AFD-1 Water Flow Sensor

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Charity: water with Partner NGOs.

Manufacturing/Building Method

AFD-1 water flow sensor is manufactured by PCH Lime Lab in China.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

For now, only the charity: water team and its local project partners can access the charity: water sensor and the software interface Dispatch Monitor. Interested users can contact charity:water or build their own sensor and monitoring platform.

Distributions to Date Status

1,000 of a planned 3,500 sensors have been installed on Afridev hand pumps in rural communities in Ethiopia, as of March 2016. Of that number, 700 are actively transmitting hourly water-flow data to the cloud, thanks to an embedded virtual SIM card and "pre-existing roaming agreements with every telecom company in the world." The other 300 sensors are located in areas with no cell service

Design Specifications

The AFD-1 meter uses capacitance sensors to measure hourly volumes of water flow. Each sensor's reading is compared to the past hour's maximum value. If the delta is greater than the predetermined threshold, the pad is considered "submerged". The highest "submerged" pad is used to estimate that second's volume. If hourly stored estimates are unavailable, daily usage can be calculated from the sensor statistics. The sensors are powered by a lithium battery rated to last 12 years. The sensors and batteries are located in an FDA-approved plastic enclosure intended for operation in harsh conditions. The full package is waterproof and can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees F and 70mph impact. AFD-1 meter has open-sourced files for both the sensor and the Dispatch Monitor™  including firmware specifications, mechanical and electrical design drawings, test cases, and code. The AFD-1 meter is designed to be integrated into the Afridev or India Mark II pump, without interfering with pump functionality, water flow, or regular pump maintenance. According to Charity:water, installation takes 15 minutes and can be done by untrained individuals.

Technical Support

charity: water's Pipeline program is set up to train teams of mechanics on how to fix any problems with the water pumps. These teams are set up regionally and handle 50 - 100 water points per team.

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Battery lifespan: 12 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

AFD-1 Sensors are capable of transmitting data from remote, low connectivity areas, as well as learning the "normal" behavior of a given well and reporting immediately when there is a significant behavior change. The AFD-1 Meter does not impede pump functionality ^{Pipeline pamphlet charity:water}

Vetted Performance Status

No publicly published data available to date.

Safety

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary Technical Systems

The AFD-1 meter is an information gathering system for Afridev, India Mark II, and other pumps worldwide. It must be attached to an existing pump for it to have any use.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Product utilizes FDA-approved plastic. ^{Pipeline pamphlet charity:water}

Other Information

Funded through a $5 million "Impact Award" grant from Google.org in 2012 to develop and deploy the water flow sensor.