Pedal Powered Water Distillery

This is our entry to Specialized and Google's "Innovate or Die" competition. It is a bicycle-powered water distillery. Using friction heat from a bicycle "fluid trainer", contaminated or unsafe water is boiled, and the vapor is condensed, making it fit to drink.

Currently the design relies on "pedal power", but it could be easily coupled with solar power, wind power, or a paddle-wheel in running water to produce clean water on a larger scale.

The design has two boiling chambers as shown, one at atmospheric pressure and one under a vacuum to boil water at a lower temperature. The optional vacuum is created by the use a hand pump before riding the device to increase efficiency. The steam coming out of the first chamber heats the second chamber as it condenses.

Any existing bicycle can be used and quickly mounted to the device.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Specialized
• innovate
• or
• die
• pedal
• power
• bicycle
• boiler
• distillery
• clean
• water

[Kingzoid]

This is a good idea in concept, although I am a little worried about the entropy issues involved.

[beyondmp3]

There are definitely some losses here - we found that most of the loss occurs in heat. When we insulated the boiling chamber well, our production about doubled. But we did avoid the conversion from mechanical to electrical energy, which some other groups did not. I think that reduces output pretty severely.

[Phaethon0]

Well done you found a way for people in third countries to get clean drinking water. You also found a way to motivate people in america to exercise.

[beyondmp3]

Thanks a lot.

[redtortoise76]

one cup of water for 1/2 hour of hard pedaling? That doesn't even come close to replenishing what the cyclist loses. Ingenios but not practical. For a school project should be ok.

[RaWarrior]

Exactly, I guarantee the "rider" sweats out a lot more water than the device produces.

Except for the water carrying bike, all these "innovations" seem utterly pointless.

[somalipal]

@Phaethon0 I would use filters n force the water thru using pedal power, u can filter 20litres in 30 minutes that way. But your system is slow and inefficient.

[Comfytees]

Distilled water isnt good if u drink too much and can dehydrate u even more from what i heard. Anyone confirm this?

[BeanTheForce]

Now if you could hook it up to some sort of windmill...

[kindrixxx]

@Phaethon0

yeah good idea bikes for africa!! its one of the most sun drenched places on the planet make them pedal bikes and sweat 3 times more than they produce

[DeWoodyard]

What increase could be had with gearing at the output (rear bike wheel)?

[davematthewsblows]

what happens when Ian runs out of fuel? does he have a service life? just kidding, nice work.

[samljer]

If you put that device on both sides of the wheel you can effectivly double

output. making it a little more worth while.

[UBERKron]

i think it is vacuum assisted cavitation boiler.these can crank out the heat but in a cold way. check out my bike vid.

[nakedblasphemy]

big man lurch on the bike 8-) but nice idea ..

there are sooo many ways to use multiple sources of energy to do this ... we really need to get our heads together and start putting these up all over the world ... can't wait for corporate interests .. just need small scale large widely distributed ideas to change the world 8-) and PS ... CLEAN renewable energy ? RIDE YOUR DAMN BICYCLE PEOPLE ITS A NO BRAINER >saves thousands a year and is virutally non polluting PLUS >>> CHICKS DIG TIGHT BUTTS