Akuaippa Water Desalinator Tutorial

Difficulty: 

Medium

Duration:

3-4 days

Cost:

5€

Introduction:

Akuaippa is a desalinating system made to solve the draught problem in the Colombian region "La Guajira". This area is characterized by high temperatures throughout the year (more than 30ºC) and only two rainy months. In 2014, La Guajira was declared in state of emergency because of the drought.
This region is a peninsula, so that the inhabitants can easily access the salt water of the sea and use it to desalinate it.

This area is populated by the Wayuu indigenous group, they constitute 48% of the population of the Department of La Guajira. The indigenous wayuu representatives denounced the isolation and oblivion they’ve been suffering by the Colombian government. These people continue to live in a traditional way and with few possessions and money.

From these conditions, we have designed a sustainable prototype to desalinate water that is easy to make and promotes the culture of the area. A device can cover the daily drinking water needs of two people. Therefore, for a family, two or three devices would be enough, depending on the size of the family or the age of its members.

Tools and Materials:

Materials:

• Clay rocks
• Mud, hay and dried canes, for the pressed soil.
• Sponges
• Rubber tape
• Plastic cover

Tools:

• Potter's wheel
• Mould to make ceramic plate
• Hammer and other traditional tools for ceramic

Stage nº1 - Functioning

 

Our prototype works by the destilation of salt water from the sea and converting it into drinkable water. The dispositive works with solar energy and takes advantage of the physical properties of the materials that compose it. 
First of all the salty water is placed in a metal or ceramic recipient, on top of this water floats a sponge which function is to absorb and facilitate the evaporation. The form of the sponge is designed to maximize the amount of solar energy according to the solar positions in that part of the ecuador. The sponge absorbs the water by capillarity, this helps as water will lose its heat resistance, due to the waters circulation. 

Once vapor is being produce it will be collected in two different ways. 
First of all it will condensate on the upper lid, from this point it will be conducted to the center by gravity and eventually fall in the base on the bottom. 
The second one is when vapor starts to augment pressure it will descend through the openings and condensate in the colder ceramic surface of the jar. It's in this jar precisely where the newly drinkable water will be stored. Thanks to the effect of the upper plate which generates shadow on the bottom, this container will manage a lower temperature.

Stage nº2 - Crafted ceramic

The jar and the plate are made in a traditional way, preserving the Wayuu culture of ceramics.

 

To make the ceramic, first crush the clay stones until you get a fine powder.

Then, water is added little by little until a homogenous mass is obtained. We knead it to remove the air bubbles and let it stand for the necessary time according to the size of the piece.

When the dough is ready, it is placed in the potter's wheel and begins to mold with the desired shape. 

 

Finally, we will obtain the jar and the plate needed for the device.

Here you will find a video where all the method is explained

 

Stage nº3 - Pressed Soil

The Wayuu of lower Guajira build their coconut palm homes, while those of upper Guajira due to the absence of the coconut tree they slowly build them out of mud mixed with grass and roofs of the heart of cardones (Yoto'ojolo).

This material made of mixed mud, hay and dried canes, which the Wayuu culture knows well, is the one used to make the round wall that will protect the lower part of the prototype from the sun and will keep it cold.

Stage nº 4 - Assembly

Once we have all the pieces, the assembly process begins.
First, we join the ceramic plate with the jar and make sure that the union is airtight by placing a little rubber tape.

Next, we add the sponges and we put the prefabricated plastic cover on the plate.
Finally, we put the device into the pressed soil wall so it can work properly.

Stage nº 5 - Use

The use of the device is quite simple, we just pour the salt water in the plate and close with the plastic cover. We let the device work with the sun during the day and at night we separate the plate from the jug and collect the jug to obtain the water that is inside.

Notes and references

These are some links we've used to learn about the realed to our prototype:

Clay mass elaboration: youtube video
Wayuu culture:  
wayuu people wiki 
La Guajira wiki