. As a matter of fact, almost
all filtration system uses carbon filtration in filtering water. Carbon filter is made
through grinding a carbon source like bituminous coal, peat and the most
common coconut shells. Carbon filters remove contaminants by adsorption –
where contaminants are attracted to the surface of the activated carbon. Carbon
filters also act as a catalyst to change the chemical composition of some
contaminants. In the article Adsorption (Activated Carbon) (Mazille, n.d.) it is
stated that the use of carbon filters has pros which includes the ease of
installation and maintenance and is efficient to remove certain organics, chlorine
and radon. On the other hand, the cons will be the regular filter replacement,
analysis of water is required to choose the correct carbon filter and the
contaminants are only separated from water but not destroyed.
Another process of filtering is the use of reverse osmosis that utilizes
semi-permeable membrane to filter out contaminants. As discussed in the article
What is a Reverse Osmosis System and How Does it Work? (Woodard, 2020) a
reverse osmosis system removes sediment and chlorine from water using a
prefilter before it forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove
dissolved solids. After water exits the reverse osmosis membrane, it passes
through a postfilter to refine the drinking water before it may be consumed.
Reverse osmosis systems have various stages depending on their number of
prefilters and postfilters.
n this research, the researchers will be utilizing sediment filtration, carbon
filtration and reverse osmosis process to filter the water therefore making it
potable.
Ultraviolet Disinfection
According to the article entitled Pros and Cons of UV Water Filtration
(Apec Water, n.d.) ultraviolet water purification is the most effective method for
disinfecting bacteria from the water. Ultraviolet rays penetrate harmful pathogens
in the water and destroy illness-causing microorganisms by attacking their
genetic core or DNA. UV systems destroy 99.99% of harmful microorganisms
without adding chemicals or changing your water’s taste or odor. The use of UV
Water purification is usually used with other filtration systems such as reverse
osmosis and carbon block filters. It is stated in the journal entitled UV Radiation
(Edstrom Industries, n.d.) that ultraviolet or UV energy is found in the
electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and x-rays. In order to kill
microorganisms, the UV rays must actually strike the cell. UV energy penetrates
the outer cell membrane, passes through the cell body and disrupts its DNA
preventing reproduction. UV treatment does not alter water chemically. The
sterilized microorganisms are not removed from the water. Furthermore, UV
disinfection does not remove dissolved organics, inorganics or particles in the
water.
In conclusion, it is stated relatively in an article entitled The Importance of
Water Filtration (Natural Water, 2017) that most water filters remove harmful
chemicals and bacteria which, if consumed, may result diseases and general ill-
health. There are many other benefits of filtered water, including a better taste,
and being more cost effective and environmentally-friendly.

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RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

ALTERNATIVE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY USING PLC-BASED

A Student Collaborative Research Presented to the Faculty of

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Water is crucial for keeping the balance of the world’s ecosystem,

especially in maintaining an adequate food supply as well as sustaining a

productive environment for all living organisms. In an article entitled The

countries. Based on an article reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority in

Philippines. According to an online article The Water Crisis: The Philippines

proper water sanitation causing increased susceptibility to water-borne diseases.

removal of unwanted particles from fluid via different techniques. The

researchers will employ a four-stage filtration system to ensure high-quality

industrial and manufacturing sector. Sometimes called as “smart manufacturing”,

“integrated industry”, or “industrial internet” (Madsen, 2019), Industry 4.0 is

artificial intelligence but also the practice of sustainable and green

manufacturing. A good example is the use of IoT that serve as connection of

vital information including the behavior, usage, performance indicators and

emissions of the manufacturing process (FutureBridge, 2020). These gathered

impacts on the environment.

the cleanest and most abundant energy source.

As such, this research aims to incorporate the use of solar energy to

into different places.

Objectives of the Study

The study aims is to create an “Alternative Potable Water Supply using

PLC-based Portable Solar Powered Atmosphere Water Extractor”.

following benefits to all people with the following stated objectives:

1. To plot stages undertaken in the development of the prototype

2. Determine the acceptability of the title in terms of ISO/IEC 25010

2.1 Functional Suitability

2.2 Performance Efficiency

3. To incorporate the use of solar power as a form of renewable energy in

for the prototype

of purification which are sediment filtration, carbon filtration, reverse

5. Be able to produce 2 liters of potable water per hour

6. To operate for approximately 5 hours to 6 hours at maximum

7. Be able to charge the prototype for about 4 to 5 hours

8. To develop a user’s manual in the utilization of the device

Significance of the Study

The study focuses on solving water shortages in remote areas like

mountains as well as provide another potable water resource available on the

project. The prototype is portable so that it is usable in any location or situation.

atmosphere that will provide benefits to the following sectors:

Students will be provided with a valuable understanding in the water

practices in all aspects of minimizing water consumption.

Academe may apply this knowledge in engineering related subjects and

similar or related topics.

camping in the woods.

Environment will be benefitting from this project as it adds another

source, and doesn’t produce added pollution.

Scope and Delimitations

water by extracting it from the atmosphere. It uses solar energy to power up

be a problem. The prototype is designed mostly for traveling, so the change in

in several factors including operating time, temperature and humidity considering

sediment filtration, carbon filtration, reverse osmosis process and UV lamp

limit several parameters regarding the operation and production of the

delimitations. The prototype uses solar energy to operate, however, it is made

that will be produced in a day.

Condensation is the change of the physical state of matter from gas