The Honeycomb - a Solar-Powered Water Filter Station (Prototype Concept)

After developing the project: The Tri-Angular - a Portable and Self-Sustaining Folding House

I encountered a problem: where would the water come from or how would it be processed and treated?

So, after researching various sources and methods of water purification and documentation on solar energy, I decided to create a self-sustaining purification station with the most efficient design for small or isolated outdoor spaces.

But it's also a demountable station that can be manufactured to the size of your needs, fitting into any space with enough room for assembly.

And its functional design allows it to be stacked alongside other stations of the same design, making it ideal for large communities.*

A solution for today's world, where resource conservation is priority.

*Please note: this design is only a prototype concept; field testing, material testing, and collection of real-world physical performance data are still needed.

What is presented here is the assembly and design process.

Template

Scissors

Glue

Cutter

2 Transparent PVC Plastic Sheet. (transparent acetate film)

The materials listed are for the manufacture of the scale prototype.

For the design, I focused on Basic geometric shapes, stackable and functional,

the shape of the hexagon, the shape of a honeycomb.

The Regular hexagon:

Its six sides and angles are equal. Each interior angle measures 120°.

The sum of the interior angles always equals 720°.

It has a total of 9 diagonals.

The Honeycomb:

Honeycomb structures use hexagons because this shape provides the maximum storage volume using the least amount of space.

I worked on this Water Station in Blender but to obtain the respective templates After the 3D design, I transfered the model to paper.

In paper, you will be able to make the physical assembly of pieces in 3 dimensions according to the instructions.

Here you can download the templates for the The Water Honeycomb and then review step by step which one corresponds and guide you through the assembly.

Harnessing rainwater reduces drinking water consumption and helps household finances through simple collection systems on roofs and rooftops.

Basic features for a domestic system:

Collection: Use clean roofs and gutters to direct the water.

Filtration: Place screens or filters to remove leaves and initial sediment.

Storage: Store the water in covered tanks or drums, located at a suitable height.

In my country, there are two rainy seasons. The first season runs from March to June or July, and the second occurs between September and November. However, in the lower Amazon region, there is only one long season from April to November, with a strong peak between May and July. And in the coastal Pacific region, it rains heavily almost all year round, with the greatest increases from April to December.

So to get the most out of this water stations, I recommend keep in mind the rainy season in your local area.

For the honeycomb station, two tanks will be used:

The filtration tank: which will go at the top and will contain all the elements for optimal filtration.

and the Storage tank: which will be located at the bottom, receiving all the processed water.

These two tanks consist of a basic hexagonal shape, with storage capacity; these two tanks have an internal space for the location of the pillar.

In the templates, you will find four straight strips that you must join and glue onto the transparent film; then, cut them out.

Check the measurements; each tank has a different height, so you won't make a mistake.

After gluing and cutting them out, emboss the corresponding fold lines.

After gluing and cutting them out, emboss the corresponding fold lines.

From this point on, the pieces needed to assemble each part of the prototype will be created; these pieces will then be used to join the sections together by gluing them.

To allow the water from the filtration process to flow into the storage tank, I used gravity to my advantage. I created a lid with conical outlets and openings at various points, which distribute the water pressure and make the filtration process more balanced.

These outlets contain the cotton or cloth that will filter the last of the water before it passes into the storage tank.

Once again, cut out the template pieces and glue them onto the transparent sheet.

carefully cut out the pieces.

Emboss the fold lines, and once finished, remove the adhesive paper template to leave behind a transparent piece that you will then use to form the component corresponding to the lower water outlets.

Keep in mind that each tank consists of three parts—the interior, the base, and the walls*

*This applies to the prototype; in the real-size version, it must be a single plastic piece produced using injection molds.

The lower tank is simpler, as it serves for storage; it will have a drain valve located on the lower side.

this way you will obtain the two tanks of the filtration station: the upper filtration tank and the lower storage tank.

The tank lid and base serve as a lid for the storage tank and as a base to fit onto the metal base structure.

This is for the lower tank, which is the storage tank.

The bottom tank will be ready, complete with its lid and the corresponding base for assembly.

The pillar will be the energy center of the structure. At the top will be the solar panels which will power the UV lighting. In addition, depending on your needs and available battery, you can place charging ports at the bottom or LED lighting on the outside of the tanks, if you need nighttime illumination, although the main use will be the UV lamp for water purification in the filtration process.

The central pillar is also hexagonal in shape, so for the prototype, we will emboss the folds; in the life size version, it could be a wooden or metal structure, based on the template's dimensions.

This structure features rectangular openings that allow the UV light installed inside to pass through; the design of these openings depends on the type and size of the UV lamp.

If you want to make optimal and proper use of rainwater, the first thing needed is a basic cover filter. These filters prevent leaves from entering the tank, and the most complete and advanced ones also discard the first few liters of rainwater that carry all the dirt accumulated on the roofs, even purifying the water until it's suitable for human consumption, in addition to that, there is the internal process of the filter tank.

This cover filter will also have a lid to stop collection at any time.

Cut out the three pieces for the filter cover.

