Solar Panels Over the Central Arizona Project (CAP)

Team 23112

Project Goal

Develop a model that can be used to determine if solar energy covers for the CAP canal are economically and environmentally worthwhile.

There is a growing need to find creative ways to conserve water in Arizona. The Colorado River, which supplies the water for Phoenix and Tucson through the CAP canal, is currently in a Tier 2 drought, causing Arizona’s water allotment to be cut by 21%. This project aims to evaluate how solar covers placed over the CAP canal could suppress evaporation and offset the energy costs associated with moving the water along 336 miles of canal.

The model allows the user to input seasonal weather trends and data corresponding to any section of canal and calculates the suppressed evaporation losses and energy collection. The team applied principles of heat and mass transfer, as well as photovoltaic energy collection, for estimation. The photovoltaic collectors also contain no toxic or hazardous materials, to abide by requests from farmers who use the CAP canal water.

Bio-Aviation Fuel

Team 23113

Project Goal

Design a process for manufacturing aviation fuel using little or no fossil fuel precursors.

The team designed a process to produce aviation fuel from an algae feedstock. The process includes growing of algae, fermentation of algae products and conversion to aviation-grade fuel.

TEAM MEMBERS

Spencer J Babyak, Chemical Engineering

David William Czirjak, Chemical Engineering

Jack W Hughes, Chemical Engineering

Tyler Aaron Pearson, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Kimberly L Ogden

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Avelino E Saez

TEAM MEMBERS

Juliana C Baltram, Chemical Engineering

Eugenio Castillo, Chemical Engineering

Osama Almusallam Musallam, Chemical Engineering

Dorian J Werner, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Adrianna Brush

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Chris Dahl

TEAM MEMBERS

Kyle Garette Bartell, Chemical Engineering

Jesus Adan Chavez, Chemical Engineering

Garrett Tellez Romero, Chemical Engineering

Alfredo Valdez, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTOR

Adrianna Brush

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Farhang Shadman

Wafer Rinse Chamber Ultrapure Water (UPW) Recycling Stream

Team 23114

TEAM MEMBERS

Izzy Marie Beeley, Chemical Engineering

Shane Shane Klemish, Chemical Engineering

Sophia Qamar, Chemical Engineering

Greyson Alexander St Pierre, Chemical Engineering

COLLEGE MENTORS

Kimberly L Ogden, Adrianna Brush

SPONSOR ADVISOR

Marvin J Slepian

PROJECT GOAL

Design a reuse process for wastewater to make a semiconductor plant more sustainable and reduce water utility costs.

The team designed a membrane filtration process to reuse wastewater from semiconductor rinse operations. The goal was to reduce overall water usage for semiconductor manufacturing facilities, helping them save money on utility costs in the long term.

Dial-Assist

Team 23115

PROJECT GOAL

Create a recyclable system for dialysis machines.

Hemodialysis functions to remove the build up of salts, water and toxins from the body when a patient’s kidneys are not working adequately. For many patients, receiving hemodialysis treatments means traveling to a hospital or dialysis center several times each week for hours at a time. With an increase in remote healthcare technology, hemodialysis has expanded to the home. Within the hospital or home setting, hemodialysis is still a water-intensive process that results in wastewater disposal.

Dial-Assist supplements commercial portable hemodialysis systems by recycling the effluent wastewater, also known as dialysate, to minimize the need for a tap water connection and increase patients’ independence. The system consists of a sorbent canister to remove salts and uremic toxins and UV sterilization to destroy bacteria. The effluent dialysate is recycled to a purity level that allows it to be reused by the patient once the prescribed amount of salts and other dialysate components are re-added. The entirety of the device fits in a compact container above the portable dialysis system. Dial-Assist will aid in the progression of more independent hemodialysis treatments so patients with kidney disease may have a higher quality of life.