SBIR Phase I: Sub-micron Centrifuge for Treatment Systems

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in investigating the feasibility of removing microscopic organisms from high-volume flows without using chemicals or disposable filters. Phase I project objectives include testing a laboratory-scale prototype and utilizing numerical analysis to optimize separation efficiency under broad range of conditions. Successful implementation will offer industry a cost-effective reliable solution. This project investigates a novel centrifugal separation system for chemical-free treatment, designed to achieve high-throughput removal of microscopic organisms without disposable filters. The primary technical risk involves maintaining high purification efficiency and operational stability across a range of conditions while minimizing energy consumption. The research will establish feasibility for various settings, specifically targeting challenges like low salinity, cold temperatures, and high turbidity. A key focus is on the systematic evaluation of how adjustable parameters influence separation efficiency and scalability. This methodology integrates laboratory experimentation with numerical analysis, beginning with the design and fabrication of a lab-scale prototype featuring configurable rotating components. Bench-scale testing using representative surrogates will quantify organism removal, throughput, and power requirements, while numerical modeling will simulate system behavior to interpret results and refine operating parameters. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the removal or destruction of submicron and neutrally buoyant organisms at industrially relevant scales. Successful Phase I completion will provide the technical foundation for prototype scaling and extended validation, offering a robust, low-maintenance solution. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.