New Generation: Teen invents solar water purification that generates electricity
Cynthia’s H2Pro device is made up of two parts — an upper unit for photocatalytic water-purification and hydrogen-generation and a bottom unit where additional water filtration takes place. Dirty water enters the top of the device and it passes through a titanium mesh which, when activated by the sun, sterilizes the water. This photocatalytic reaction also splits the water into oxygen and hydrogen — the latter of which is used by a hydrogen fuel cell to generate power. Impurities in the water such as detergents also provide more hydrogen; thus, allowing the device to generate more power.
In her testing, Cynthia found that H2prO could decompose 90% of organic pollutants in the water in the space of two hours. While the theory shows that the reaction should produce enough hydrogen to generate electricity, in practice, H2prO’s energy generation is still erratic. As she wrote in a brief on the project, “the removal of organic pollutant was examined to be excellent”; however, she was unsatisfied with its energy generation and plans to “keep searching for economical approach to ‘practicalize’ the electricity-generation unit.”
Last fall, Cynthia brought her potentially life-changing invention, which she calls H2Pro, to a global stage as one of the 2014 Google Science Fair’s 15 global finalists. There, she discussed the motivation behind her research with CoExist, “I think people around the world don’t really understand how serious water pollution and the energy crisis is. I’d really like to finalize the design, because it could potentially help people in developing countries. It would be great to have clean water and electricity supplied sustainably, without needing any outside help. It would be awesome.”
Kudos to Cynthia for her inventiveness and interest in helping others! To read more about her project, visit the Google Science Fair site at [link to bit.ly]
DEAR MISS/ Mrs. Lam ,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS GREAT INVENTION. IT IS GOING TO HELP THE POOR IN THE WORLD AND ESPECIALLY MUST OF US WHO STILL USE KEROSENE FOR LIGHTING .
KINDLY SEND US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AND THE COST OF SENDING IT TO CAMEROON .
BEST REGARDS .
MUMA
NWUNFOR PETER MUMA PRESIDENT OF BOFCIG
THE BAMBUI ORGANIC FARMERS
COMMON INITIATIVE GROUP{BOFCIG}
SHED 4 BAMBUI DAILY MARKET TEL 237 651041983
C/O CATHOLIC MISSION BAMBUI
PO BOX 56 MANKON BAMENDA npmuma@yahoo.com
NORTH WEST REGION
CAMEROON
Congratulation Cynthia, you have invented a very important product that would help the poor people in the developing countries where they are facing much trouble with unsafe drinking water. This device can be introduced in emergencies through international relief agencies. Being a water quality professional having experience with such communities during earthquake and flood emergencies in Pakistan, I am much surprised to knowing about of a useful device invented by a young girl Cyntia, Every one should appreciate her efforts and vision to work for assistance of poor communities by providing such effordable device to ensure safe drinking water. I have seen many devices distrubuted by different agencies during emergencies but those were much expensive or complecated. This looks better because there is double function both safe water and solar lighting with no operational cost. However there is need to improve this to make it durable and easy to transport, designing with different production capacity.
I would be thankful if you please let me know the further progress and share more information and costs of this device.
Best wishes for her success
Munawar Abbas
Water Quality Manager
Karakorum Scientific Consultants (KSC)
Muhib Road, Khar Grong, Skardu (Pakistan)
Cell: +92-3469682479
Email: kkst_2007@yahoo.com