Optimising ventilation to control odour in the ventilated improved pit latrine
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Springer
Abstract
The rate of ventilation through the vent pipe of a ventilated improved pit latrine is the main technical factor that determines
its efficiency in odour control aside the maintenance and cleaning practices of the users. Even though the factors affecting
the ventilation rate have been well researched, they have not been previously related in a mathematical model to quantify
the relative effect of the various factors on the ventilation rate. The objective of this paper is to develop such a model that
could be used to optimise and predict the ventilation rate as a function of relevant design criteria and weather conditions.
The ventilation rates produced by various design modifications in an experimental ventilated improved pit latrine were
measured under monitored weather conditions. A linear regression model was used to assess the relative effect of the various
design modifications and the elements of weather on the ventilation rate. It was found that the diameter of the vent pipe is
the most important factor which accounts for 53% of variations in the ventilation rate, followed by the external wind speed,
which accounts for 25% of changes in ventilation. The provision of windows in other sides of the superstructure other than
the windward side leads to a reduction of 32% in the ventilation rate and accounts for 9% of the variations in the ventilation
rate. A regression model developed in this study could be used to optimise and predict the ventilation rate based on a set of
design criteria and meteorological data.
Description
This article is published by Springer, 2018 and is also available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-018-0523-0
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Citation
Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 2018