Understanding how serious the need for affordable water and air purifiers is, the Imagineering Laboratory at IIT Kanpur, has come up with an upgraded version of 'Shuddham'. In case you're wondering, this is a water purifier-cum-cooler designed to provide affordable solutions to rural and urban middle-class societies.

Additionally, 'Shuddham' is designed to run on a mini solar plate of just 10 watts, ideal for areas with limited access to electricity. It is user-friendly, easy to maintain, and would cost around ₹4,000, after becoming available.

There are three stages of the purification process:

In the first stage, water passes through a cotton filter for the removal of solid impurities. Followed by the second stage, where bad odours and chlorine are removed through a cartridge with activated carbon (the activated carbon was developed in MedTech Lab at IIT-K, using coconut shells and a heating furnace called MITRA).

In the third stage, a polymer membrane is used for ion exchange. The purified water is then stored in a lower reserve tank with copper fins that diffuse copper and add medicinal properties to the water. Both tanks are encased in a clay pot that offers natural cooling, further reducing the temperature with the help of a convection fan.

The Imagineering Lab at IIT Kanpur is committed towards bringing affordable and efficient technologies to the fore. Looking forwards to more such inventions!