2. What is the HYDRA?
The HYDRA is a solar and hydrogen-powered
mobile water purification system. It was developed
by a privately owned company named, The Essential
Element. Their main goal is to supply impoverished
places with purified water and electricity after a
natural disaster or where clean water is simply not
available.
3. Mission
Statement
“Clean water is the
basis of health and
economic stability. In
today’s world, clean,
renewable power to
produce it along with
clean power for
communities, school,
clinics, businesses is the
new standard. Our
vision, technology and
experience will make
clean water and power
a reality today.”
4. Why is the HYDRA important?
The HYDRA is an important innovation because it
provides drinkable water, electricity, and medical
grade oxygen. This helps end the thirst of the
displaced after a natural disaster, provide electricity
for schools, clinics, businesses, communication
systems, and give medical professionals the oxygen
they need to assist in the injured.
5. How does the HYDRA work?
Energy from the sun is
captured by the solar
panels which is then
used to power the water
pump. The dirty water
gets pushed through the
self- cleaning filtration
system . In a day, the
HYDRA can produce
87,000 liters of purified
water (20,000+ gallons).
The HYDRA also
charges batteries; lead-
acid gel batteries run an
electrolyzer that uses
some of the water to fill
a .37 cubic meter tank
with pressurized
hydrogen. A fuel cell is
then stored with this
hydrogen to generate
energy for other
electronic necessities.
6. Left: solar panels
right: hydrogen storage tank
the stored hydrogen is used to power the HYDRA after dark, it continues
to produce water with or without sunlight.
7. Benefits: What’s so great about it?
According to The Essential Element: the
HYDRA is “first of its kind anywhere on
the planet”
Clean, drinkable water
Electricity for electronic and cooking
appliances
Medical-grade oxygen
9. Previous ideas and setbacks
Other purification systems have been too expensive
for the poor outcome
Poor battery life and dirty water
Heavy and costly solar panels
Used gasoline and diesel to operate; leads to toxic
fumes and water contamination
NEGATIVES FOR THE HYDRA…
Price check… $95,000 for 1 HYDRA
10. FAD: Will the HYDRA be seen in
the future?
Highly doubt the HYDRA will become a FAD due to
its cost. Not everyone can go out and duplicate or
buy a HYDRA, it’s too expensive.
It is a great way to help those in earthquakes or
hurricanes, maybe more countries and nations will
invest in a HYDRA to keep its people stable.
Anything that can create water from 100%
renewable resources such as solar and hydrogen
power is genius.
Maybe one day aid homelessness in America?
11. Citations
The Essential Element. “Hydra Specifications.” Web.
http://theessentialelement.com/specifications/specifications
11 Nov 2010.
Husain, Iqbal. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Design Fundamentals
Second . Edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011.
Schwartz, Ariel. “HYDRA: A Solar and Hydrogen-powered
Mobile Water Purification System” 20 May 2010. Inhabitat.
11 Nov 2010.
12. Citations continued
Singh, Timon. “Hydra is a Relief Vehicle” 22 Oct 2010. Inhabitat.
11 Nov 2010.
Images:
http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/the-essential-element-s-hydra-
provides-purified-water-electricity-and-hydrogen
http://inhabitat.com/2010/10/22/hydra-is-a-relief-vehicle-water-
purifier-and-power-plant-all-in-one/
http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/20/hydra-a-solar-and-hydrogen-
powered-mobile-water-purification-system/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg1TEm-YkS4
