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The ‘PRO’ in PROtector is an acronym of Pumped Reverse Osmosis, as the unit uses membranes to separate salts and minerals from water and it is ‘pumped’ entirely by manual effort. The unit measures approximately 1.2m x 1.2m (4ft x 4ft) on plan, with a height of just over 1.2m (4ft) and a dry ‘empty’ weight of 568kg (1,250lbs). The handle has a span of 2.4m (8ft) and is configured so that any combination of adults and/or children can operate the unit with ease. The following annotated diagram gives an overview of the unit’s configuration:
The self priming PROtector draws in raw water and passes it through two stages of pre-filtration to remove any dust, silt or particulate matter prior to the reverse osmosis (RO) process. The unit features a rotational drive mechanism, transforming manual effort into the torque required to drive the internal pump. The pump can raise water from as deep as 8.5m (28ft) and still produce enough pressure and flow to pass it through the pre-filtration stage, as well as the RO process. The following flow diagram shows the treatment process contained within the PROtector:
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a method of ‘membrane’ filtration that separates many types of large molecules and ions (associated with salts and dissolved contaminants) from pure water. The process works by applying pressure to the contaminated water on one side of a semi-permeable membrane. The result is that a brine containing the dissolved contaminants (known as ‘concentrate’) is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane, and the purer water (known as ‘permeate’) is allowed to pass through to the other side. The diagram below shows the RO process:
In membrane filtration, pore sizes can vary from 0.1 to 5,000 nanometres (nm) depending on the filter type. ‘Particle filtration’ removes particles of 1,000nm or larger. Microfiltration removes particles of 50nm or larger. ‘Ultrafiltration’ removes particles of roughly 3nm or larger. ‘Nanofiltration’ removes particles of 1 nm or larger. Reverse osmosis is in the final category of membrane filtration, ‘hyperfiltration’, and it removes particles larger than 0.1nm. This level of filtration is adequate to remove salts, metals and other dissolved contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic.
The RO membranes used in the PROtector are made of a composite polyamide (CPA) sheet material, which is spiral-wound to form a tightly packed roll, known as an ‘element’. The element is contained within a reinforced housing, designed to withstand the high pressure required for the process to work. Pressure is applied to contaminated water at the centre of the element, and the permeate is collected on the outside having passed through many layers of membrane. The concentrate is allowed to discharge from the centre of the element through a separate outlet.
The RO membranes are rated for brackish water treatment, recovering up to 75% of the intake flow as permeate and discarding 25% as waste concentrate. A small side stream of the pre-filtered water is allowed to bypass the membranes and mix with the permeate for the purposes of ‘mineral adjustment’; ensuring that the product water is balanced, retaining some essential minerals. The mineral adjustment stage would be omitted for emergency installation scenarios where prevention of the spread of viruses, bacteria and other pathogenic organisms is a priority.
General Specification of PROtector
| Treated water output: |
700 – 1,500 litres per hour (3 – 6.6gpm)* |
| Permeate recovery rate: |
50 – 75% |
| Salt & mineral rejection rate: |
95 - 99% (factory adjustable) |
| Maximum suction depth: |
8.5m (28ft) |
*The unit produces an output of approx. 700 litres per hour (3gpm) for one adult, and approx. 1,100 litres per hour (5gpm) for two. The ‘four handle’ design means that up to four people can use the unit at any one time, in order to produce an output of 1,500 litres per hour (6.6gpm). The following graph shows the relationship between the rotation of the handle and the flow of water produced:
Rotational Drive System
As maintenance may not take place on a regular basis, all drive components are industrially coated, and/or designed to meet Marine Quality standards. This also allows the systems to be installed in the harshest of environments, where conditions such as high humidity and even salt spray will not pose a problem.
Pump
The pump is of the highest quality and chosen because of its robust design, low pulsating action and high pressure capability. It is easy to maintain and operation will not be affected by ‘vapour lock’ or ‘dry running’.
- Self priming up to 9m depth
- Approved by Food Standards Agency (FSA) for use with potable water
Bag Filter
In order for the PROtector to cater for applications where the raw water may be particularly turbid (such as rivers, streams or lakes with a high silt content or sources that have been submerged by dirty flood water), a 10 micron (10µ) bag filter is installed ahead of the ceramic filters. In all applications, the bag filter helps to protect the ceramics from plugging, and prevent the need for excessive backwashing.
Ceramic Filters
The ceramic filtration system will remove all particles sized over 1 micron (1µ) from the incoming raw water, and can be back-washed as many as 60 times before the filter elements require replacement. This high level of pre-filtration can enable the RO membranes to last as long as three years before being replaced. There will be an on-board tank that will be used for the ceramic back-wash.
- 0.07% Pure Silver (Ag) incorporated throughout the ceramic shell prevents bacteria grow-through and build-up on its surface (bacteriostatic). No need for hot water or steam sterilisation.
- >98% efficiency at 0.2 microns
- >90% efficiency at 0.05 microns
- Turbidity reduction <0.07 NTU
- High quality 316L stainless steel filter housing with ‘band clamp’ lid closure
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes
- The 4 No. Composite Polyamide (CPA) RO membrane elements are specifically designed for brackish water treatment and are manufactured of the highest quality materials. Each element measures 8” (203mm) dia. x 40” (1016mm) length.
- High quality 304 stainless steel membrane housings with GRP end caps withstand pressures up to 300psi
Handle, Housing and Frame
- The handle assembly is made of powdercoated tubular section steel.
- The framework and housing are manufactured from powder coated steel.
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According to the UN, water-related diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, taking the lives of more than 6,000 people every day. Such diseases are contracted from drinking unsafe, contaminated water in locations where
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adequate treatment is either unpractical or unaffordable. The total number of people around the globe without sustainable access to safe drinking water currently stands
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at over 1 billion - a shocking figure which equals one sixth of the world's population. Whilst the common consensus is to dig wells and drill boreholes, the extracted water is often brackish (salty) due to having a high mineral content – and in many parts of the world, groundwater contains harmful ‘dissolved’ contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic. Furthermore, boreholes, wells and underground storage tanks are prone to contamination from surface run off, sewage and seawater- especially in the wake of a storm, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster.
PROTECTOR water purification systems are able to extract and treat water directly from boreholes, wells, streams, rivers and lakes. The systems use both ceramic and reverse osmosis (RO) filters to remove contaminants such as silt, colloidal particles, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, cysts, metals, fluoride and arsenic. This degree of filtration is also able to reduce salt from brackish water sources, to safe and palatable levels.
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Don't have time to find out more about the PROtector online? Grab
a copy of our PDF documents
and read them on the go!
PROtector Brochure
- A general overview of
PROtector Systems
Program Proposal
-
New PROtector Program
proposal available shortly!
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To download the above PDF's, right click on the file and select "save as".
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