Project ISF: Pulse Flow Reverse Osmosis System for home scale use Program DUIRI - Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship Term Spring 2025 Status Accepted Research Area Water quality, water security Description Reverse osmosis is the most efficient method of purifying and recycling contaminated water. However, reverse osmosis is a process that requires high pressure systems, and somewhat involved flushing cycles of the membranes used to separate clean water from brackish water. There is a need for a streamlined process for the filtration of water, so the process is more continuous and efficient. This project is focused on the design, prototyping and testing of a Pulse Flow Reverse Osmosis test bench for the application of recirculating water in a home style prototype. The system will be tested by examining a variety of properties such as water pressure, temperature, flow, water chemistry. The goals of this project are centered around studying the feasibility of implementation of a novel and efficient reverse osmosis system for water purification and recycling to be used in indoor home and portable systems. Supervisor Jose M Garcia Bravo Mentor Ali Naderi Beni Type of work required The student who joins this lab will be expected to attend weekly lab meetings and sub-group meetings. They will be focusing on prototype development and evaluation. Contributions will include 3D CAD modeling, system control and data acquisition design, membrane material fabrication and testing, and ample opportunities to assist with technical writing efforts (journal articles, conference papers, grant submissions, and patent application). Once the prototype device is developed and optimized, the student will be able to assist with experiments and will be taught to run some of the experiments on their own as well. Websites Qualifications - Experience with CAD modeling (CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, etc.) is necessary - Experience with LabVIEW control and data acquisition is beneficial. Course-related experience is also very helpful. - Some background in prototype development/manufacturing will be preferred - Experience with MATLAB and Engineering Equation Solver will be useful for assisting in modeling and troubleshooting. - Student should have a strong interest in fluid mechanics along with a general motivation to pursue research problems related to energy and sustainability - Familiarity with fluid power systems is not required, but would highly desired. Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)