Design And Construction Of An Automatic Hand Dryer

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Importance of hand drying after washing cannot be over-emphasized, especially in developing nations where eating with hands is a common practice. This Project that can eliminate problems like time lapse, stream and energy spent, cost and environmental dangers/hazards. In the old days, there were no choices, if you wanted a hand dryer (or hand drier, depending on where you live), you got a push button, cast iron dryer, and it did the job. In 1980’s, hand dryers began appearing in automatic version, with infra-red sensors that detected the presence of hands under the dryer’s nozzle.
The advantages of automatic dryers are obvious. The first is hygienic hand dryer, reducing the possible spread of germs that could be left on the dryer. The second is energy savings. You only use the dryer for as long as you need it. Many timers are set for 30 seconds. But the user may choose to leave after only 10 seconds of drying, wasting energy used for the rest of the cycle. On the order hand, another user may dry his hands for 35 seconds, wasting almost an entire second’s push of the button.
Also, the transmission of bacteria is more likely to occur from wet skin than from dry skin, the proper drying of hand after washing should be essential component of hand hygiene producers. In the hand dryer system, air blower is used for air flow as a control element to operate sequentially that is control by the 555 timer IC. The 555 timer IC receives instruction from the LDR sensor and then activates the dryer. It supplies warm air current to dry up the completely washed hand. This machine is specially designed for used in various restaurants, office, testing area, public toilet and as for the general domestic drying of the hand at home. The usage of these products is to promote hygienic lifestyle. Besides that, it produces new technology which helps to prevent the wastage of water and easy to use for all user.
This machine is specially designed for use in the offices, public restroom and as well for the general domestic drying of the hands at home. It is handy and easy to use. More importantly, it can avoid the contagious diseases; for example, when it was a manual type hand drying machine, to turn on/off the tap, you must need the help of your hands. In this case, your hands or fingers would be infected with any virus left by any possible previous user if he or she is infected with a disease. With the automatic type, you will not only use the dryer at ease, but also avoid any possible contact with any contagious disease.
This project “automatic hand-dryer” was built to eliminate the dangers and problems associated with the manual process of hand-dryer

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
In a third world country like Nigeria there is poor growth in industrialization as such bars and restaurant all over the places resort to hand towels in cleaning of hands. This has brought about a problem of contracting diseases through the use of same hand towels by many people.
The recent Ebola virus outbreak caused a very big wrath such that researches should be carried out in better techniques of hand drying in public places like bars, restaurants conveniences and sensor centre (Eateries).
A technique that should have a feature such that no two persons can use the some towel to clean hands is necessary and should be adopted.
This quest resulted to a research on the design and implementation of automatic hand-drier that dries a wet hand without having any contact with the system.
This proposed system will reduce/prevent contracting of deadly diseases through the use of contact-method of hand cleaning in public places.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DESIGN
The main aim of this work is build a device that can be used to control the spread of the contagious diseases. At the end of this work the following objectives shall be achieved:
1. To enhance the level of hygiene wherever applicable.
2. To increase the level of awareness of people as regards to the proper drying of hands in accordance with the policy of the National Orientation Agency in Nigeria.
3. To solve a considerable fraction of the problems associated with drying of hands, so as to reduce the risk of disease transfer, between individuals.
4. To expose the fact that the proper drying of hands after holding objects, using the toilet and even transfer/exchanging money between individuals, will geometrically reduce the rate and/or presence of ill health in the area in question.

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this work is to enhance regular hand drying among the people in a safe, cost-effective and hygienic manner which can lead to control the spread of the diseases within the institution and beyond.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
This project work focuses on the design and implementation of automatic hand-dryer. In the hand dryer system, air blower is used for air flow as a control element to operate sequentially that is control by the 555 timer IC. The 555 timer IC receives instruction from the LDR sensor and then activates the dryer. It supplies warm air current to dry up the completely washed hand.

1.6 APPLICATION OF THE STUDY
This device can be used in places like:
i. homes,
ii. government ministries and agencies,
iii. worship places (like mosque and churches),
iv. markets,
v. institutions, etc.

1.7 BENEFITS OF THIS DESIGN
Hygiene: drying of hands thoroughly is effective in preventing the spread of germs, yet drying hands is just as important. It might be tempting to simply dry your hands off on your pants while exiting the restroom, but that means your hands may remain damp for several minutes. What many people do not know is that bacteria is more likely to spread through damp hands rather than dry hands, so making sure your hands are completely dry before leaving the restroom helps prevent illness even further. In busy restrooms paper towel dispensers can run out quickly, leaving people with no other choice than to skip hand drying. Automatic hand drying machine require very little maintenance, and with the development of no-touch technology, there is no need to touch any bacteria-laden surfaces in the process.
Cost: Due to the constant maintenance and refills that come along with paper towel dispensers, automatic hand dryers are cost-effective solutions. Not only must paper towels be refilled, but there are also costs associated with the production and clean-up of paper towels. For example additional trash bags and cleaning products are needed to dispose of the paper towels and reduce the spread of germs through towels left on counter tops.
Waste: Automatic hand drying machine also have more environmental benefits than paper towels. While some paper towels may be made of recycled materials, used paper towels cannot be recycled leading to an increase in waste and a continued destruction of trees for paper production.

1.9 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Dealing with the limitation, the only limitation seen in automatic hand drying machine is that:
1. The machine can accommodate three people simultaneously.

1.10 METHODOLOGY
In the course of carrying this study, numerous sources were used which most of them are by visiting libraries, consulting journal and news papers and online research which Google was the major source that was used.

1.11 PROJECT ORGANISATION
The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work, chapter two presents the literature review of the study, chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.