The increasing demand for cloud storage has resulted in major growth for the data center industry. Cloud service providers, such as Microsoft, generate large amounts of heat at data center, which must be removed through cooling. Microsoft currently removes heat from its data centers by cycling water between cooling towers and data centers, but contaminant buildup can cause fouling in the water. This process is not sustainable because there is no current reclamation of contaminated cooling water discharge.The team’s design uses a system of membrane distillation units that use low-grade heat from the data centers and cooling potential from a local freshwater source. Design considerations included cost comparisons with current water treatment process, total utility usage required to power the units, and water purity.

Dynamic simulations can improve early stages of research and testing and can be used to help operators train, allowing them more freedom to learn from mistakes.
Integrated Modeling of Dynamic Distillation Simulations, or iMODDS, is a fully functional distillation column simulation that communicates with a distributed control system. The simulation automatically responds to input and output communications from the control system like a real distillation unit while minimizing run times. The simulation uses the Skogestad method for dynamic distillation. The distillation column was modeled using the rigorous tray model involving a linearized approach to tray hydraulics using Laplace transforms. The project encompasses only a single stage in ethanol production: the rectifying column and associated equipment. The simulation has the ability to interpret inputs and parameters, and communicates the appropriate outputs to control system software.

Low density and compression difficulty make direct piping of natural gas over long distances inefficient and costly. The liquid form of natural gas is favored by international importers due to its energy density and ease of transport. However, liquid natural gas must be vaporized before it can be used as an energy source. The essence of this design is to create a terminal capable of vaporizing 1.05 billion cubic feet of liquid natural gas per day for continuous pipeline transmission. The liquid gas is offloaded from tankers to storage tanks that maintain cryogenic conditions of -259 degrees Fahrenheit. Some liquid gas in these tanks vaporizes spontaneously, and a portion of this excess gas is routed back to the tankers, while the rest of it is recondensed for vaporization. Liquid natural gas from the storage tanks is compressed to 1,350 pounds per square inch absolute before vaporization to prepare for requisite piping conditions of 1,250 pounds per square inch and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat for vaporization is supplied from the ambient environment, using either seawater or air (both options are explored in this design). In winter months, ambient conditions provide insufficient heat, so a portion of natural gas is burned to make up for this difference.

In urban areas, sewer systems and water reclamation facilities are common solutions, but are not feasible in areas that are remote of have low population density. A waste-handling system was designed for remote areas that focuses on increasing standard of living and sanitation. These remote restrooms include a constructed bathroom with separation toilets and a water source, a storage system, a transportation system, and a waste-handling system. The waste-handling system has two modes: one for solid waste and one for urine. Black soldier flies are used to cultivate the solid waste, and ammonia production is used to recycle the urine into fertilizer. The restrooms are designed to run year-round and easily adapt to environmental changes while being low waste,low cost, low energy and low maintenance.

A still is used to heat fermented starches and produce a high-proof “shine.” The shine is then diluted with water or flavor additives. Contemporary vodka manufacturers use a time-intensive batch process to infuse their product with flavor.To develop a rapid infusion process for the liquor, this project uses vacuum distillation to obtain the high-proof shine, which requires less energy to evaporate ethyl alcohol. Impurities, such as methyl alcohol, are also easier to separate from the mixture with this method, unlike with column distillation, in which impurities are on the top tray and tend to decrease the purity and flavor of vodka. Another positive aspect of vacuum distillation is the higher recovery of ethyl alcohol from the fermented mash –above 98 percent, which is higher than column distillation’s 92-96 percent recovery rate. The infusion process is based on a packed bed reactor in which vodka flows through a pipe full of fruit that gives the desired flavor. Typically, the infusion process is done in a vessel full of fruit, and then low-proof vodka is added and left for days until the desired flavor is achieved. A packed bed reactor process can take less time and uses high-proof vodka to accelerate infusion. The new process will reduce water and electricity usage, and re-purpose or recycle depleted feed-stocks to address sustainability concerns.

The focus of the design effort was on production and manufacturing processes for liquid oxygen and a custom solid propellant. The liquid oxygen manufacturing was modeled as a tonnage plant with a high-output capacity of liquid oxygen to meet market demand. The solid propellant design was modeled after a propellant researched by the UA student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. This propellant is made of ammonium perchlorate, aluminum powder, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and dioctyl adipate. The solid propellant was mixed and degassed under a vacuum, and cast in tubes for later use. It was validated through a static fire conducted with a single fuel grain on a remote test range. Data was collected with a pressure transducer and load cell to verify preliminary calculations for the specific impulse and thrust of the fuel. Economic analysis of the cost to build and operate both plants was completed to show economic viability.

A preliminary cost analysis comparing two different sludge-handling processes to conventional anaerobic digestion was conducted. The wastewater treatment plant consists of a primary clarifier, secondary clarifier, a two-stage biological nutrient removal process, and filtration and disinfection process. Team 18106’s plant design contains chemical and environmental engineering applications such as calculating mass balances, sizing equipment based on flow rates, filtration processes, disinfection processes and optimization. The final design was simulated through Biowin, a wastewater program commonly used in the industry. A detailed preliminary design, cost analysis, and 20-year life cycle cost have been completed for the best overall sludge-handling process and the wastewater treatment plant design.

A nonbiological process and scalable apparatus were developed using physicochemical and catalytic reaction to produce selected carbon-based sugar molecules using only carbon dioxide as a carbon source. The process consists of a multi-step reaction pathway in which carbon dioxide molecules are photochemically converted to formaldehyde, and then catalyzed via a formose reaction scheme to produce four to seven carbon sugars. Complex sugars such as D-glucose and six-carbon sugars (hexoses) are most useful to NASA, so the process includes a separation phase in which six-and seven-carbon chains are output as products and smaller molecules are recycled as substrates to the formose reaction to form longer carbon chains. Multiple design alternatives were evaluated to determine which reaction conditions produced the greatest yield and efficiency. The system was designed to have low power, mass and volume requirements, and to be feasible for future space missions.

Water reuse is being explored to meet increasing demand for sustainable potable water. Tucson, Arizona, already treats its wastewater, but releases it into the Santa Cruz river to replenish the natural reservoir. The city draws primarily from the Central Arizona Project to fulfill potable water demand.Social, economic and environmental impact analyses were performed to provide the best process. The facility designed in this project is optimized to treat Agua Nueva’s effluent with the latest treatment processes and computer modeling, and incorporates desalination and
advanced oxidation to lower salinity and trace organic compounds below drinking water standards. The removed contaminants are concentrated, separated from the water, and discharged from the facility.

The team designed and constructed a microbial fuel cell that harnesses the energy produced through the oxidation of glucose by E. coli. Experimentation involved two key parameters of the microbial fuel cell: optical density of the bacteria and the electrode material. Different optical densities were tested using different anode and cathode materials to find the optimal energy output for the cell. The selected design maximizes electron transfer between the microbes and the anode to produce the most electricity to power a 40-watt equivalent LED bulb.