Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Project Title:
Project Number:
(assigned by MSD)
Primary Customer:
(provide name, phone number, and email)
Pulsed Corona Water Purification
16411
Dr. Ali Ogut adoeme@rit.edu
Dr. Roman Press
585-475-2542 romanpress@yahoo.com
585-317-3595
Sponsor(s):
(provide name, phone number, email, and amount of support)
Dr. Ali Ogut
Preferred Start Term: Fall 2015 adoeme@rit.edu
Dr. Roman Press
585-475-2542 romanpress@yahoo.com
585-317-3595
Faculty Champion:
(provide name and email)
Other Support:
Dr. Ali Ogut
As applicable
Project Guide:
(assigned by MSD)
Edward Hanzlik
Prepared By
July 2015
Date
Received By Date
Items marked with a * are required, and items marked with a
†
are preferred if available, but we can work with the proposer on these.
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

Project Information
* Overview:
The proposed effort is to develop a prototype spark-discharge (or non-thermal plasma streamers) system for the treatment of community drinking water against existing and/or externally introduced pathogens and other microorganisms. The pulsed spark discharge in water event is expected to locally destroy all microorganisms and render the water past it safe for consumption. The process is environmentally friendly, introducing no chemicals and not changing the nominal consistency of water. No negative environmental impacts are anticipated during use.
Disposal following use will not require any special care. The system will be deployed in series with existing water supply piping and will utilize a pulsed spark discharge method of operation
The key objective of the proposed effort is to leverage automotive spark-discharge technology to develop a pulsed spark discharge system that will operate in water for the effective destruction of microorganisms, including chlorineresistant pathogens. Our approach is to utilize well known and well developed automotive ignition system technology for fuel ignition by high voltage sparks.
A prototype system will be developed and then tested under relevant conditions to evaluate its performance and its viability as an alternative means to generate clean water for consumption. The leverage of proven spark-discharge technology for developing the system is expected to result in a device that is robust, durable, easy to maintain and affordable. Key technical questions to be addressed during the effort will include:

The behavior and operational efficiency of the automotive grade ignition system for pulsed spark generation under water;

Effectiveness in comparison to other methods, such as UV, and operational flexibility to handle large water throughput for use in large community based water supply systems.

Learn/develop the biological techniques for pathogen behavior analysis under spark plasma streamers

Evaluate necessity of filter usage for deposit collections

Evaluate electrodes durability
If this is a follow-on project, please include a link/reference to the prior project(s) here.
This the first MSD project.
* Preliminary Customer Requirements (CR):
What attributes does the customer seek in the final project? Each CR should map to one or more
ER (see below).

Water purification system for personal use; treat 1 gallon / hour

Prototype have to destroy common water borne pathogens (list of specific pathogens will be provided by customer)

Portable, easy to transport design

13.6V DC (in use have to be powered by automotive battery)

Design to be based on automotive components where possible

Time for destroying water borne pathogens should not exceed 5 sec.

Literature review and proposal for effective and quick water biological analysis

Literature review including summary of existing water purification techniques.
†
Functional Decomposition (will not be given to the students, but will be provided to the team’s guide for reference)
:
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

What functionality will be delivered in order to satisfy the customer requirements? This may be in the form of a list of functions, a function tree or a FAST diagram.
* Preliminary Engineering Requirements (ER):
Include both metrics and specifications. Each ER should map to one or more CRs (see above).
Metrics: what quantities will be measured in order to verify success?
Specifications: what is the target value of the metric that the team should design to?
* Constraints:
List any external factors that limit the selection of alternatives, e.g., allowable footprint, budget, required use of legacy hardware/software.

Customers would like use automotive hardware for the corona generation.

Team will need support on determining initial and post processing concentrations of unwanted water borne materials.

Team is limited to the energy storage in a car battery.
Dr. Ogut and Dr. Press have supplied the following conceptual elements for aspects of the
Corona discharge water purification project.
†
Potential Concepts: (provided to the team’s guide for reference)
Power System Concept:
Insulated tube
Ignition Coil 1
Power
Supply
13.5 VDC
Distributor
Actuator
Example system hardware
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Ignition coil 2
HV Electrode
Adjustable
Electrode
Treated Water
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

Flow Loop Concept:
Electrodes
Filter
Pump
Contaminated
Water
High Voltage Corona
Source
Treated
Water
Biological Testing Biological Testing
* Project Deliverables:
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

Minimum requirements:

Working prototype that can process and yield 1 gallon / hour of potable water in 2” transparent tube

Comparative summary of existing water purification techniques

Water biological analysis technique

Feasibility Calculations: mass flow rate of water as a function of water pressure, corona parameters in water

All design documents (e.g., concepts, analysis, electrodes configuration, pulsed corona parameters, detailed drawings/schematics, BOM, test results)

Technical paper clearly documenting the project achievements and next steps

Presentation poster

All teams finishing during the spring term are expected to participate in ImagineRIT
Additional required deliverables:

List here, if applicable
†
Budget Information:
Dr. Ogut and EET will provide $ 750 for project budget. They will also supply some project materials.
* Intellectual Property:
The confidentiality of any data or information is required by EET. At this time, all intellectual property belongs to EET. However, this project has opportunity for innovative thinking.
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

