Innovative Projects Realized

Off-Design Engine Modeling for Steam Turbines

Safely prolonging the life cyle of turbomachinery components, which would be replaced through scheduled overhauling, not only reduce the costs of operation but may also contribute to better sustainability of the life cycle management. XactLIFE is a prognostic software developed by LPTi (Life Prediction Technologies Inc., Ottawa, ON) to predict the life cycle of turbomachinery components. Although LPTi has focused in the analysis of gas turbine components, XactLIFE will be expanded towards the life prediction of steam turbine components by improving existing thermal module and adding new off-design turbine maps, as well as using conjugate heat transfer analysis. This added feature will enlarge LPTi’s customer base.

Preparation of Mesoporous Oxides for Electrochemical Applications

Electrochemical technologies, such as fuel cells and electrolysers, could play an important role in the attempt to diversify the energy market. These devices can be used to produce clean, renewable energy and fuels. However, the technology cost is still far too high, preventing their large-scale implementation. A significant portion of the production cost comes from the catalyst material, which is often based on rare metals. Therefore, developing novel materials that make use of earth-abundant metals while maintaining a good performance and durability is a crucial task to electrochemists and materials scientists. This project aims to prepare and characterize novel nickel-based nanomaterials for electrochemical applications as an alternative to currently used catalyst materials. The development of new uses of nickel is beneficial to the Canadian nickel industry, while the possible applications, i.e. alkaline fuel cells and water electrolysers, can significantly impact industrial processes and society as a whole.

Interactive Molecular Modelling in Virtual Reality

The work that the Glowacki lab has addressed concerns two main issues of VR: a lack of multi-user interaction and heavy processing requirements. Using remote cloud supercomputing facilities, his lab can access the processing power to model in real time incredibly complex mathematically systems, with the computational physics simulations performed off-site, thereby enabling multi-user interactions. The research that I am to conduct in Dr. Glowacki’s lab would involve extending already established real-time quantum mechanical simulations, which allows users to make/break bonds and also discover novel chemical reactions. Specifically, I will be enabling the VR code to render molecular orbitals and electronic densities in real-time simulations, so as to furnish chemists with new insights. This project relies on the processing power of the techniques Dr. Glowacki has developed and will benefit from the skills I aquired developing VR software. The expected outcome will be the development of effective visualizations and improved rendering of the reactions modeled.

Safety Labs User and Performance Validation

The Safety Labs platform is an ‘always connected’ Internet of Things (IOT) cloud computing based system that focused on aging in place and well being for older adults through ongoing health knowledge. This project will focus on a trial with a population of older adults in the Ottawa region that will trial the system with a focus on understanding the following key attributes of the system:
• Usability and reliability of the system as assessed by the older adults and their ability to use the system over the trial period.
• Operational usability and performance as assessed by researchers with clinical backgrounds to understand the system capability and value for ongoing knowledge of the older adults.
• Technical performance of the system include uptime and operational accuracy.

Protoporphyrin IX a novel crosslinker for dielectric elastomers

Dielectric elastomers or “artificial muscles” are a class of electroactive polymers that undergo expansion when subjected to an applied electric field. Polysiloxanes commonly referred to as silicones are often the material of choice for dielectric elastomers due to their excellent mechanical properties. However, they suffer from minimal expansion when subjected to an electrical field. This research will seek to improve the electromechanical response of silicone elastomers by incorporating Protoporphyrin IX (P-IX) into silicone elastomers and polymers. Initially, the project will focus on developing synthetic techniques to facilitate the chemical incorporation of P-IX into silicones elastomers, these elastomers will then be evaluated for their electromechanical response. It is expected that incorporation of P-IX will improve the electromechanical response of silicone elastomers leading to the development of a new silicone material for dielectric elastomers.

The Value of Arts and Culture for Community Cohesion

Although the social, economic, and cultural importance of the arts is generally acknowledged, few studies have collected data on how community members (whether engaged in the arts or not) perceive the value of the arts within their community. This study examines public perceptions of the arts within Saskatchewan’s urban and rural communities. Using a mixed-methods research design that includes a random sample telephone survey and qualitative community-based consultations, the project examines the role of the arts in fostering community cohesion, revealing important insights on the social value and meaning of the arts. The study may also expose significant barriers and facilitators for the arts, and social interconnection more broadly, within rural communities, contributing important insights to the work of arts organizations and cultural policy development.

