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I worked with four other group members to conduct research on foam filtration. We ran multiple experiments using different parameters (pore per inch count, raw water approach velocity, foam depth, alum coating, etc.) in order to determine the optimal parameters for maximum performance and least effluent turbidity. After realizing that not much work has been completed on studying the effects of foam filtration, we decided also to write a thorough research paper on our findings. Essentially we discovered that foam filtration units are not appropriate for use at a large scale. But rather, sand filtration may work best with AguaClara's water treatment plant. Hence, we have decided to begin focusing our efforts on foam filtration as a point-of-use system.
Fall 2010 Contributions
I am currently working again on spent time working with the Foam Filtration Team once again. This time, we are focusing focused our efforts on designing a point-of-use foam filtration unit.
My part consists consisted of designing the middle of the unit, the foam filtration body itself. Given the present design, the filtration unit will consist The design focused on a filtration unit that consisted of a polyvinyl chloride (pvc) pipe with a diameter that varies varied based on the needed volume of filtered water. The foam will Foam was to rest at the bottom of the pipe and orifices will filter column on a screen. Additionally, one orifice would be drilled into the top and bottom of the column to let water enter and exit the filtration unit respectively. These The orifices will be were designed so that the flow through the filter is would be constant (meaning that the inlet flow is equivalent to the exit flow). The clean water will would then be collected in a bucket located below the filtration apparatuschlorinated and sent to a distribution tank.
I also created a MathCAD file that allows allowed the user to input values for approach velocity, number of people getting water from the filter, and average volume of water consumed by one person per day. With these values, the program calculates calculated the necessary diameter of the filter . The program looks at available diameters for purchase from various online websites and finds the closest diameter available at an equal or greater dimension. In addition, given the user's input of how many orifices he or she would like to drill into the bottom of the filtration unit, the file calculates the diameter of each orifice needed in order to control flow through the filter. Using this diameter and information of available drill bit sizes for purchase, the file outputs the closest drill bit diameter of equal dimension available to buy.required diameter of the inlet and exit orifices. Another file was created to determine the total head loss through our filtration system, given specific dimensions and number of elbows.
After combining and constantly revising After combining my and my teammates designs (inlet + body + outletfiltration unit, chlorination doser, and holding tanks), our group hopes managed to finalize a design schematic for this unit, submit a financial aid proposal to EPA's P3 competition, and run experiments to determine our unit's effectiveness as a point-of-use system. Toward the end of the semester, we also began looking into effects of layering foam with different pore sizes.