Design And Construction Of Solar Powered Hand Washing Machine With Foot Switch

ABSTRACT

Hygiene experts assert that proper handwashing prevents diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, Ebola and other faeco-oral diseases. However, the existing handwashing facilities are such that before washing hands, the contaminated hands are used to turn on the taps and therefore, contaminate the taps. Just after washing the hands, the washed hands are used in turning off the contaminated taps and thus, re-contaminating the hands. Consequently, the impact expected from the provision of  hand washing facilities is not felt. A foot-operated tap was designed, constructed and tested to replace the hand-operated tap. The tap was made of stainless steel and brass due to their high resistance to corrosion, and stresses and fatigue during operation. It consists of tap housing with inlet and outlet holes, the foot pedal, base plate, supporting studs which hold the tap to the base plate, and control circuit.

This research work has successfully presented a functional and highly efficient low cost foot controlled solar powered hand washing which is usable in different places within our geographical environment. The main aim of this work is a foot operated hand washing system whose source of power is renewable.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
• PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
• SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
• LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
• APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
• BENEFITS OF THIS DESIGN
• METHODOLOGY
• PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• REVIEW OF HANDWASHING
• HOW GERMS SPREAD
• SUBSTANCES USED FOR HAND WASHING
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF HAND WASHING
• REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SOLAR CELLS
• EFFICIENCIES OF SOLAR PANEL
• BENEFITS OF SOLAR BATTERY CHARGERS
• THEORY OF SOLAR CELLS

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

• SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
• COMPONENTS USED
• DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS USED
• WORKING PRINCIPLE
• CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
• CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

CHAPTER FOUR

TEST AND RESULT ANALYSIS

• INSTALLATION OF THE COMPLET DESIGN
• CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING
• ECONOMIC OF THE PROJECT
• PROJECT VIABILITY
• RELIABILITY
• MAINTAINABILITY
• PROJECT EVALUATION

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                           INTRODUCTION

1.1                              BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Handwashing is the physical or mechanical removal of dirt, organic material or microorganis ms from the hands (WHO, 2009). Handwashing is easy to do and it is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings; from the home, workplace, to child care facilities and hospitals. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and the entire community. Washing hands has been asserted by hygiene experts as one of the most important activities in the prevention of diseases. Research shows that more than 42 % of the diarrhoea cases could be avoided if handwashing with soap is done after visiting toilet facility (Curtis and Cairncross, 2003) and at other critical times (GES, 2003). By frequently washing your hands, you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people, or from contaminated surfaces, or from animals and animal waste. The simple act of consistently performing this basic task properly will make a big difference in your own household as well as in work, school and public settings (State Health Service, 2006).

Importance of hand washing cannot be over-emphasized, especially in developing nations where eating with hands is a common practice. In some developing cultures, there is always the reluctance of hand washing before meals; and in some, hand washing has become a culturally accepted norm. Eating with the hands was going on for generations before anyone thought of washing their hands first. So along the way, through technology and hygiene practices, people become educated in the improvement of hand washing.

This devive is a foot operated solar powered hand washing machine is an automated and mobile hand washing machine. This machine is specially designed for use in the offices, public restroom and as well for the general domestic washing and drying of the hands at home. It supplies both soapy and clean water in a sequential order during the washing and rinsing cycle and then supplies a warm air current to dry up the completely washed hand thereof. It is handy and easy to use. More importantly, it can avoid the contagious diseases; for example, when it was a manual type hand washing machine, to turn on/off the tap, you must need the help of your hands. In this case, your hands or fingers would be infected with any virus left by any possible previous user if he or she is infected with a disease. With the automatic type, you will not only use the water at ease, but also avoid any possible contact with any contagious disease.

Also some cases were considered whereby people would inevitably, more or less, waste some water as we might have seen people washing their hands at any public places or at home. It is not necessarily because people tend to waste some water at their own will, for example, when it is a traditional mechanical type, people would wash their hands under the pressed water with the switch on, as the switch is positioned at this state, the water keeps being pressed down at the same amount no matter when the person really needs the water to wash or not. This causes low efficiency of water usage. Another possibility is that people who are in a hurry may often unconsciously forget about turning the tap off, if they really forget about it, the water would keep flowing or dripping until it gets turned off by the next user. Therefore with all these benefits, the automatic hand washing machine are becoming increasingly popular among schools, families, dining halls, companies or any other public places.

It was on this background that the foot-operated solar powered tap was designed, constructed and tested to replace the hand-operated tap to ensure effective handwashing.