Project Resources
†
Required Resources (besides student staffing):
Describe the resources necessary for successful project completion. When the resource is secured, the responsible person should initial and date to acknowledge that they have agreed to provide this support. We assume that all teams with ME/ISE students will have access to the ME
Machine Shop and all teams with EE students will have access to the EE Senior Design Lab, so it is not necessary to list these! Limit this list to specialized expertise, space, equipment, and materials.
Faculty list individuals and their area of expertise (people who can provide specialized knowledge unique to your project, e.g., faculty you will need to consult for more than a basic technical question during office hours)
Dr. Ali Ogut technical project consultation
Professor George Slack- high voltage power supply and safety
Initial/ date
Environment (e.g., a specific lab with specialized equipment/facilities, space for very large or oily/greasy projects, space for projects that generate airborne debris or hazardous gases, specific electrical requirements such as 3-phase power)
LAB SPACE: need place to store, process, and test contaminated water
Equipment (specific computing, test, measurement, or construction equipment that the team will need to borrow, e.g., CMM, SEM, )
Evaluating the Effectivity of Pathogen destruction; team will need support on how to test.
Materials (materials that will be consumed during the course of the project, e.g., test samples from customer, specialized raw material for construction, chemicals that must be purchased and stored)
Contaminated water
Other
Initial/ date
Initial/ date
Initial/ date
Initial/ date
†
Anticipated Staffing By Discipline:
Indicate the requested staffing for each discipline, along with a brief explanation of the associated activities. “Other” includes students from any department on campus besides those explicitly listed. For example, we have done projects with students from Industrial Design,
Business, Software Engineering, Civil Engineering Technology, and Information Technology. If you have recruited students to work on this project (including student-initiated projects), include their names here, as well!
Dept. # Req. Expected Activities
BME
CE
EE 3 1.
High voltage discharge circuitry, 2. 12V DCc conversion to high voltage, 3. Electrical design aspects of material, probe shape and
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

ISE
ME
1
3
Other 1 geometry
1.
Overall system integration, 2 Test methods to demonstrate effectivity of the various probe options
1.
Design of the variable rate, testable flow path, 2. Mechanical design of the high voltage probes; design, build and test of different probe shapes, materials, and geometries. 3. Overall system integration
1. Biological water content analysis
* Skills Checklist:
Indicate the sills or knowledge that will be needed by students working on this project. Please use the following scale of importance:
1=must have
2=helpful, but not essential
3=either a very small part of the project, or relates to a “bonus” feature blank = not applicable to this project
Mechanical Engineering
ME Core Knowledge
1 3D CAD
Matlab programming
1 Basic machining
2D stress analysis
2D static/dynamic analysis
Thermodynamics
1 Fluid dynamics (CV)
LabView
Statistics
1 Materials selection
ME Elective Knowledge
Finite element analysis
Heat transfer
2 Modeling of electromechanical & fluid systems
Fatigue and static failure criteria
1 Machine elements
Aerodynamics
Computational fluid dynamics
Biomaterials
Vibrations
IC Engines
GD&T
1 Linear Controls
Composites
Robotics
Other (specify)
Electrical Engineering
EE Core Knowledge
1 Circuit Design (AC/DC converters, regulators, amplifies, analog filter design, FPGA logic design,
EE Elective Knowledge (not necessary) sensor bias/support circuitry)
1 Power systems: selection, analysis, power budget Digital signal processing
System analysis: frequency analysis (Fourier,
Laplace), stability, PID controllers, modulation schemes, VCO’s & mixers, ADC selection
1 Circuit build, test, debug (scope, DMM, function generator
Digital filter design and implementation
1 Microcontroller selection/application
Wireless: communication protocol, component selection
1 Board layout
Matlab
PSpice
1 Programming: C, Assembly
1
Antenna selection (simple design)
Communication system front end design
Algorithm design/simulation
Embedded software design/implementation
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015

EE Core Knowledge
Electromagnetics: shielding, interference
Industrial & Systems Engineering
ISE Core Knowledge
1 Statistical analysis of data: regression
1 Materials science
Materials processing, machining lab
Facilities planning: layout, mat’l handling
Production systems design: cycle time, throughput, assembly line design, manufacturing process design
Ergonomics: interface of people and equipment
(procedures, training, maintenance)
Math modeling: OR (linear programming, simulation)
Project management
Engineering economy: Return on Investment
Quality tools: SPC
Production control: scheduling
Shop floor IE: methods, time studies
Computer tools: Excel, Access, AutoCAD
Programming (C++)
Biomedical Engineering
BME Core Knowledge
Matlab
Aseptic lab techniques
Gel electrophoresis
Linear signal analysis and processing
Fluid mechanics
Biomaterials
Labview
Simulation (Simulink)
System physiology
Biosystems process analysis (mass, energy balance)
Cell culture
Computer-based data acquisition
Probability & statistics
Numerical & statistical analysis
EE Elective Knowledge (not necessary)
Other (specify)
ISE Elective Knowledge
1 Design of Experiment
1 Systems design – product/process design
2 Data analysis, data mining
Manufacturing engineering
DFx: manufacturing, assembly, environment, sustainability
Rapid prototyping
1 Safety engineering
Other (specify)
BME Elective Knowledge
Medical image processing
COMSOL software modeling
Medical visualization software
Biomaterial testing/evaluation
Tissue culture
Advanced microscopy
Microfluidic device fabrication and measurement
Other (specify)
Note. All project participants to be instructed in safety.
RIT – Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Multidisciplinary Senior Design
Project Readiness Package
Template Revised Jan 2015