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- Continue the effort to create an AutoCAD video that will show the assembly of the plant with descriptions of each part. This video could serve as the documentation that gets sent to a user who designs a plant with the Design Tool that explains the technology behind each piece.
Plate Settler Spacing
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Challenges for Fall 2009
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and BeyondCurrent Subteam Leader: Rachel PhilipsonNumber of team members needed: 3-4Important team member skills:Fluid Dynamics BackgroundSelf-motivatedCurious studentEager to learnChallengesRun experiments to test floc roll-upContinue investigating the velocity gradient by varying the floc density and plate settler spacingDevelop a way to theoretically model and calculate the particle size that will roll up the tube settlerInvestigating the same effect of influent parameters such as natural organic matter, pH, and alkalinity on floc performance and plate settler performanceVelocity gradient studies on an influent turbidity with natural organic matterThe effects of biological flocsContinue to investigate the filter foam
Chemical Dose Controller
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Floating Flocs
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Challenges for Fall 2009Subteam Leader:Number of team members needed: 4Important team member skills:MathCADProcess ControllerFluid DynamicsChallengesNon-Linear CDCDetermine whether a single or multiple orifices should be used to connect rapid mix chamber and flocculation for optimum energy dissipation, head loss, and float sizing.We have tentative results in the mathCAD file however, we did not have enough time to optimize the functions created.Construct non-linear CDC and run experiments to evaluate design and ensure experimental results align with theoretical results.For additional challenges, seesuggested challengesour team did not address this semester.
Floating Flocs
Subteam Leader:Tanya or anyone with previous knowledge of floating flocs problem
Number of team members needed:3-4 membersImportant team member skills:Process Controller (can be trained)Microsoft ExcelMathCADChallengesDetails of the experiments that have been planned can be found on theFloating Flocs Fall 2009 Tentative Experimentspage.
Possibly redesign the experimental setup to better simulate the water quality at actual AC plants by adding a clay source or surfactant source.Confirm the cause of the floating floc problem by running experiments with the Plate Settler Team's apparatus. Two experiments have been planned in order to test whether the cause of the floating floc problem is bubbles adhering to flocs or whether bubbles form on flocs and lift them to the surface. It is also possible that both of these mechanisms are responsible for floating floc.If the cause is confirmed to be bubble formation on or adherence to flocs due to supersaturated water the team's tentative experimental plans include:
Run experiments using mild surfactants to witness their effects on bubble formation. Currently, the team is considering using a dilute soap solution as a surfactant. Details as to the concentration of soap solution have yet to be determined. This will likely be based on a conversion of organic matter in the water of AguaClara plants.Run experiments using hydrophobic surfaces with or without surfactants to see the effects on bubble formation. The details of these experiments have yet to be determined. Currently, literature searches are being performed to find cost-effective hydrophobic surfaces to test. It has been found that plant surfaces may exhibit hydrophobic properties due to their waxy coating.Developing a new mechanism to either remove gas, stop bubble formation, or stop floating flocs themselves. Currently, the team is looking at a mechanism that involves using lamella or something similar to trap air pockets in the water. These air pockets would be knocked around by eddies and may collect dissolved gas in the process.One possibility to consider is whether flocs that are floating can be redirected or captured so that they are not in the effluent water.(I doubt this can be done.)Since achieving gas removal has been proven to be difficult, putting some time into considering other solutions may be worthwhile.
If the cause of floating flocs is shown to be something other than supersaturated water, the team may still focus on stopping flocs from floating; however, other approaches may be developed that are specifically tailored to actual cause of the problem.
Outreach
Challenges for Outreach Fall 2009FundraisingGroup Leader:N/ANumber of team members needed:Minimum of 2-3Important team member skills:Good written and oral skillsAbility to work closely with P.R. when finding Fundraising ContactsGood analytical skills for choosing grants and reviewing previous budgetsAdaptability to the different requests of different organizations when looking at Requests for Proposals (Grant Writing term meaning grant application)ChallengesSubmit the Ford Foundation Online FormPursue contacts within Ford Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationAnalyze former AguaClara budgets for the budget update.Continue working on theGrant Text ModulesPage.Update theGrant Short Listas grants are submittedPublic RelationsGroup Leader:N/ANumber of team members needed:4-6Important team member skills:Adobe Photoshop to aid graphics designAdobe Illustrator to create brochure layoutEffective communication skillsLeadership skillsKnowledge of advertisement, business, media communicationsCreativity and ingenuityChallengesGet more team members involved with presentationsTry to pull together a fact sheet for presenter. Those would be good additional info to present other than the ones already on the slides. demo plant suite case maintenanceEdit the Wiki to weed out outdated informationUpdate the brochure with new projectsEnsure continued bi-annual updates through newslettersEnforce the standardized Wiki format by constant updating (not just at the end of the year)Translate Wiki into Spanish including navigation menu as well as contentAssign specific subgroups within PR such that different types of PR can be accessed more efficiently. I.E possibly set up subgroups of PR that deal with local pr, state/national pr, campus pr, student assembly/RSO/greek life/ sports team pr.Broaden the medium for pr. I.E. radio, newspapers, magazines, journals, pamphlets, brochures, banners, t-shirts, stickers, posters,etc.Establish a calendar of pr events in August that seeks to promote the project itself while incorporating pr events that surround fundraising, presentations, etc.Draw in students from business, entrepreneurial majors, marketing, advertising, etc.Integrate the PR team with the AguaClara student group by establishing it as a subset of the group itself.Work with Partnership for Honduran Health on campus to continue planning their health survey of our technology.
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Outreach
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Rapid Mix
The rapid mix research project's goal is to determine if inadequate mixing in the rapid mix unit is responsible for the residual turbidity at the end of the AguaClara treatment process. This can be accomplished by adding some additional turbidity after the rapid mix process to see if those colloids have a significant effect on the settled water turbidity. If a large fraction of the colloids that didn't go through the rapid mix end up in the effluent, then it suggests that colloids that aren't properly exposed to aluminum hydroxide in the rapid mix process could also end up in the effluent. The next phase of this research would be to experiment with different rapid mix designs.
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