Handheld Hydroasis

This project was intended to incorporate new electrowetting principles into a marketable, user-friendly product that generates and distributes drinking water. Reliable access to clean drinking water may difficult for a variety of demographic:

• Military Personnel – In the U.S. Army alone, over 5000 soldiers have been hospitalized due to heat related illnesses, a large percentage of which are caused by dehydration during missions in dry, arid climates.
• Impoverished Urban Populations – Homeless or impoverished communities can spend time and energy searching for access to basic resources, such as water. Having a mobile, sustainable, water generator will help these populations gain independence and self-reliability.
• Natural Disaster Victims – Often times, clean water supplies are disrupted during natural disasters leading to illnesses and increased death rates.
• Outdoor Enthusiasts – Many hikers, backpackers, and bikers carefully plan trips around water-accessible locations. Having the freedom to generate water with a small, light device will allow enthusiasts to explore new terrain.

Current technology that uses electrowetting alteration does exist across various industrial applications but is not prevalent across current atmospheric water generators in the market. Handheld Hydroasis is innovative as it is the first device that takes advantage of altering electrowetting properties of the condensing apparatus to facilitate water production, while also being handheld. This prime feature of portability provides more flexibility to the end user as the technology can work in various types of climates, allowing users more freedom in the geographical locations they plan their expeditions.

Handheld Hydroasis takes away the dependency of having to find a water source and that’s what sets this solution apart from competitors. By condensing water directly from the air, this allows users more freedom and provides a safety net from dehydration. Being powered by a small hank crank allows the user to be completely off grid for the entirety of their journey. By being completely self-sustainable, the reliability of the solution is greater than that of the common Lifestraw or Filtration tablet. High purity of the condensed water is guaranteed with the advanced oxidation filtration system. The key features of this device are:

• User Friendly – Display with battery life, water level, air temperature, and air humidity. Real time updates and automatic shut off when your bottle is full!
• Self-Sustainable – can be recharged with either a hand crank or micro-USB power supply.
• Compact – Lightweight at under 1lb and 14cm tall.
• Durable – Drop proof up to 4ft and water resistant.

We validated our electrical hardware by conducting strict experiments for all our hardware components, including the hand crank, water sensor, battery, and the unit as a whole. Our software validation was conducted with logic testing in which we analyzed our code for our battery, push button, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor. To validate our condensing material we have conducted extensive research in which we’ve tested various methodologies to see which material would be optimal. Experiments included voltmeter tests for conductivity, water alteration tests, and mechanical stability tests.

The design itself can be divided into a few components: 

• The Electronics – The electronic aspect of our product has proven successful, all of the initial deliverables have been met. 
• The Structure – The condensing apparatus was designed similarly to mist eliminators, which are commonly used in industrial applications to capture water. This design is known to be highly effective. 
• The Ability – The concept of capturing and releasing water molecules using electrowetting has been demonstrated successfully in a variety of different reports. However, the technology is still new and to incorporate it with our material may take some optimization.