ENG EK 210

Introduction to Engineering Design

Final Design Report

Group 2
Professor Giles
Section A3
29 April 2019
Members:
Simone Johnston
Angela Vellante
Thomas Quinn
Stephen Johnson
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Table of Contents

Part I. Executive Summary 2

Part II. Introduction 2

Section 1: Problem Statement 2

Section 2: Objectives, Metrics, and Constraints 3

Part III. Engineering Design Process 3

Section 1: Design Alternatives Considered 3

Section 2: Basis for Design Selection 4

Part IV. Evaluation of Results 5

Appendix A - Experimental Data 6

Appendix B - Specifications 7

Appendix C - Bill of Materials 8

Appendix D - Design Sketches 9

Appendix E - Wiring Diagram 9

Appendix F - Power Budget 10

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Part I. Executive Summary

This report outlines the process of finalizing a prototype for a water quality tester, while

also analyzing the specific components used to construct this product. This device achieves its

final function by the flick of a switch. It uses pH and turbidity sensors to determine if a sample of

water is drinkable or not. The water quality tester is controlled by a programmed arduino and is

powered by a 9 volt battery which allows for portability and a large number of uses before

replacement. This device would prove very useful for quickly testing water quality in refugee

camps and help to abate sicknesses due to waterborne contaminants.

Part II. Introduction

Section 1: Problem Statement

The client for this project requested a portable water quality testing apparatus, with the

goal in mind that it is easy to operate and can be used in refugee camps in the Middle East. The

purpose of the device was to increase detection of high-risk contaminants in drinking water and

therefore reduce the amount of illnesses caused by contaminated water in the refugee camps.

Through the engineering design process, a final prototype was created to test water quality with a

high degree of accuracy. This report describes the possible solutions considered throughout the

brainstorming and construction processes, and explains the reasoning behind the chosen design.

This report will also give an evaluation of the results obtained from the final prototype by

providing experimental data obtained from testing water contaminated with different amounts of

contaminants. This data shows that the final prototype successfully achieves its intended

function, while remaining within the design constraints and metrics.

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Section 2: Objectives and Constraints

The objectives and constraints for this project were outlined during our client meeting

with Professor Perkins. The main objective of the device was to accurately detect at least two

high-risk contaminants in drinking water. In addition, it should be portable and easy to carry.

While accomplishing these objectives the device would also have to conform to a list of

constraints. First, the total cost could not exceed $400. Additionally, the device had to be battery

powered and a battery life which allowed for at least 50 uses. Finally, it had to be simple to

operate and lightweight so that anyone could use the device.

Part III. Engineering Design Process

Section 1: Design Alternatives Considered

In order to assess each possible solution for the water quality tester, the team went

through a brainstorming process to define a design space, where all preliminary thoughts were

formatted and organized into a function-means chart. These ideas were then analyzed

individually, and compared to one another, and the best design solution was selected. Table 1

shows the function-means chart and the solutions that were chosen highlighted in green. This

final design consists of the the plastic bucket and hand crank implemented in the design;

however, changes were made further along the engineering design process that required the hand

crank to be completely eliminated and the bucket to be changed to a much smaller plastic

container. These changes were not accounted for in the initial function-means chart. Other

designs were also discussed, including a metal cubic container to store the water, but this idea

was thrown out because of cleaning and proper sealant abilities. The selected design from the
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function-means chart was chosen very practically and was adapted later when the client informed

the team that a large amount of water was not necessary for testing.

Table 1. Morphological Chart

Functions Means
Identify dissolved
contaminants PH sensor turbidity temperature oxygen
cylindrical plastic bucket cubic container with
Portable with handle handles

Electrical energy battery power solar panels

Durable plastic pail metal frame
plastic pail with
Cleanable removable cubic container removable lid

Stir water motor powered stirrer human powered crank

Control arduino switch
Output LED signals display screen

Section 2: Basis for Design Selection

We chose the pH sensor and the turbidity sensor to identify contaminants because they best

match the challenges with clean water faced in the target region of the Middle East. The turbidity

sensor can identify the amount of physical contaminants in the water, a large problem in refugee

camps since they do not have widespread access to water filtration. Another common

contaminant in the Middle East is heavy metals and other chemical contaminants. These alter the

pH of water so our pH sensor can determine whether the amount of chemical contaminants is

within a safe range. The battery was chosen over the solar panel due to its smaller size and more

consistent power supply. For control we implemented a switch and arduino as the device only

needs to be on during testing. To indicate whether the water was clean or not we decided on two
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LED lights, green and red, over a display screen to maintain an ease of use and keep the

complexity of the device to an understandable level.

