Plans change & Vorovoro gets a solar-powered desalinator

April 16, 2009 Environment, Projects, Technology, Tribewanted

We finally arrive in Labasa, the town from which we will be making our way by boat to Vorovoro. After almost a week of travelling we are nearly there. Lassitude, hunger, and insouciance have set in. The sweltering heat propels us into a delirium. Where are we again? Why are we here? The endless journey has thus far obscured the raison d’être of the expedition: to build a solar-powered refrigeration system.

Labasa proves to be low on parts

We are coming to end of the journey and the start of the project. Unfortunately we hit a major snag. We meet with some of the Tribewanted guys who tell us that they have had difficulty in sourcing the materials we needed in Labasa. We are not surprised. For some reason, we had thought that Labasa was a big town. We were wrong. As such, it seems unlikely that high-pressure pipes or large volumes of ammonia would be up for grabs in the local stores. Nevertheless we plod along through the town to visit the hardware stores. It’s Easter Monday and the stores are closed. But at least we can familiarise ourselves with where everything is for when we return to the town on Wednesday. This means that it is no longer possible for us to make the solar-powered icemaker.

“Wait a minute? Isn’t that a bit deafeatist?” we hear you say.  “So they don’t have the exact material you have, can’t you use something else? Can’t you be a bit creative? Can you not just work with that they have in Labasa? I mean, surely they must have something?”. Well, technically we could use something else, but to forgo using high-pressure pipes is to court disaster. We need to make something that not only works, but is safe too. If the pipes we use cannot withstand the high pressures generated within, then the whole thing could blow to pieces. If we were going to do this, it was going to be properly and safely or not at all. We make no apologies for that.

The sustainability objective

Perhaps some of the obsessive-compulsive neurotics amongst you will say, “Shouldn’t you have thought of this beforehand? Shouldn’t have you arranged to get the materials from elsewhere if you found out before they were not available in Labasa? Isn’t this just a case of shoddy planning foiling your project?”.  Well, we were told that it should be fine to source all the materials in Labasa. We didn’t know any better. And as for getting materials from elsewhere (e.g. UK, Australia etc.), yes we could have done that, but it is important that the system is both sustainable (i.e. it keeps on going long after we have gone) and replicable (i.e. that the locals can take the concept and design and reproduce it easily). If we used materials from abroad then it would mean that if something went wrong with the system or a part needed replacing, it would likewise have to be procured from abroad. It would also mean that it would be more difficult for it to be replicated easily. We also feel we have a duty to benefit to local economy and this means purchasing our materials in Fiji and not elsewhere.

Inspired to innovate

We take the boat over to Vorovoro, and whilst enjoying the stunning views and looking out for sharks, we entertain our musings and machinations of alternative plans. It is not until we get there that we can decide what it is that really needs to be done.

It is when we arrive on the island and our given a tour that inspiration hits. Despite being surrounded by it, water is limited and rationed during the dry season. It is reminiscent of the lines of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner:

“Water, water everywhere, And all the boards did shrink.
Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”

Thus we decide on building a solar-powered desalination system. Desalination is the process of removing salt and other impurities from sea water. Our system would not render the water drinkable, however it would provide water that was available for showers, washing up dishes, washing clothes, and watering plants, and put an end to the restrictions on use of water on the island during the dry season. Incidentally, it was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who first suggested the utility of desalination. It seems highly appropriate that thousands of years later two (and a half) Greeks should travel across the globe to implement this idea to benefit Vorovoro. Far from being a second-rate plan, we believe that this system will be an even more significant development than an icemaker.

Further information

• Read the full diary entry ‘Team Fusion: From sun-powered icemaker to sun-powered boiler‘ by Vivek Datta @ Tribewanted Blogs

Solar-powered ice maker heads for Vorovoro, Fiji

April 10, 2009 Environment, Projects, Technology, Tribewanted

We can’t help but think that using the sun’s heat in this way is both beautiful and ironic. The beauty lies in its environmentally friendly design, harnessing the sustainable energy source of the sun’s rays. The seeming irony lies in the use of solar heat to freeze water.  Team Fusion are the four winning members of the Students in Free Enterprise Competition that was promoted at Kings College London earlier this year.

Preparations

Fiji is a far cry from the comfort and security of the environment provided by King’s College London where we are all currently studying. This design would be relatively easy to put together quickly and reliably in London (although the distinct lack of sun would not make it feasible!) but it’s a completely different story on Vorovoro. We’ve spent 3 weeks putting together the proposal and design for the project, thinking of all the materials we need, and everything that could potentially go wrong. But the reality is we won’t really know until we get there! In preparation we have made contact with James on the island to see if we would have any problems getting any of the material we need. But again, we won’t really know until we arrive, and have a few ideas of how to progress if we’re not able to get exactly what we need.

We have now booked all our flights, but not without problems.  One of us has managed to book the wrong flight from Labasa to Nadi! And unfortunately we won’t all be travelling together as Panos and John’s Greek passports prevent them flying through the US without a visa, so they will instead by flying via Sydney, adding an extra 2 days to their journey.

We have little idea what to expect when to arrive, but our imminent arrival has certainly generated a wide range of emotions: from excitement to hope to trepidation – excited to have the opportunity to get the tribewanted experience and contribute something meaningful and sustainable to the island, hopeful that the project will be successful and make a significant impact to the community, and trepidation that it could all go horribly wrong! It is a risk and a challenge to take on this project. There are no certainties. There are no guarantees.

Team Fusion

Dinusha Zbyszewski – Dinusha is a 2nd year PhD student in medical robotics, having done his first degree in mechanical engineering. He first heard about the opportunity to use his skills to benefit the Tribewanted community when he attended a talk by Engineers Without Borders. There he met King’s College London Student in Free Enterprise (KCL SIFE) Vice President Josh Kapp who told him about the competition. Dinusha has always been interesting in applying his knowledge and skills in practical and meaningful ways that will enhance the lives of people across the world.

Panagiotis Polygerinos – Panos is a 1st year PhD student in medical robotics, and similarly has a mechanical engineering background. Dinusha asked him to join the team because he is intelligent, reliable, hardworking, and the engineer Dinusha is least likely to strangle if he were stranded on a desert island with one!

Ioannis (John) Vardakis – John is a mechanical engineering student who is currently applying for PhDs. He has a special knowledge of fluid systems and thermodynamics, an understanding of which are integral to the success of this project.

Vivek Datta – Vivek is a final year medical student with longstanding interests in photography and film. He will be responsible for documenting every step of the project through photographs, film and the blog.

We are grateful to Ben Keene and the Tribewanted team and KCL SIFE for providing us with this fantastic opportunity, and anticipate a successful outcome.