Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering Students Tackle Orchard Irrigation Project on Western Slope, continued

Students redesigned a control gate in this holding tank to obtain a more equal rate of flow.

During the Spring semester, as their capstone design project under the direction of Professor Alan Weimer, the students prepared and evaluated two alternative designs that would remedy Andrew's automation difficulties and presented them along with cost estimates. Their challenge was to control the flow of water into the irrigation system by redesigning a control gate in the holding tank to achieve a more equal rate of flow. The system is driven by gravity as the water flows down a steep hill, with the pressure drop controlling the flow.

"We're combining what we're learning in a lot of classes in one project," says Halevi, who plans to spend the summer in Alaska working on a petroleum engineering project. Locander, who is taking a job in the information technology sector after graduation, comments: "With a degree in chemical engineering, you can do so many different things."

Chemical Engineering Advisory Board

Dana Andersen, Genentech, Inc.

Bruce Buckland

Ann Butchello, Dynegy Midstream Services

Mike Cutlip, University of Connecticut

Arthur Dawson, Louisiana Pacific

Karl Gerdes, Chevron Corporation

Vern Norviel, Affymetrix

Sheila Payne, IBM

Gary Roubos, Dover Corporation