March 9, 2018

Engr. Alvin Joseph Macapagal

Engr. Jefferson Cañada
Engr. Marco Gabriel Tan
Computer Engineering Department
University of San Carlos – Technological Center
Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City

Dear Members of the Panel:

We, the undersigned 5th year Computer Engineering students, proponents of the research project entitled,
“Miniature Desalination Plant Implemented with an Embedded System”, would like to present the
following changes in our research project. These changes are attached on the next pages

We are willing to meet with you to discuss and explain the revisions enumerated, if needed, at your
convenient time.

Respectfully yours,

Richard Morris Rofel Marco Tuazon

Noted by:

Engr. James Michael C. Cañete

Adviser

Approved by:

Engr. Alvin Joseph Macapagal Engr. Jefferson Cañada Engr. Marco Gabriel Tan
Panel Chairman Panel Member Panel Member
Changes in Electronics
 The temperature sensor is no longer used
o This change was chosen due to the temperature sensor no longer being needed by
the system in order to function. The temperature sensor was to be used to
calculate the amount of water evaporated. The system no longer does this

 The pressure sensor is now changed into a flow meter

o This change was made due to the difficulty of inserting a pressure senor and its
required circuitry and sealing into the system. The flow meter chosen is easily
integrate-able into the system

 One Electronic Valve is to be used

o This change was made due to the requirement of having air constantly enter the
system in order to push the water vapor out of the pump

Changes in Methodology
 A condensing chamber made out of hard plastic was added
o This change was made in order to increase efficiency by recycling output air and
water vapor from the system back into the system. It also decreases contamination
from dirt if external air goes into the pump instead. Air is required to enter the
pump in order to act as a gas ballast in order to produce water from the pump

 Sample Size will be reduced from 200mL per sample to 2 sets of samples to be tested
with 100 mL per sample for bacteria testing and 50 mL for TDS testing
o These changes are proposed in order to adjust to how fast our system produces
output water along with time constraints
o Heavy metal testing is not done due to the price per metal (800 php per sample
per metal)
 Brackish water will no longer be tested
o This change is requested due to time constraints

 The amount of mL evaporated will no longer be calculated

o This change are proposed due to the difficulty involved in predicting the rate of
evaporation, lack of equations available, and various unknown variables

 The amount of time Elapsed will be displayed

o This change is to be added in order to monitor how long the system has been
operating. The length of operation affects the efficiency of the system

 The new system flow would be:

1. The user opens the water chamber by opening a valve
2. The user pours the salt water into the water chamber
3. The user closes the valve to the water chamber
4. The user plugs in the system
5. The Embedded System sends a signal to start vacuum pump. The water is sent
out through the exhaust line of the pump
6. A flow meter continually checks the pressure of the suction line going into the
pump. Air Leaks are determined by air flow rate in the system after a certain time.
Air flow decreases as vacuum increases. Any system failure is alerted to the user
via the LCD along with the pump being turned off and the electronic valve closed
7. Once the pressure has stabilized for 10 seconds, a signal is sent to open the
electronic valve which is connected to the condensing chamber and a small ball
valve which is slightly open. This electronic valve is connected to the water in the
water chamber via a rubber hose. This sends any uncondensed vapor back into the
water. Any dirt in the air/vapor is mixed with the water in the water chamber. It
also acts as a gas ballast which aids in the water being pushed out of the pump. The
vacuum along with the hose position prevents water from the water chamber
mixing with the output water.
8. The Embedded system displays on the LCD the current pressure and the amount
of time elapsed
9. The user may unplug the system to turn it off when he has gotten the desired amount
of output water
10. The output water is then retrieved from the condensing chamber
11. The user may open the valve at the bottom of the water chamber to drain the salt
water from the water chamber