Design Of A Covid-19 Automatic Hand Washing Machine

ABSTRACT

The unhealthy pattern of washing and drying of hands in various restaurants and places of food selling has prompted the need for this project. We have taken the standard mechanical Hand washing made it a technological engineering wonder of touch-less Hand washing. The machine comprises a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is spherical shaped structure comprising a fluid injection system for injecting water and liquid soap to users’ hands. The bottom portion comprises a box shaped structure. The machine further comprises a wash basin coupled in the interior of said box shaped structure with circular opening under where the used water or liquid soap pass through, an electronic eye for detecting the insertion of hands in said wash basin and a control unit for timing the activation of said water injection. This research work has successfully presented a functional and highly efficient low cost sensor controlled hand washing which is usable in different places within our geographical environment. The main aim of this work is a device that will automatically detects a human body nearby to the washing machine by the usage of proximity sensor and then allows the flow of water or soap

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
• MOTIVATION OF THE STUDY
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
• METHODOLOGY
• PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• REVIEW OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE OF 2019 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
• EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AND EARLY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IN NIGERIA
• REVIEW OF HANDWASHING
• RAISING AWARENESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HYGIENE
• SIGNIFICANCE 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
• WORKING OF AUTOMATIC HAND WASHING MACHINE
• PROGRAMMING THE ARDUINO BOARD
• DESIGN CODE

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
• RESULT ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                          INTRODUCTION

1.1                                            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

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.

An automatic solar powered hand washing machine is an automated and mobile hand washing machine powered by solar panels. It was invented by Richard Kwarteng and his team in Kumasi. The Solar Wash machine was invited to fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic by not touching the tap before and after washing hands. Richard Kwarteng said he took inspiration from the veronica bucket when he and his team was inventing the solar wash (Bonney Abigail, 2020)

Hand washing is the single most important way of preventing the spread of infections, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Unwashed or poorly washed hands are very common way of spreading many diseases such as: cold, flu, ear infections, strep throat, diarrhea and other intestinal problems. Germs and viruses causing these diseases are passed on by such routine things as handling food, touching door knobs, shaking hands and putting mouths on a telephone receiver. And in our daily activities we practice one of these either in the offices, at home, in the market places, in the classroom and so on. Good hand washing practices have also been known to reduce the incidence of other diseases, notably pneumonia, trachoma, scabies, skin and eye infections and diarrhea-related diseases like cholera and dysentery, according to World Health Organization (WHO). The promotion of hand washing with soap is also a key strategy for controlling the spread of Avian Influenza (bird flu). After the incidence of SARS-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, more and more people on their daily lives gave more attention to health habits; the daily number of hand-washing increased than before. This prompted us to contribute with this project as a way to increasing the practice of hand washing in our society so as to remain healthy.

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. As for the automatic type, it turns on and off automatically as it senses any object with energy or heat. In this case, the unnecessary waste of water can be avoided. 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.

1.2                                                   PROBLEM STATEMENT

Due to higher level of spreading of diseases such as corona virus, constant washing of hands was recommended which is to be carried out without making contact with washing devices as recommended by the world health organization (WHO). Because of this problem of virus spreading this device was invented to solve the problem of making contact with the washing machine.

1.3                                              OBJECTIVES OF THE DESIGN

The following are the objectives:

1. To enhance the level of hygiene wherever
2. 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.
3. To solve a considerable fraction of the problems associated with washing of hands, so as to reduce the risk of disease transfer, between
4. To expose the fact that the proper washing 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 solar wash machine is powered by a sensor which allows an individual to wash hands without touch the tap. When washing hands the soap comes out from the tap first for individual to wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap during which an alarm beeps for twenty-five seconds after which water comes out of the tap to rinse hands. The system can wash the hands of 150 individuals (Crabbe Nathaniel, 2020)

1.6                                              APPLICATION OF THE STUDY

solar hand washing machine, 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 hand washing machine last several years and require little maintenance, decreasing the total cost for maintaining the restroom.
2. Waste: Automatic hand washing machine 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.

1.8                                               LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Difficulty in parts gathering: I found it too difficult when gathering electronics parts used for the prototype.

• Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1. Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9                                              MOTIVATION OF THE STUDY

Ten months into the pandemic, hand washing with soap remains one of our best defenses against the virus, along with other public health measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places, practicing cough etiquette and wearing a mask wherever recommended.

‘Hand washing has always been one of most effective ways of keeping diseases at bay. It is a simple act that pays in dividends when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy and safe. Hand washing is also one of the key cornerstones of COVID-19 prevention. Now more than ever as we embrace the new normal and live with COVID-19, hand hygiene needs to become an integral part of our daily routine and our lives, as we live through this pandemic, and beyond, to protect us from diseases,’ according to Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

With COVID-19 transmission mainly spreading between people through direct, indirect (through contaminated objects or surfaces), or close contact with infected people via mouth and nose secretions, washing hands with soap and running water is of critical importance. To stop the spread of COVID-19, along with other COVID appropriate behaviours, the practice of handwashing at regular intervals is a must, after coughing or sneezing, when caring for the sick, after using the toilet, before eating, while preparing food and after handling animals or animal waste. Handwashing after touching common surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, or after one comes back home from visiting a public place will keep ourselves and others around us safe. However, advantages discussed above were points that motivate the carrying out of this research work.

1.10                                          SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will throw more light on the best techniques for promoting hand hygiene at all levels of health care. This study will also be designed to be of immense benefit to all individual even to medical and non personnel.

It will also serve as a guide that teaches how hand washing is one of the primary modes of reducing health care-associated infection and of enhancing patient safety.

1.11                                                     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. Design and calculation for the work was carried out.
2. Studying of various component used in circuit.
3. Construct the whole circuit.

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

1.12                                                      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.