H2OPTIMA SOLAR POWERED WATER PURIFICATION UNIT. by TRATAMIENTO SOLAR DEL AGUA.

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1 H2OPTIMA SOLAR POWERED WATER PURIFICATION UNIT by TRATAMIENTO SOLAR DEL AGUA

2 Date 11/11/2016 Item H2Optima solar powered water purification unit DESCRIPTION The H2Optima solar powered water treatment and purification unit is an autonomous and portable element designed to produce drinkable water for a human use farming and irrigation, from natural sources of brackish, sea water or contaminated water, with no need of any external artificial energy source rather than sun, thanks to the solar panels built-in. The units incorporates its own chlorination system, also powered by the same FV panels, thus outgoing water is already protected by free chlorine presence. Approximate overall sizes are 1.60 x 1.20 x 1 mts (5x4x3 feet) when packed for transportation. Weight is around 400 kgs (1200 pounds). These sizes make it ideal to be moved easily. - DESALINIZATION / PURIFICATION LIMITS (REFERRED TO SALT CONCENTRATION AND DESALTED WATER VOLUMES) With the H2OPTIMA unit, almost any kind of water from contaminated to sea water can be treated. It is important to highlight that besides contaminating salts virus and bacteria are also eliminated as they can t go through the membranes. Gray water and sewage cannot be treated with the H2OPtima but they require a pre-treatment. Moreover, in many countries, the law does not allow such recycled waters for human use. In the specific case of non usual contamination (e.g. arsenic) reverse osmosis membranes could not be enough to eliminate them 100% but it is always possible to add post-filters to get rid of the remaining percentage. Every case will be studied and a solution suggested. There are three basic types, one for each type of water to be processed and a fourth one to be used as emergency unit that will include the main elements of the first three to be chosen when there is no time or resources for a previous analysis of the existing water We call Contaminated fresh water that water with a level of solved solids lower than the maximum admitted by local regulation but with a higher than permitted biological contamination. Brackish water is understood as water with solved solids levels higher than those admitted in local regulations. Those waters can either taste salty or not. Sea water has typically levels of solved solids around ppm (mg/l). As desalinization is done by means of reverse osmosis membranes, salt concentration is not an obstacle and it will only affect to the daily production. More salt means less potable water. Purified water volumes will certainly depend on the type of water to be treated: 2

3 For contaminated fresh water ultra filtration membranes are used and the output will be up to 8000 liters/day (2100 gallons/day). For brackish water, low pressure reverse osmosis membranes are used with an output up to 2000 liters/day (500 gallons/day). Sea water uses high pressure reverse osmosis membranes giving an output up to 1000 liters/day (250 gallons/day). These numbers are calculated on a 5 hours peak sun radiation per day basis. However actual daily sunhours and consequent output highly depends on each location. Under command the unit can also incorporate an external 110/220 VAC power supply plug-in so it can eventually work around the clock. By doing so, drinkable water productions increase two to three times the nominal. The unit has been designed to be fed from a container placed a bit higher than the unit own water container and admits water with a maximum turbidity of 10 NTU. Under command optional submersible water pump also powered by solar panels can be included in the supply for deeper waters (with certain limits). - FV SURFACE PER LTS/HOUR AND PER EACH CONCENTRATION In all cases, the unit is supplied with three solar panels of 325 Wp each. Unit does not include energy batteries. Batteries have a high cost, they are weighty, they require maintenance, are contaminants and they have a short life. Therefore accumulating water in extra containers is suggested to have supply in non sunny days. No extra panels are required. - START-UP AND OPERATION Operation is fully automatic and a manual is delivered. Once the unit is placed at its operation spot, simply unfold the FV Panels and face the unit / panels to the midday sun. Fit the piping and fill up the infeed one with raw water to be treated in order to take air away. Switch the plant on and that s it. When radiation is powerful enough, water production will start and run automatically. This does not mean any risk as there are no movable parts within the unit. The day along and according to concentration and intensity of solar radiation, the unit will go on regulating water flow and will not stop until radiation is no longer strong enough to keep pumps running or until potable water tanks are full (a level gauge is supplied). This non-stop way of working is most beneficial for the long life of the membranes. Additional water tanks can of course be adapted and it is most advisable to store as much water as possible while sun shines so to have enough reserve for non sunny days. 3

4 Water will be automatically chlorinated while production, consequently water outgoing from the unit will be kept potable for some days. Chlorine is made from the salts present in the water by an electrolytic process and therefore no consumables are required. Membranes will automatically be washed every period of time as mentioned above. Furthermore at the end of the day a final automatic washing will be performed to leave the system clean until the day after. Process starts automatically day after day if the unit is not manipulated. As mentioned, as an option the unit can be connected to an external source of power supply if needed or available. Treated water purification at Girona - Spain Purifying sea water for ice production at Isla Fuerte - Colombia 4

5 H2Optima advantages on other existing water purifying equipments It is COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUS, which means it doesn t require any external supply because: A- IT DOESN T REQUIRE ANY ENERGY SUPPLY due to the fact that it has its own photovoltaic panels for energy production which is beneficial because it has no economic cost. The purifying devices on the market either need to be connected to a power source which requires a monthly payment for the energy consumed or to a power generator which requires the intake of fuel. This means: - Time consumption - Purchase of fuel every month - Its transportation to the location of the purifier - Handling by qualified personnel - Monthly maintenance. Covering these needs would have the corresponding cost. B - It doesn t use batteries because the process takes place through consuming the energy produced by the photovoltaic panels, which avoids: - A periodical maintenance of the batteries by qualified personnel. - Batteries replacement every three or four years. - The eco-friendly recycling of the batteries with its corresponding price. C - It doesn t require any chemical products supply. On one hand, it purifies water through ultra filtration or reverse osmosis membranes which is largely advantageous in front of purifying systems based on the use of chemical products. On the other, periodical automatic washings of the entire system avoid the need for chemical washings, so frequent in the majority of membranes equipment. Purifying devices available on the market use a variety of chemical products, in particular those required for chlorine production to assure the purification of water. The H2Optima equipment doesn t require any consumable because it produces its own chlorine from the chlorides contained in the water assuring its sterilization without any additional costs. With these advantages we avoid: - A repetitive purchase of chemicals - Transportation to the location of the purifier - Handling by qualified personnel - The implicit cost of these actions 5

6 D - It doesn t require any shelter. The equipment is designed for outside work, so there is no need for any construction to protect it. Therefore, reducing the cost it would suppose. It is also PERFECTLY TRANSPORTABLE, it is ideal to be built onto a trailer and be pulled by a vehicle which allows it to be moved to different locations. This option is perfect because it can be shared between different communities And also IT IS PERFECT TO BE USED IN FIXED LOCATIONS. Finally, MAINTENANCE COST IS MINIMUM Thanks to its characteristics, the cost of the operation and maintenance of these equipments is very low and has no rival. Maintenance is reduced to the annual substitution of the cartridge filter (insignificant cost) and of the membranes every four years. Photovoltaic panels must be rinsed periodically to eliminate the dust that would gather upon them while working. For this purpose use of purified water is advisable. Furthermore through a connection to a PC and via a mobile or satellite phone the plant can be controlled from our headquarters in Spain in order to make a diagnosis in case of failure and/or to add new versions of software to help improving performance. 6