Design and Fabrication of Canal Cleaner Machine in Replacement for Manual Cleaning

of Canal in Molugan El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

Jayshane E. Kwan Siegfreid Carl S. Abacahin
College of Engineering
Capitol University
Corrales Ext. Cagayan de Oro City
Email: siegfreidcarl@yahoo.com , kjayshane99@yahoo.com

Abstract

Prolonged heavy rain due to two weather disturbances, garbage that clogged drainage

systems, and shanties that stood in waterways all contributed to the flash floods in various

parts of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental. Informal settlers and lack of discipline

of few individuals who have poor waste management in the cities of Misamis Oriental more

particularly in Cagayan de Oro City believed to be the major contributors on the congestion

of garbage along the canals.

This study proposes a system that could minimize the accumulation of garbage by collecting

it through a machine ran by an electric motor. It also eliminates human intervention to clean

canals, which in turn prevents the responsible persons to acquire diseases due to the wastes

thrown into the canal.

The system composed of a collecting mechanism like a rake that will convey the wastes to

the garbage bag. It used a ¼ Hp electric motor and the speed was reduced through a belting

system. The size of the system was designed to fit the existing canal on the desired location.

A test was done to verify its workability and it was found out that the machine was capable of

collecting the floating garbage available in the canal and there were no wastes that passed

beyond the machine.

 I. Introduction

Land-based life of many forms greatly depends on fresh water, which acquired through rain.

It is also responsible for shaping the landscape and bringing nutrients to the ocean. Rain is

essential for survival but in some instant, can cause life to be in danger. Due to

modernization with poor urban planning, people residing in flood prone areas were often

scared of the rain in spite for a fact that there is nothing to be afraid of it. It is when garbage

and other structures obstructs its flow makes it terrifying.

Drainage canal is an important component of upland development. Their potential to push

polluted storm water runoff and fresh water directly into tidal waters requires intermediate

connection to retention ponds or wetlands. This allows natural filtration and assimilation of

pollutants and dampening for freshwater surges prior to discharge into tidal waters. Drainage

canal has been the major concerns in the locality of Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Oriental is a province located in the region of Northern Mindanao in the Philippines.

Its capital and provincial center is the city of Cagayan de Oro, which is governed

independently from the province. It comprises 23 municipalities and 2 component cities,

which are organized into two legislative districts and further subdivided into 424 barangays.

The provincial capital, Cagayan de Oro, is a highly urbanized city and administered

independently from the province. Due to urbanization, problems on drainage systems were

predominant especially during heavy rains. Massive urbanization has also resulted to the

construction of houses along the creek, contributing considerably to the flooding problem.

The DPWH recently completed the elevated bridge and ramp over Bitan-ag Creek. It was

designed to hold more water, but garbage from upstream clogged the creek, causing a dam-

like effect, spilling more water and mud into the national highway. Another factor that
contributed to the floods was the the rampant garbage throwing into waterways, the DPWH

said. Sandra Flores, the DPWH spokesperson in Northern Mindanao said that the clogging of

canals during rainy days due to “cellophane and plastic bags” becomes inevitable. She said

that the DPWH has been campaigning for the proper disposal of garbage and plastics, but it

seems “futile.

In 2011, Typhoon Sendong dumped more than 180 mm of water, causing floods in the city

almost 1,000 died, while 1,500 more had gone missing. Recently, last January 16, 2017 a

flash flood was experienced in the city of Cagayan de Oro. According to Allan Porcadilla, the

City's Disaster Administrator, more than 1,200 families or close to 5,000 individuals have

been evacuated, with 221 families from near the Iponan River. According to Fernando Dy,

Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)

officer-in-charge, 3 of the 4 killed in Misamis Oriental were children. Figure 1 shows the

affected area during the flood.

Figure 1. Flood in Limketkai area last January 16, 2017

A law that prohibits the rain from falling in Cagayan de Oro cannot be imposed and the

declaration of a state of calamity cannot help flood victims if it is done only after the fact.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Northern Mindanao is looking at

widening the creeks in Cagayan de Oro City as among the long-term solutions to flooding,

aside from fast-tracking the upgrading of the drainage system. The fact that there are still

undisciplined people who throw their garbage in the drainage system makes the problem fully

unsolved. Figure 2 shows the congestion of wastes in the drainage.

Figure 2. Heap of garbage clogs Bitan-ag creek, a waterway that cuts across a mall, a state university
and drains toward the shores bordering barangays Macabalan and Lapasan. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

Educating people in the community on how to dispose garbage properly has long been

within the city but wastes thrown in prohibited areas are still prevalent. This study proposes a

solution that could minimize the congestion of garbage in the canals of the cities in the

province. The aim of this study is to remove wastages in the canals by cleaning by the use of

machine. This automated machine will help control or minimize the effects of floods.

