Our system can be explained most simply by the graphic below. It is a fully autonomous solar-powered air filter capable of bringing the air within ger’s back to healthy, breathable levels within the span of an hour.
The ger communities in Ulaanbaatar lack access to reliable electricity, which means we power our system with another source - solar energy. Because Ulaanbaatar receives over 290 days of sun per year on average, powering our system with solar panels became the clear choice. Our system is able to run for two weeks on a single charge.
Solar Powered
Our team has researched and extensively tested several filtration methods, including both an active carbon filter and an ionizing air filter. Active carbon filters are most effective at filtering out large irritants, and are most commonly used in HVAC units. Ionizing air filters act almost as a magnet for metals released into the air, such as those that are byproducts of raw coal combustion. We decided that the most effective way to filter the highly polluted air within the ger’s was to use both the active carbon and ionizing air filters.
Air Filter
We have designed a power-switching system that makes the use of our system as easy as the press of a button. An LCD screen displays the overall health of the system, battery percentage, internal system temperature, and the voltage going both in and out. If the battery level is low, the system is allowed to recharge. These features prevent the users of the system from having to interact with electronics and allow the system to be continually used once installed.