MSGID: 1:317/3 63fd8378   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Researchers uncover new water monitoring technique    
    New method simultaneously monitors clumps and the mixing intensity in a   
   single step    
      
     Date:   
         February 27, 2023   
     Source:   
         Texas A&M University   
     Summary:   
         The new method simultaneously monitors the size and shape of the   
         clumps and the mixing intensity in a single step, in real time,   
         allowing for more accurate measurements. The value of the research   
         lies in the fact that mixing is one of the most energy-consuming   
         processes during water and wastewater purification.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Water is a vital resource, and clean water is a necessity. Texas A&M   
   University researchers have developed a new technique to monitor one of   
   the key processes of purifying water in real time.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Raw water contains microscopic pathogens that are too small to remove   
   during water and wastewater treatment easily. Chemicals are added to form   
   large clumps called flocs, which are easily filtered out. Flocculation   
   is the process used in water treatment to remove suspended particles   
   from the water.   
      
   "Coagulant chemicals need to be added to purify drinking water and   
   remove turbidity (cloudiness) and microbes that are too small to be   
   visible to the naked eye," said Dr. Kuang-An Chang, professor in the   
   Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M.   
      
   But it is crucial to properly mix the water and chemicals so the pathogens   
   properly clump. If mixing is low, clumps won't form. If mixing is too   
   intense, clumps will form but quickly break apart.   
      
   The new method simultaneously monitors the size and shape of the clumps   
   and the mixing intensity in a single step, in real time, allowing for   
   more accurate measurements. The value of the research lies in the fact   
   that mixing is one of the most energy-consuming processes during water   
   and wastewater purification.   
      
   The results of this study were recently published in the journal ACS   
   ES&T Engineering and featured on the cover of its February issue.   
      
   "We developed a brand-new technique to non-intrusively monitor the mixing   
   so that we can precisely control it, quantify heterogeneities within   
   the reactor and potentially optimize it to create flocs of desired   
   characteristics while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption,"   
   he said.   
      
   This first-of-its-kind technique can be used to improve flocculation,   
   meaning successfully removing contaminants by growing large enough clumps   
   while minimizing the energy used.   
      
   "All previous research did this in two steps," Chang said. "In the old   
   approach, first, artificial particles of known characteristics would be   
   added to monitor mixing. Then, a second experiment would be done with   
   'identical' settings and the actual clumps would be monitored.   
      
   "We essentially halved the workload and improved precision because there   
   are always statistical differences any time you do two experiments."   
   This interdisciplinary project was a collaboration between Chang, who   
   focuses on fluid dynamics, and Dr. Shankar Chellam, professor of civil   
   and environmental engineering and A.P. and Florence Wiley Professor III,   
   who focuses on water/wastewater treatment.   
      
   Three graduate students performed the experimental work and associated   
   numerical analysis: Kaleisha Miller, Kyungho Kim and Wei-Liang Chuang,   
   who is now an assistant professor at National Sun Yat-sen University   
   in Taiwan.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Nature_of_Water # Nuclear_Energy # Energy_Technology   
                   # Physics   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Water # Drought_Research # Environmental_Issues #   
                   Pollution   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Brackish_water o Planetary_boundary_layer o Estuary o   
             Quantum_entanglement o Renewable_energy o Desalination o Sewer   
             o Sulfur_hexafluoride   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by Texas_A&M_University. Original   
   written by Alyson Chapman.   
      
   Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Kaleisha Miller, Wei-Liang Chuang, Kyungho Kim, Kuang-An Chang,   
         Shankararaman Chellam. Simultaneous In Situ Characterization of   
         Turbulent Flocculation and Reactor Mixing Using Image Analysis   
         and Particle Image Velocimetry in Unison. ACS ES&T Engineering,   
         2022; 3 (2): 295 DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.2c00348   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230227161344.htm   
      
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