Part IV. Evaluation of Results

The main components of this project were to test for two major contaminants in drinking

water to indicate whether a sample is safe to drink. The device should also be portable and able

to run over 50 times without running out of battery. To accomplish the actual testing of the water

the pH sensor and the turbidity sensor were attached to the bottom of the device so they could be

submerged in the sample of water. When the device is turned on the sensors collect data on the

sample of water they in and, based on parameters set in the arduino code (Appendix B), indicated

if it was drinkable or not by using LEDs. In order to be portable two small rectangular boxes

were stacked on top of each other which still allowed access to the circuitry. A 9-V battery was

also used for the power supply which allows for over 200 uses before it must be replaced. The

amount of uses was calculated by doing a power budget calculation taking into account the

arduino, pH sensor, and turbidity sensor (Appendix F).

The most important objective of this water quality tester is give an accurate reading for

whether a sample of water is drinkable or not. We tested our device and recorded how the

sensors responded to increasing amount of contaminants. This also allowed us to correctly

calibrate the sensors so that readings were accurate. For turbidity, increasing amounts of dirt

were added to water and mixed to create turbid solutions. Figure 2 shows the correct behavior

that the turbidity increased as more dirt was added. For pH, increasing amounts of a 2.5 pH

liquid (Pepsi) were added to the water. Figure 4 shows the correct behavior that the pH decreased

as more Pepsi was added. Our device cost $82.25 which is under the $400 limit. Another

important objective was that the device must be easy to operate for anyone. We accomplished
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this such that the only action required to operate the device is flip one switch and wait. The

device is also easy to clean as the sensors are external on the device so no disassembly is

required for maintenance. In terms of portability, our device succeeds as it is small and light;

these aspects make it easy to transport and quickly test multiple samples of water. One

shortcoming of our prototype is its lack of durability and neatness. These could be improved in

future prototypes and designs by fabricating a stronger and more precise housing for all the

electronics. However, our device prototype succeeds in meeting the objectives laid out by our

client.

Our device enables a user to quickly and easily test a sample of water to assess its safety

for drinking. This is critical in places like refugee camps where an abundance of people require

clean water to drink. Disease and sickness can run rampant in highly dense camps so having a

device to measure the safety of water can help to mitigate the spread of illness. The quick and

simple mechanism by which the device works is also beneficial in a place where water

constantly needs testing for a large amount of people. The long battery life also helps in this

aspect. Our water quality tester would prove to be invaluable to those living in refugee camps.

Appendix A: Experimental Data

Fig 1. Turbidity Voltage Plot: The voltage output of the

turbidity sensor was measured with increasing amounts of
physical contaminants to ensure that the device was
calibrated correctly

Fig 2. Turbidity Percentage Plot: The percent turbidity

was measured with increasing amounts of physical
contaminants to ensure that the sensor was calibrated and
working properly
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Fig 3. pH Voltage Plot: The output voltage of the

pH sensor was measured with increasing amounts
of acidic liquid (Pepsi) to ensure that the device is
calibrated correctly and correctly responds to
changes in pH

Fig 4. pH Plot: The pH was measured with

increasing amounts of acidic liquid (Pepsi) to ensure
that the sensor was calibrated and correctly
responds to changes in pH

Appendix B: Specifications

Accuracy:
Our pH sensor can measure pH to the hundredths place. This is a sufficient amount of
accuracy as our standards for safety are measured to the tenths place. Our safety standard
for pH is 5.5 - 9.5. This was adapted based on sampling water from different potable and
non-potable water sources.

Our turbidity sensor and arduino returns a turbidity percentage. The code in the arduino is
calibrated such that 0% turbidity is the turbidity of distilled water. Our safety standard
range is 0% - 5% turbidity based on sampling water turbidity from different water
sources.
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Appendix C: Bill of Materials

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Appendix D: Design Sketches

Appendix E: Wiring Diagram

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Appendix F: Power Budget

Power draw of each component:

Turbidity Sensor - 5V * 30mA = 150mW

Arduino Uno - 5V * 20mA = 100mW
pH Sensor - 5V * 12.2mA = 61mW

Now we calculate the mAh that each component uses per use of the device

1
Turbidity Sensor - 30𝑚𝐴 * ( 30 )ℎ = 1. 0𝑚𝐴ℎ
1
Arduino Uno - 20𝑚𝐴 * ( 30 )ℎ =. 67𝑚𝐴ℎ
1
pH Sensor - 12. 2𝑚𝐴 * ( 30 )ℎ =. 40𝑚𝐴ℎ

Using a 9.0V Battery with 500mA*h

500𝑚𝐴ℎ
(1.0+.67+.40)𝑚𝐴ℎ
= 241uses