Catalytic Converters

Catalytic Converters

Catalytic Converters

05/02/26

“How can we convert harmful emission gases into safer ones?”

Combustion activity may release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and hydrocarbons. However, what if we were to create a machine that uses a catalyst to turn these gases into something safer? Wel, this exists in the form of Catalytic Converters. Combustion exhaust gas first pases through a reducing part of the converter where nitrogen oxides are separated into nitrogen and oxygen gas. Afterwards, an oxidization component adds the oxygens gasto the carbon monoxidde and hydrocarbons to create CO2 and H2O. 

Packed Beds

Packed Beds

Packed Beds

05/01/26

“Why do hollow tubes filled with packed materials have special properties?”

People often want to mix two phases of chemicals together for a chemical reaction. So how can we maximize surface contact between these distinct phases? Well, what if we were to take a hollow tube, and then pack reactive solids inside, and then flush a fluid through the hollow tube? These Packed Beds are a mainstay of chemical engineering and power some of the most important processes today, whether it’s sand filters for drinking water or activated carbon for wastewater.

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Bioventing

Bioventing

Bioventing

04/30/26

“How can we clean up soils contaminated by hydrocarbons using air injections?”

Hydrocarbon pollutants can be gravely difficult to remove from soil. However, microbacteria can naturally remove it. We can stimulate microbacterial growth by injecting air into unsaturated soil areas through Bioventing

Filter Bed Expansion

Filter Bed Expansion

Filter Bed Expansion

04/29/26

“Why do filter beds expand when they’re cleaned?”

Filter beds are wonderful contraptions for cleaning water and wastewater. However, over time, particles will build up and clog the filter, decreasing performance. People may clean it using backwashing. However, this backwashing will lead to Filter Bed Expansion as the filter media is pushed away from its compacted form.

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Detritus Tanks

Detritus Tanks

Detritus Tanks

04/28/26

“How can we separate incoming non-organic from organic particles in a wastewater stream?”

Wastewater streams are composed of both organic and inorganic particles. Non-organic particles in a waste stream can damage equipment and hurt performance. So what can we do to solve this? Well, we know that non-organic particles tend to be heavier than organic particles. So what if we use control the flow of water and use settling velocity differences to have heavier, denser particles non-organic particles settle while light organic particles stay suspended. Well, machines called Detritus Tanks accomplish exactly that.

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Recrystallization (Materials Science)

Recrystallization (Materials Science)

Recrystallization (Materials Science)

04/27/26

“How can we reset a metal’s crystalline structure by working it while hot?”

A metal’s crystalline structure contains more defects when it undergoes cold working. However, if we work on a metal while it’s heated, the metal will soften, and new strain-free grains will arise and envelop the entire structure. This Recrystallization process ends with the metal becoming more ductile but less strong and harder.

Venturi Scrubbers

Venturi Scrubbers

Venturi Scrubbers

04/26/26

“What system uses water to clean fine particulate matter from exhaust fumes?”

People often have trouble removing fine particulate matter in gas fumes. This is where Venturi Scrubbers come in. Venturi scrubbers are wet scrubbers take an exhaust gas flow, force it down a narrow tube to speed it up, inject water into it so the liquid droplets capture the fine particulate matter, slow it down in an expansion pipe, and then separate the droplets with the fine particulate matter from the gas stream.

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The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

04/25/26

“How much cooler does the atmosphere become as we rise with height if there is no heat exchange?”

Generally, air in the troposphere becomes cooler as we go higher because the decreasing pressure leads to volumetric expansion that takes away internal heat. If no heat is exchanged with the surroundings, then condensation will not occur, and no change of moisture will occur. This rate, at which air changes temperature,  around -9.8 degrees Celsius per kilometer of height, is called The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate. 

Langmuir Isotherms

Langmuir Isotherms

Langmuir Isotherms

04/24/26

“How can we model how adsorption potential changes as adsorption potential fills up?”

Substances will stick to the surface of another through adsorption. The more sites that are filled up, the less adsorption potential there will be until it’s completely maxed out. This is how Langmuir Isotherms work.