The main objective of the study is to create a mechanism that will automatically collects

waste in canal and puts the waste in a trash bag directly. Specifically, the study shall

determine the mass of the waste that the machine can collect and determine whether no

wastes can pass through beyond the machine.

This study will be a significant endeavor in establishing and promoting clean canals

especially in the cities. It will motivate people in innovating machines that can help the

society in the problems that humans are facing like flooding and improper waste disposal. As
observed in some places the cleaning of canals are done by manual labor and it can only be

applied or clean either in just once a month or once a year and sometimes there was none.

The project canal cleaner will automatically screen and collect the garbage or solid waste

easily. The machine itself will work on screening and collecting the garbage and

automatically put it in the garbage storage. This will lessen the time, effort and labor to

collect the garbage manually. The machine can be manually used in every day.

2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The study is conceptualized as a system that can collect the trashes present in canals to avoid

blockage of water flow. Figure 3 shows the conceptual framework of the study.

INPUT
Wastes that are stuck in canals and electrical power source to run the machine.

Process
Design, Fabrication , Installation, Testing and Adjustments of the Canal Cleaner Machine.

Output
Canal Cleaner Machine

3. Methodology

3.1 Research Locale

The fabrication of the mechanism will be done specifically in Cagayan de Oro City at

Capitol University and the testing will be conducted in Molugan El Salvador City.

Figure 4 shows the location where the output is tested.

 To Iligan from
CDO National
Road

a.

Figure 4. (a) location where the machine is tested (b) actual condition of the canal

3.2 Design and Fabrication of the System

Design process includes the survey and determination of the necessary parameters

such as the width and height of the canal, the water level, the accessibility of the power

source and visualization of the water flow as well as the presence of wastes in the canal. After

the necessary parameters were determined, the lay-out of the project was finalized before

fabrication. Figure 5 shows the left side view of the machine. It is composed of a chain and

sprocket drive mechanism framed in ordinary bars. Figure 6 shows the front view of the
machine that is composed of a rake-like mechanism that conveys the trash from the canal to

the trash bag at the back.

Figure 5. Left side view of the machine Figure 6. Front view of the machine
Figure 7 shows the actual machine after it was fabricated.

Figure 6. Actual Photo of the Machine.

3.3 Testing Procedure

The device was installed across the canal so that only water will flow through the

lower. Wastes like bottle, wrappers and plastics etc. floating in canal will be collected

and be automatically put in the trash bag. The main source of the motor to start is

electricity from a host house nearby. The whole set-up was placed accordingly to

achieve optimum performance of the machine. The driving motor was plugged in

upon starting. Figure 7 shows the testing of the machine in Molugan, El Salvador

City.

Figure 7. Operation of the Machine

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The machine ran for 1 hour to test the maximum load the rake can lift. Six plastic

cellophane bags were used with varying mass of 0.25 kg, 0.75 kg, 1kg, 1.25 kg, 1.5 kg

and 2.0 kg. The result was tabulated every load variation. Figure 8 shows the result

whether the mass is acceptable or not as depicted in figure 8. The result shows that in

2kgs cellophane bag load, the driver pulley started to slip disabling the rake to convey

the bag.

FIGURE 8. LOAD CAPACITY

 After the determination of the maximum load capacity, the machine ran for three days

with three hours per day. Figure 9 depicts that after every three hours, the garbage

collected in Day 1 weighs 4 kg, Day 2 and 3 weighs 2 kg.

Mass of Garbage Collected (kg)

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1 2 3

Figure 9. Mass of Garbage Collected per Day for Three Hours Operation

The cost of power consumption of the machine is approximately Php137.77 for one

month service with three hours operation per day and the cost of materials has a total

of Php 9828.00.

5. Conclusion

Based on the data gathered, the researchers advance the following conclusions:

1.) The machine can collect all floating waste like plastic bottles, branch of trees and

anything that is less dense than the water present in the canal but is at least below 2 kilograms

mass.
2.) The canal cleaner mechanism is a useful tool to prevent waste that can stock-up in the

canals or drainage and can cause flooding, So by the use of this machine it will collect and

clean the canal properly without human work.

3. No trash has by-passed the machine.

6. Recommendation

Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the researchers advance the following

recommendations:

1.) Suggest to the local government of the city to shoulder for the power consumption of the

machine and also install photo sensors so that the machine will only operate as long as it

detects waste to be collected. In addition, the main source of the machine must be connected

to the electric post that is near in the drainage.

2.) The machine will run consistently if it operates in a flowing canal and not in a stagnant

canal. The machine is applicable to operate in rainy seasons.

3.) Provide a material on the machine that is lighter than steel so that it will be portable and

corrosion resistant.

5.) Provide small wheels in the bottom part of the machine so that it will be more portable

and takes no hassle if transfer of the machine is needed.