The way that this project approach this challenge is concepts like HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that are applied in the ECLSS (Environmental control and life support system), system that is used in the ISS (International Space Station), in addition, we took as an example the biological air filters of the ESA (European Space Agency) to choose a biological filter that would allow us to use the CO2 of the air to purify and turning it into oxygen, as is a microalgae filter. Adding to the above, in this age of the pandemic of COVID-19, we must improve the air quality in homes, factories and different places because since we are closed, the amount of CO2 and other particulate material can affect us.
The increasing rate of air contamination in the recent year in Colombia, specifically in the Valle del Aburrá in Antioquia, which is where we reside, inspires us to choose the challenge of purify air supply, because this it gives us the opportunity to create a system or device which we can help to improve the air quality in homes, and that in addition it could be used both on earth and in space. Our approach was the purification of CO2 of the air to be turned into oxygen, where we used as a reference the material that NASA has provided us, taking as an example the ISS (International Space Station) ande ECLSS(Environmental control and life support system) that is documented, also we used the data provide by ESA (European Space Agency) about the biological air filters. To choose the kind of filters that we are going to use, we rely on the different HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that are used in the ECLSS, and as a biological filter and it can turn the CO2 into oxygen, we choose the marine microalgae filtration system, because to propitiate the environment of these for the you that people will give them could be quite feasible. To develop the model of our prototype, we used the software Illustrator, and also we used the data of IDEAM (Instituto de Hidrología, Metereología y Estudios Ambientales) and SIATA (Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá), that are colombian entities for measuring of weather and pollution, in addition, we used free maps of air contamination in real time that are found online. Not being able to meet physically due to the pandemic of COVID-19 could have been a problem really big, however, our team faced this challenge in the best way, adapting all of our work system in the virtuality and being quite helpful, so that, we consider this resilience stage as an achievement reached.
Reborn Air video https://youtu.be/BwKh2Tf7TiXI