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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 5.5m (18ft) 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 several stages of proprietary pre-filtration and pressure regulation, before entering a membrane filtration stage. By the time the water enters the membrane filtration stage, it meets all the criteria necessary for optimal filtration. The unit features a rotational drive mechanism, transforming manual effort into the torque required to drive the system. The PROtector can raise water from as deep as 8.5m (28ft). The following flow diagram shows the treatment process contained within the PROtector:
What is Membrane Filtration?
Membrane filtration is a treatment process 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 membrane separation 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 membranes used in the PROtector are selected according to the quality of the raw water to be treated, and the nature of the contaminants that need to be removed. For brackish water applications, or where fluoride is excessive, RO membranes rated for brackish water treatment (BWRO) are used. For turbid surface water applications where industrial / agricultural run-off is an issue, or where organic waste may be present, Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are selected. Both RO and NF membranes are able to remove bacteria, viruses and protozoa from water. However, only RO is able to treat water with an excessive salt and/or fluoride content to a safe and acceptable standard.
General Specification of PROtector
| Treated water output: |
750 – 1,000 litres per hour (3 – 4.4gpm)* |
| Permeate recovery rate: |
50 – 75% |
| Salt & mineral rejection rate: |
50 - 99% (according to level of treatment required) |
| Maximum suction depth: |
8.5m (28ft) |
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.
Membranes Elements
- The RO and NF membrane elements are of a spiral wound design and are manufactured of the highest quality materials.
- High quality stainless steel membrane housings withstand extremely high pressure.
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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 the PROtector hand-powered water treatment system and what it is capable of.
Program Proposal
An example PROtector program proposal. This document is annotated with instructions on how to create a proposal for your PROtector program. An editable Microsoft Word version is also available.
Pilot Program Six Month Progress Report
Catch up on the latest from the PROtector pilot installation in Longech, Kenya in this exciting report.
PROtector Prgram Management White Paper
A guide aimed at helping organizations to establish a successful protector program. This white paper contains procedures for system monitoring, maintenance, reporting, troubleshooting and repair.
To download the above PDF's, right click on the file and select "save as".
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