Rusty
Purveyor of Fine Weaponry
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Intent: To create a device that can desalinate and purify even the nastiest water, giving folks in hospitable areas a ready supply of potable water.
Development Thread: If Necessary
Manufacturer: RCFC Medical
Model: PDD
Affiliation: Open Market
Modularity: No
Production: Mass
Material: Plastoid, desalinator components, filtration system, condenser, electric pump, collapsible storage tank.
Strengths:
- Can turn nearly any water into potable drinking water, so long as it's not radioactive.
- Collapsible storage tank can hold up to 50 liters, and can be filled in as little as 15 minutes when water is readily available. Tank is antimicrobial, and has a convenient spout for dispensing water into containers.
- Can condense water from the atmosphere for drinking purposes. In humid climates, it can fill the tank in as little as an hour. In arid climates, may take upwards of a day to fill.
- Fits in a smallish pack that can be carried by itself or attached to a rucksack.
- Makes some noise when pump is in use, use with caution in hostile territory.
- Cannot filter out radiation.
- Water high in salt or other contaminants will clog filter more quickly. In a worst case scenario, filter may have to be changed every time the tank is filled.
- Cannot be used on the move. In tactical situations, customers are advised to halt no longer than necessary to fill their canteens.
Description: Use of the Portable Desalination Device is simple.
Firstly, unpack from the convenient carrying pack and assemble the PDD. Easy to follow instructions are printed on the inside of the pack's hard shell, which opens up for ease of access. Insert output tube into collapsible tank, and insert intake tube into water source. If you plan on using the condenser, hook the intake tube into the condenser. If you plan to fill a canteen, simply place the output tube in the canteen.
Manually prime the powered pump using the hand pump. Though this isn't strictly necessary, doing so will reduce wear and tear, as well as cut down on the noise. Also, this will allow the device to measure flow through on the particulate filter, and will let you know if it needs to be changed before you begin operating it in earnest.
Once the pump is primed and the filter is good to go, activate the pump. Ensure that the intake tube doesn't get clogged by large objects, such as leaves, sticks, or animals. The particulate filter will stop larger particles. The water will then flow into the main filtration device, which consists of a series of plastoid tubes with increasingly smaller holes. The smallest holes are measured in nanometers, and will only allow water molecules to pass through. The purified water will then flow through the output tube and into the desired container.
So long as the particulate filter is properly maintained, the main filtration device will only need to be replaced every 5,000 liters. Keep in mind, however, that although it will output clean water, the stuff left behind might be quite nasty indeed. Always assume that it is dangerously contaminated, and exercise great care when replacing it. Also, bear in mind that, in the event of a rupture, anything the container leaks on should be considered dangerously contaminated as well. This may or may not be the case, but always assume the worst. You'll live longer that way.
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