Fall 2021 – Spring 2022
Project Summary:
Our goal is to design a device that removes water from human waste, increasing the solid by mass content to 15% for more efficient disposal, while also retaining the dignity of the operator(s).
Spring 2022 Team: Connor Coolidge, Alaynah Murphy, Annette Nguyen, Emily Saunders
Fall 2021 Team: Annette Nguyen, Collin Aheron, Connor Coolidge, and Alaynah Murphy
Student Experiences:
“I enjoyed Humanitarian Product Design because it combined my love for engineering and helping others. The projects also help you gain a perspective of the world that you wouldn’t be exposed to unless you worked on the device itself.”
– Alaynah Murphy
“ The Humanitarian Product Design has been a unique and educational experience that has allowed me to develop my engineering skills. My time in this class has been extremely impactful and encouraged me to pursue further education in global development.”
– Connor Coolidge
“Humanitarian Product Design was very valuable because it gave me experience working as an engineer, as well as allowing me to fulfill my desire to help communities with learning.”
– Annette Nguyen
Prototypes and Schematics:
Prototype Schematic
Prototype: Top View
Prototype: Side View
Data Collection: 
Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
Our goal is to have a working prototype for more efficient dewatering of human fecal sludge with a mode for agitation. Additionally, the prototype will have an efficient way to disassemble and/or clean the device while still maintaining dignity for the user.
Criteria for Acceptance:
- Achieve solid by mass content of waste after filtration (>15%)
- Filter should be replaceable and/or easily disposable
- System should be easily cleanable and/or filter replaceable
- Full preservation of human dignity for the user
- Device should have a cost/sq. ft reduction and still be able to process (volume of waste/time, 10^3 m per day)
Jenny Qin and Jose Martinez after building a low-resolution prototype
“This was the most fulfilling engineering course I have taken at UT,”
– Annie Bourland
“This course is a very good experience especially if you want to go into design/product development in the future. It also looks very good on resumes and is a great talking point for recruiters! I would highly recommend.”
-Lawrence Chung
Team leader Lawrence Chung creating the sludge mixture with baked beans and a blender
Table with calculations for solid by mass content of remnant
Dewatering prototype made using filtration mesh, a 50 gallon container with a lock band, and an agitator attached to a handle to mix remaining water in sludge.
Bottom side of prototype with removable base and filter
