Water Desalination Plant
Figure 1. Example student-designed and built model saltwater desalination plant.
Students use a thermal process approach to design, build and test a small-scale desalination plant that is capable of significantly removing the salt content from a saltwater solution. Students use a saltwater circuit to test the efficiency of their model desalination plant and learn how the water cycle is the basis for the thermal processes that drive their desalination plant.
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve air, water and land resources; provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation; and remediate polluted sites. Environmental engineers work with other types of engineers to design and install water desalination plants around the world as our demand for clean water increases.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the thermal process of water desalination.
- Explain the engineering design process.
- Work on a team.