A concrete water pasteurization device For third world countries

Author

Andrea R. Murchie, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

School of Art, Design and Art History

Advisor(s)

Evelyn Tickle

Abstract

In the rural areas of South Africa, as well as many other developing countries, people cook food and sterilize their water by heating over open fires. Many times the fires are inside of homes, which more often than not are very small. Children will often be the ones to tend to the fire, out of necessity while parents and other family members are tending to other work and needs.

The purpose of my Senior Honors Project was to design a concrete vessel that can hold water and heat the water to pasteurization (149°F) when exposed to sunlight for an extended amount of time, that can also be mass-produced locally where needed on a 3D Concrete Printer. This product could reduce the need for open fires in the average low-income home in a developing country, and make the process of heating water safer, reducing injuries and deaths in children related to open fires in children.

This project was mostly concentrated on the prototyping and fabrication of the product itself. In order to create a hollow concrete water vessel, I had to create a mold to cast the concrete in. I used methods such as 3D modeling and 3D printing in early stages of prototyping a mold to cast the concrete vessel. After that, I explored other methods and materials used in the process of mold making such as plaster. I experimented with different mixtures of concrete and different methods of casting. In the end, I combined both digital fabrication methods and traditional methods of mold making to create my final form. I explored different sizes, different wall thicknesses, and different exterior structures and aesthetics of my intended product. In the end I made substantial progress toward a working prototype, and developed the procedures to manufacture the concrete vessel by pouring.

The final Concrete Water Pasteurization Device prototype depicts a form, size, weight, and functionality that meets the criteria for the design. My project will require further exploration and investigations, such as the compatibility and effectiveness of the product itself, potential manufacturing and dissemination processes.

Recommended Citation

Murchie, Andrea R., "A concrete water pasteurization device For third world countries" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 201.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/201