Alexandra Schwab's Individual Contribution Page
Fall 2014
This semester, I am on the StaRS Theory team. The goal of this team is to create a mathematical model to describe the functions of the sand filter. By creating a mathematical model, we will know how long the filter can run before it fails. As a result, the plant operators will know when to backwash the system. This is important because if the filter is backwashed too early, water is wasted; if the filter is backwashed too late, people will receive water that has not been completely filtered.
In order to create this mathematical model, we are currently analyzing the data from last semester so that we can try to replicate this data ourselves. After this, we will design and test experiments to find relationships between head loss, effluent turbidity, pore storage volume, and amount of coagulant added.
I am also the data coordinator of the StaRS Theory team. As data coordinator, I ensure that our data is organized efficiently, and I preview our data prior to team meetings in order to facilitate discussion.