Le renouvellement des outils de développement agricole et rural : une perspective par filières régionales (deuxième partie)

Prenant acte des limites des mécanismes actuels de soutien à l’agriculture dans les régions en voie de dévitalisation, notamment celles de l’Est-du-Québec, la recherche vise à contribuer à la définition d’un cadre d’intervention destiné à soutenir le redéploiement du domaine agricole dans ces milieux. La recherche poursuivra, en la bonifiant, l’orientation prise dans les travaux récemment publiés par le candidat et par le directeur du stagiaire ciblé (Mario Handfield). Rappelons que ces travaux ont permis d’identifier, en les traitant de manière simultanée, les caractéristiques du tissu socioéconomique de ces régions, les difficultés rencontrées par les acteurs locaux impliqués dans le développement du secteur agroalimentaire et les formes d’accompagnement public déjà en place dans ce secteur. De ces travaux a découlé la formulation et l’élaboration de leviers institutionnels inédits visant à accroître les capacités d’action des milieux régionaux dans le secteur agroalimentaire. Suivant les recommandations phares de ces travaux, une équipe d’intervention nommée AGROFOR fut créée, un projet d’établissement de relève agricole fut lancé et des passerelles ont été jetées avec un fonds d’investissement dans le but de relancer le domaine agricole et agroalimentaire dans l’Est-du-Québec. Le travail réalisé par le stagiaire s’est traduit par des retombées notables en matière (…)

Dynamique de la structure interne des peuplements forestiersmixtes et feuillus en milieu naturel

La simplification de la structure jnterne des peuplements forestiers constitue unenjeu

majeur dans la foret mixte et feuillue du Canada . .Plusieurs etudes tentent a demontrer

qu’il y a eu une perte de la complexite structurale et donc de la biodiversite dans les

peuplements amen ages pour la recolte de la matiere ligneuse. Cette complexite est

observable en milieu naturel la ou il n’y a pas eu d’interventions humaines. Afin de

mieux comprendre cettedynamique naturelle, ce projet propose d’approfondir les

connaissancesen lien avec (‘evolution de la vegetation forestiere.

Les resultats de ces recherches permettront a I’organisme et au reste du pays, de

mieux comprendre les mecanismes modelant la foret et ainsi developper des

traitements sylvicoles qui s’inspirent des processus naturels. Plusieurs industries

forestieres detenant la norme environnementale Forest Stewardship Council sontdans

I’obligation de suivre les principes de I’amenagement ecosystemique qui prevoit

(‘etude de la problematique de la simplification des structures internes. Cet enjeu

etant peu documente, la pertinence de ce projet prend tout…..

Image Urbaine

La cohabitation des bâtiments du quartier des spectacles et des technologies d’architecture mouvante de Réalisaitons.net produirait une expérience sans équivoque pour les usagers du Montréalais. La richesse créative et la multitude des objectifs (sociaux, artéritiques, etc.) visés engendrent toutefois des préoccupations au sein de la planification et la réalisation du projet. Notre mandat est donc de développer une ligne directrice viable et d’un modèle d’affaire pour soutenir la rentabilité du projet. La continuité de la démarche nécessite également une analyse approfondie du potentiel d’implantation dans le contexte montréalais, tout en maintenant la perspective de construire un modèle exportable.

Effect of polymers on wettability of bitumen and on stability of bitumen emulsions.

The proposed research project is aimed at enhancing our understanding of interactions of several biodegradable low molecular weight polymers with the different components of aqueous oil sand suspensions. The work is designed to assess the effect of the polymers on a number of fundamental phenomena that govern several unit operations during oil sands processing and subsequent tailings disposal. It is expected that the systematic research studies proposed in this project should not only lead to new scientific knowledge but also to improvements in the current technology of oil sand processing and tailings management.
The proposed experimental program will involve analysis of the shape and size of air bubbles spreading and attaching onto bitumen surfaces while immersed in polymer solutions. This type of information will be collected using high-speed microscopy. A similar approach will also be employed to monitor the displacement and detachment of bitumen droplets from model mineral surfaces, chosen to represent typical solids found in oil sands. The ability of bitumen droplets to aggregate or disperse, and to form emulsions in the presence of polymers will be researched using laser light backscattering and transmission…To be continued.

Evaluation of self-sovereign identity and ethics of data in public safety

Three in five persons with dementia will wander. This statistic however was derived from the USA, and it is unknown as to how this number was generated and what it specifically entails. The collection of Canadian-based data involving missing persons with dementia in Canada is limited. Secours.io’s initiative of collecting missing persons data generated from partners such as Project Lifesaver, could assist in filling this gap. Due to the sensitivity that arises from vulnerable persons data, this project will focus on identifying balanced, effective and ethical approaches for Secours.io to collect this data. This project will involve a literature review and interviews among key stakeholders across Canada and the USA. Seocurs.io mission is to transform public safety through the collection of data. A partnership with researchers, such as the intern, will provide credibility regarding effective and ethical data collection methods to inform and contribute to decisions about self-sovereign identity.

Development of deep learning pipeline for automatic segmentation and classification of cardiac magnetic resonance images – Part 2

Heart disease is the main reason of death worldwide. One way to understand better and detect heart diseases without need for biopsy via surgery is by using medical imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cardiac magnetic resonance is a specific kind of MRI which allows great visualization of inner parts of the heart and can be used for measuring the size of the heart and its chambers, which can be very useful for understanding blood flow and other potential markers of disease. One problem with modern technologies for measuring parts of the heart is that they are often unreliable because of the data complexity. In this project, we use advanced artificial intelligence techniques to solve that problem. Our techniques are going to be used to obtain better representations of the internal chambers of the heart which can be useful for assessing several kinds of heart diseases.