Frederick County Career and Technology Center InvenTeam

Frederick, Maryland
2017-2018

The Frederick County Career and Technology Center InvenTeam invented a system to remove unsafe sulfur dioxide and fluoride present in drinking water from an existing borehole at the Melka Olba School in Ethiopia. The system consists of a rocket stove, integrated boiler with heat sink fins, and a condenser. The system can vaporize one gallon of water in 13 minutes. The vapor runs through a condenser coil placed in an existing cistern filled with river water to produce safe, drinkable water. The cost of the rocket stove, boiler, and condenser coil system is approximately $300. Most of the system is made of plate steel due to its durability. The steel plate is relatively low cost and available in Ethiopia. The entire system is designed to be maintained with a wrench, screwdriver, and hammer.