Global Engineering and Research Lab at MIT is dedicated to solving humanitarian problems abroad. As an undergraduate researcher, I worked with staff and graduate students to create a water pump dynamometer. Its purpose is to characterize large pumps to maximize efficiency in electrodialysis water desalination.
I designed and created a frame with a linear actuator that will move a water valve cyclically to measure the backpressure and water speed per pump at different velocities.
I programmed a logic computer (PLC) and designed a box to control the dynamometer based on the place of the linear actuator. It has an automatic mode to step by velocity of the motor and valve opening, as well as an automatic mode.
Research Poster:
My lab mate and I presented our separate research in characterizing electrodialysis pumps at high pressure and creating more efficient home-scale desalination at the Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition (MERE) Conference and got runner-up undergraduate researchers!