Step Forward | Indian Army | 2006
Product Design

BRIEF
The project was to address the issues of safe drinking water and accessible sanitation solutions for Army Jawans posted at high altitude areas. A case study of the camps and outposts of Indian Army in Sikkim would be studied over a period of 4-6weeks to understand the eco system and generate possible solutions. There is an abundance of snow and ice and yet they are facing difficulties to obtain potable water which has a negative impact on hygiene and health. 

OBJECTIVES 
To develop practical solutions;
- to melt the snow/ice into water,
- to purify the water to make it safe for drinking,
- to provide safe storage to prevent re-freezing or contamination,
- to research on sanitation solutions.

The main issues were:
ELECTRICITY GENERATION : Renewable sources find no or very limited applications in these regions. It would be desirable to reduce the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.
WATER : At an elevation of 14,140ft  snow is available for 6 to 7 months. The method currently used to melt snow into water is using kerosene stoves.
SANITATION : The toilets are made at a distance and is not easily accessible. A soldier has to walk quite a distance to reach there and he can only go if there is someone else to take his position for the mean time. Currently the method used is digging pits for the waste to be stored and then shifting the pit. 

PROPOSED CONCEPT
A water filter for every barrack which can convert snow into purified drinking water using manual or solar energy. 

Working principle:
“Freezing point of water decreases with increases in pressure and increases with fall in the pressure.” The above principle can be used for melting the ice in our machine, by decreasing the pressure over the stored ice and then process it to undergo the centrifugal force against a perforated cylinder which shall feed the purpose of separating the already formed water form melting ice. The molten water is kept constantly under movement using a specially designed fined gear system which will meet the purpose of maintaining the uniformity in the temperature of the water and prevent it from freezing. The machine is two ways powered. Manually and by solar energy. Which may be charged whenever a solar source is available.

Guidance and supervision by : Dr. K. Palanikumar | Sathyabama University | Chennai