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On the side, as my 4540 capstone design project, I also began designing an EStaRS filter using inverted U-shaped pipes instead of slotted pipes and explored alternate geometry designs to eliminate the use of slotted pipes and their associated problems with clogging. The work that I did with Siwei Sun and Hui Zhi on this side project has now evolved into the fully-fledged StaRS FInE research team.
During the spring 2015 semester, I worked on the brand-new Grit Removal Innovative Technologies (GRIT) team with Annie Ding to design ways of removing large grit particles with plate settlers before or during the flocculation process. Our final detailed design for a compact grit removal unit within the first flocculator channel (a "Channel GRU") virtually eliminated the need for an entrance tank, and has been sent to our partner engineers in San Juan Guaritas, Honduras for construction in a 4 L/s plant!