KES 57
KES 57 is a filter and mineraliser for rainwater. It is structurally divisible into two parts. The first, the upper one, serves as a filter. Two trays function as containers for rough marble stones or processing waste. The two trays contain stones of different sizes, larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, so as to obstruct the passage of external bodies inside the drum. The second part of the drum serves
as a mineraliser. At the bottom rests fine marble waste and dust, which, in continuous contact with the water, mixes with it.
The mineralised water acquires calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which changes the PH, giving the rainwater enhanced qualities for irrigation. Less water can be used, and more efficiently when needed. The mineralised water can be extracted from the bottom of the drum through the faucet.
The entire project (outer drum and trays) was realised using recycled drums, used for storing ink and destined for landfill. The base created is intended as an example and is not a crucial part of the design choice. The latter remains with the users who, depending on their needs, can improvise one to their liking.
This project is also intended to be a design that is more or less straightforward to realise at home, with simple tools. This is why materials that are completely recycled have been used and why it is intended to be a serviceable project together with its technical drawings in order to be replicable in the easiest possible way.
The final design consists of a barrel 57 cm in diameter and 87 cm high. At the bottom a faucet to draw mineralised water when needed. Inside the barrel, two containers, with a wire mesh at the bottom. The nets with different matrixes hold the stones. The two containers have a handle, to facilitate extraction and the maintenance of the system.
The entire project was realised by recycling two drums used for storing ink. The drums, once emptied, are regularly destined for landfill, without being reused. This is why I placed great emphasis on using only material from the drums, with small exceptions such as screws and laths.
One of the two drums remained unchanged while the second was used for the construction of the stone trays. The two vessels were made by cutting the drum in strips with a flex, then reducing the circumference and re-welding it, and finally by adding electro-welded mesh and a handle for extraction and maintenance.
The drum, which serves as the casing, also underwent some modifications, but these were almost imperceptible compared to the previous drum. A tap was added a few centimetres from the bottom to allow the extraction of water.
Eight screws were electro-welded to the walls of the drum, which allow the attachment of eight brackets that hold the two aforementioned trays.
Find sideways the technical drawings for the realisation of KES 57.
(Please click on the images to expand them)
Documentation
The file here concerns the project documentation. With this document, it is also possible to understand the reasons for and birth of this project, the stages prior to the design phase, as well as the different steps taken to be able to arrive at the final prototype.
