An Optimization of Modern Desalination Technology

by Devon C. Class of 2021

For my capstone project, I worked to address global water scarcity, an issue that impacts over 600 million people and causes 3.5 million deaths annually. Using CAD 3D-modeling programs to design a portable chamber that facilitates reverse osmosis, a pressure-based desalination technique. By filling the capsule and pressurizing the chamber, unfiltered water is forced through a spiral-wound membrane. From silt to salt ions, the membrane absorbs all unwanted particles, thus yielding the final product of clean, drinkable water. After completing the design, I researched the fundamentals of patent law to gain the necessary knowledge to independently author and file a provisional patent application. In doing so, I formally articulated the mechanics of my invention, which has now earned patent-pending status.