1.2                                    PROBLEM STATEMENT

In Nigeria, sanitation and hygiene related diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera have been identified as the second most common health problem treated in outpatient clinics. It accounts for 84,000 deaths annually in Nigeria with 25 % of these being children under five years (WHO, 2019).

Hygiene experts assert that proper handwashing prevents diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, Ebola, covid-19 and other faeco-oral diseases. Thus, institutions such as the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have provided latrines with handwashing facilities to school children to enable them wash their hands after visiting the latrines. However, the existing handwashing facilities are such that before washing hands, the contaminated hands are used to turn on the taps and therefore contaminate the taps. Just after washing the hands, the washed hands are used in turning off the contaminated taps and thus, recontaminating the hands. Consequently, the impact expected from the provision of hand washing facilities is not felt. The present handwashing facilities have results in poor handwashing practices and pose serious problems to health and development of people especially, children with accompanied socio- economic consequences which drawbacks the national development policy and prevents people from contributing to productivity.

Because of this problem of virus spreading this device was invented to solve the problem of making contact with the hand washing machine.

1.3                                AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DESIGN

The main aim of the research was to provide a foot-operated tap to promote effective handwashing. The specific objectives were to:

1. Design and construct a foot-operated tap for handwashing facility
2. Incorporate the foot-operated tap in a handwashing facility in Engineering workshop for

• To enhance the level of hygiene wherever

1. To increase the level of awareness of people as regards to the proper washing in accordance with the policy of the National Orientation Agency in Nigeria.
2. To solve a considerable fraction of the problems associated with washing of hands, so as to reduce the risk of disease transfer between
3. To expose the fact that the proper washing and drying of hands after holding objects, using the toilet and even transfer/exchanging money between individuals, will geometrically reduce the rate and/or presence of ill health in the area in question.

1.4                                   PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this work is to enhance regular hand washing among the people in a safe, cost-effective and hygienic manner.

1.5                                                   SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The scope of this work is on a solar powered hand washing machine with foot switch. The solar hand washing machine with foot switch is powered by a foot switch which allows an individual to wash hands without touching the tap instead they match the switch with their feet. (Crabbe Nathaniel, 2020)

1.6                                              APPLICATION OF THE STUDY

Solar powered hand washing machine with foot switch, which could be used in public places and homes, has been developed in conformity with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standard of compulsory 20 seconds of hand scrubbing.

1.7                                            BENEFITS OF THIS DESIGN

Hygiene: Washing hands thoroughly is effective in preventing the spread of germs, yet drying hands is just as important. It might be tempting to simply dry your hands off on your pants while exiting the restroom, but that means your hands may remain damp for several minutes. What many people do not know is that bacteria is more likely to spread through damp hands rather than dry hands, so making sure your hands are completely dry before leaving the restroom helps prevent illness even further. In busy restrooms paper towel dispensers can run out quickly, leaving people with no other choice than to skip hand drying. Automatic solar powered hand washing machine require very little maintenance, and with the development of no-touch technology, there is no need to touch any bacteria-laden surfaces in the process.

1. Cost: Due to the constant maintenance and refills that come along with paper towel dispensers, automatic hand dryers are cost-effective solutions. Not only must paper towels be refilled, but there are also costs associated with the production and clean-up of paper towels. For example additional trash bags and cleaning products are needed to dispose of the paper towels and reduce the spread of germs through towels left on counter tops. Automatic solar powered hand washing machine last several years and require little maintenance, decreasing the total cost for maintaining the restroom.
2. Waste: Automatic solar powered hand washing machine with foot switch also have more environmental benefits than paper towels. While some paper towels may be made of recycled materials, used paper towels cannot be recycled leading to an increase in waste and a continued destruction of trees for paper production. Switching to the use of automatic hand dryers in public restrooms can be helpful to reduce waste as well as energy.

1.9                                               LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Dealing with the limitation, the only limitation seen in automatic solar powered hand washing machine is that:

1. The solar-powered hand washing operating costs are quite high compare to other means of hand washing system.
2. It cannot work properly when there is no sun shine or during cloudy weather.

1.10                                       METHODOLOGY

To achieve the aim and objectives of this work, the following are the steps involved:

1. Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve it efficiency.
2. Draw a block diagram.

• Test for continuity of components and devices,

1. programming of microcontroller
2. Design and calculation for the work was carried out.
3. Studying of various component used in circuit.

• Construct the whole circuit.
• Finally, the whole device was cased and final test was carried out.

1.11                                                      PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.