Then, re-crease the fold lines; pay attention to the direction of the folds.

In a real-world scenario, simply installing a grille in the indicated area would suffice; for this prototype, I made the necessary cuts to simulate the filter grille.

I cut until I had the necessary holes.

This piece must be cleaned regularly to keep the filter clear (remove leaves, insects, or anything that could cause an obstruction).

Joining the parts will complete the filter cover component.

Since this piece will be exposed to the sun, it is advisable to make it out of a waterproof material or one that withstands weather fluctuations—perhaps metal (copper).

The solar panels will be located on the top of the pillar and will be distributed in a pyramidal (hexagonal) shape. designed to better capture the sun's position throughout the day.

A hexagonal pyramid is a three-dimensional geometric solid with a hexagonal base and six triangular lateral faces

Traditional silo-shaped welding will be used to support the structure.

Depending on the desired size of the station, the material can range from wood to metal in the case of larger sizes.

Remember to keep in mind the volume of water and the resistance of the materials.

Solar panels are devices that capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity or heat. They convert sunlight into usable electricity using semiconductor cells and the photovoltaic effect.

For the central power tower, I plan to use triangular panels which will be interconnected.

triangular solar panels fit into awkward, non-rectangular small spaces, such as gable roofs, tight architectural corners, or mobile setups

Finally, the following structural components are required to complete the station:

1 structural base

2 water collection tanks (upper and lower)

1 solar power pillar (with distributed solar panels)

1 main filter housing

1 sealing lid

As I mentioned at the beginning, collecting and filtering rainwater is an excellent way to save resources and protect the environment. The basic process involves capturing, channeling, filtering, and storing the water for later use in household tasks such as watering plants, cleaning, or flushing toilets.

But if we want to use it for human consumption, we will need to follow some extra steps and use some additional materials to achieve this.

Large stones or coarse gravel. to retain larger debris.

Fine gravel or small stones.

Coarse and fine sand. which act as a mesh for smaller sediments.

Crushed activated carbon. responsible for removing odors, tastes, and chemicals.

cloth, gauze, or cotton.

Layer Order (from bottom to top)

Base: Place the cloth, gauze, or cotton over the bottle's spout to prevent materials from falling into the final container.

Activated Charcoal: Place a layer of crushed charcoal on top of the cotton.

Fine Sand: Add a layer of fine sand on top of the charcoal.

Coarse Sand: Place the coarse sand on top of the fine sand.

Gravel: Add the fine gravel and, finally

The stones or coarse gravel: on top to trap and retain larger debris, and protect the inner layers.

So, all these pieces must be arranged neatly in the upper filter tank from the bottom up, starting with the cloth, gauze, or cotton, depending on your preference.

Ultraviolet light filters for water purification offer a safe and effective solution to ensure safe drinking water.

This (UV) rays in water filtration systems serve to destroy the DNA and RNA of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, preventing them from reproducing and causing their total inactivation.

It is usually installed at the end of the purification circuit to eliminate any biological traces that the physical sediment or carbon filters failed to retain.

It is usually installed at the end of the purification circuit to eliminate any biological traces that the physical sediment or carbon filters failed to retain.

Therefore, in the honeycomb station, the UV lamps will be located at the base of the power pillar, inside the storage tank, and will be powered by the energy collected by the solar panels.

These lamps will only be on for brief periods (between 5 and 10 seconds), and the water will complete its disinfection process instantly.

Recommended uses for collected rainwater:

Irrigation: Ideal for plants and gardens because it contains no chlorine or chemicals.

Cleaning: Useful for washing patios, floors, and the exterior of the house.

Sanitary Use: It can be channeled to flush the toilet and save drinking water.

Recommended uses for filtered rainwater:

Filtered water is primarily used for drinking, cooking, personal care, and home maintenance by removing chlorine, sediment, and unpleasant odors.

Main Uses

Drinking and Beverages:

Drink water directly, safely and without a chlorine taste.

Prepare coffee, tea, and infusions, enhancing the natural flavor of the ingredients.

Provide clean, chemical-free water for household pets.

Cooking and Food Preparation:

Wash fruits and vegetables, removing pesticide residue and surface dirt.

Cook soups, pasta, and other foods without altering their properties or adding unwanted tap water flavors.

Personal Care:

Wash hair and face to avoid dryness and irritation caused by chlorine and other chemicals.

Improve the effectiveness of soaps and shampoos by using water free of heavy impurities.

Home and Appliances:

Watering houseplants without exposing them to harsh minerals or chemicals. Filling steam irons, coffee makers, or kettles to prevent limescale buildup and extend their lifespan.

This honeycomb station of water tanks are functional for nomadic people, farms, or properties that need to utilize rainwater for general use, personal consumption (food/hygiene), or animal watering. They are also very efficient for temporary shelters after a natural disaster, as they can be easily dismantled. Their capacity/volume depends on the materials and size you prefer.

You can use it for any purpose you prefer from the long list of uses available here, and solve a need in your community without relying on conventional power grids.

Thanks for checking out my project.