Vorsana CO2 Scrubber

The project goal of the CO2 Scrubber is to demonstrate mechanical separation of the components of flue gas based on molecular weight with the ability to be applied to an industrial scale.

Background
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in flue gas cause many risks for health and environmental concerns. Manufacturers must pay for costly technology that has a high energy and water usage to reduce their current emissions. An effective and low cost way to separate out these harmful compounds is needed for the manufacturing market. The idea behind the counterflow disk method is the heavier, harmful gases will be separated from the lighter, non harmful phases, allowing for the extraction of the harmful phases.

Current Technology

 * Amine Scrubbing which uses liquid solutions to remove CO2 and H2S
 * Mineral and zeolite treatment to reversibly bind CO2
 * Various other chemical treatments

Major Project Goals:

 * Perform fundamental studies on simplified geometry will be conducted to elucidate the minimum g force needed to effectively separate two gases.
 * Run CFD simulations for a model that is similar to Xing JHD 2014
 * Build and test a simplified model, with variables of disk speed, gap size, temperature, pressure, and type of gas.
 * Provide proof of concept

Team Members
{| width="100%" border="2" ! Picture !! Biography !! Discipline Travis Soderquist
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 * Environmental Engineering Student
 * Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
 * I am a senior undergraduate in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering. I am currently participating in an internship with the Industrial Assessment Center working in energy engineering. I plan on going into wastewater treatment in the future. My hobbies include fly fishing, skiing, and everything outdoors.


 * BAE
 * BAE

Josie Flerchinger
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 * Agricultural Engineering Student
 * Hometown: Clarkston, WA
 * I am a senior undergraduate in Agricultural Engineering. My areas of interest include soil and water quality. I currently work for the Water Quality Lab at the University of Idaho and in the future I plan on obtaining a position where I am working to ensure the quality of our resources. My hobbies outside of school include: traveling, snowboarding, hiking and fitness.


 * BAE
 * BAE

Garrett Hall
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 * Mechanical Engineering Student
 * Hometown: Enumclaw, WA
 * Hobbies/Interest: Professionally I enjoy problem solving and machine design with an emphasis on using solid modeling to aid in design. I have used these strengths outside of academics to design and patent a lead free fishing sinker that my wife and I are starting a business around. Outside of engineering, I coached the University of Idaho water polo team for four years, before handing it off to the next coach and stepping into an advisory role this year. In my spare time when I can get it, I enjoy fishing, inventing and billiards.  Plan for the future: Currently I have a maintenance engineering position at The Dalles Dam, lined up for after graduation, with the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a maintenance engineer it is my responsibility to decide when and how components of the dam should be repaired or replaced. However if another position that allowed for me design work were to present itself, I would likely accept it.


 * ME
 * ME