Water reuse in the power sector: experimental evaluation of tradeoffs
This summer, I will work closely with students to design and build a bench-scale, membrane-based desalination system (i.e., reverse osmosis (RO)). We will use this system to (i) evaluate the performance of novel water treatment schemes and to (ii) describe the fundamental mechanisms involved in the treatment processes. The bench-scale system will collect data online and in real-time using transducers/transmitters and LabView software. The students will learn to write LabView code, which is a visual coding software, to automate operation and data collection. They will also gain knowledge and experience in system building, physiochemical processes (as applied to water treatment), and technical writing.
The overall goal for this summer is to determine the optimal operating conditions required to maximize water reuse in the power sector during wastewater treatment. The power sector accounts for over 40% of all freshwater use in the US, so increasing water reuse is vital in securing water resources.
For those interested in applying to the Bahena Water Research Group, please respond to the following prompt: Please describe your interests in environmental engineering and water treatment. Are there any skills you have previously acquired that you can leverage in this summer experience? What skills do you hope to gain from this summer experience? (please limit response to <400 words)
As an experimentalist, I will work closely with students to train them in hands-on experimental work. I plan to meet with students every morning for a check-in meeting to review their progress and to discuss their plans for the day. At the start of the summer, I plan to work with students nearly every day in the lab as I train them in proper lab protocols. After some time, I plan to remove myself from the lab so that they can feel a sense of ownership in their work. My primary goal as their mentor is to help them build their self-efficacy as researchers. My secondary goal is to expose them to the diverse world of water treatment and how engineers can provide tangible solutions facing the environment (e.g., climate change). The work in this lab lies at the heart of the water-energy nexus: evaluating methods to reduce the energy demand of water treatment systems (potable and non-potable) and evaluating systems that can optimize water use in power facilities.