Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’un outil intégré d’aide à la décision pour la gestion des événements affectant la qualité de l’eau potable et l’intégrité du réseau de distribution

La qualité de l’eau potable n’est pas uniforme dans un réseau de distribution, ce qui est du à la diversité de l’infrastructure (matériaux, diamètres des conduites) et des éléments ponctuels de gestion (postes de traitement, réservoirs, etc.). Cette variabilité est également impactée par des événements (bris de conduite, nettoyage, feu, etc.), qui, d’un côté, peuvent être planifiés lors de l’entretien régulier du réseau, ou, de l’autre côté, peuvent survenir suite à un incident non prévu. L’objectif du projet est de développer un outil de gestion d’événements, qui permettra aux gestionnaires d’eau potable une meilleure gestion des mesures d’entretien, une diagnostique efficace des incidents, et des solutions appropriées selon les caractéristiques du réseau. Grâce à l’outil proposé, les municipalités gagnerons de l’efficacité, de temps de réaction lors des incidents, et une réduction importante des coûts d’opération.

Cowper Symonds Analysis of Low Temperature Steels Sustainable Technology for Polar Ships and Structures

It is known that steel structures exhibit enhanced strength when they experience dynamic loads (e.g.

collisions) versus static loads (e.g. bearing loads). A model for this enhanced strength was created by

Cowper and Symonds in 1957, however it is currently only applicable to room temperatures. It is the

aim of this project to extend the applicability of this model to arctic temperatures so that the design of

ships and offshore structures intended for arctic use may take advantage of this inherent dynamic

strengthening. An additional immediate benefit is that this new data is directly compatible with

popular explicit finite element analysis software (e.g. ANSYS-AUTODYNE, NASTRAN, LS-DYNA),

as they have already incorporated the Cowper-Symonds model.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of a Large Scale Industrial Biochar plant

Slow pyrolysis is a process to convert biomass residues to valuable biochar products, which are used in agricultural, wastewater treatment, animal feed, carbon sequestration etc. IRSI focused on identifying optimal pathways for converting biomass into high quality biochar with maximum energy efficiency and minimal environmental degradation. This project focusses on modelling and simulation of a large-scale biochar reactor in order to enhance the efficiency of pyrolysis processes and increase the reliability of biochar products for the global market place. This project will involve collaboration with Prof. Nikrityuk (University of Alberta) and will utilize his world-class experience in modeling and simulation of complex thermochemical biomass conversion.

Ice accretion formation, its location and severity detection

As one of the most cost-competitive forms of renewable energy, the wind has remarkable potential for fulfilling the increasing demand for global energy in an environmentally responsible way. Wind turbines in cold climate are becoming one of the most popular trends for wind energy developments. Because of highly variable operational conditions, wind turbines demand a high degree of maintenance to provide a safe, cost-effective and reliable power output with acceptable equipment life. In humid and cold climate environment, such as in Canada, wind turbines are exposed to icing, erosion, and debris build-up faults on their rotor blades that each result in generation power loss. This project would help EneSense in the development of next generation control systems in wind farms, which can detect, diagnose, and accommodate for the most common faults, i.e. icing and debris built up.

L’industrie canadienne et les accords de libre-échange : les cas du Brexit et de la renégociation de la gestion de l’offre dans le cadre de l’ALENA

Le domaine des accords de libre-échange subit des chocs majeurs depuis quelques mois. Alors qu’on arrivait à peine à comprendre les implications juridiques du nouveau phénomène de prolifération des accords de libre-échanges et de redéfinition de ceux-ci, la donne change à nouveau. Par exemple, en juin 2016, les Britanniques se sont exprimés en faveur d’une sortie de l’Union européenne. Aussi, en mai 2017, le nouveau président américain a communiqué au Congrès son intention de renégocier l’ALÉNA. Ces deux situations auront un impact certain sur l’industrie canadienne. En effet, elle force l’industrie à réagir vite et ce à deux égards. D’abord, celle-ci doit prendre une part active à la redéfinition juridique des relations commerciales tant à l’égard de la Grande-Bretagne que des États-Unis. Ensuite, elle doit comprendre les implications juridiques de tels mouvements afin d’en anticiper les risques et d’en prendre avantage, le cas échéant. TO BE CONT’D

An automated method for basin scale mapping of aquatic habitat using a UAV

This project will use a drone to map aquatic habitat in Carnation Creek. Research better characterizing fish habitat is critical given the declines seen in many coastal fish stocks. Traditional methods of surveying aquatic habitat are often physically demanding and limited to short channel segments. However, advances in fish ecology suggest that better management of fish species require research that links basin scale patterns in channel morphology to aquatic habitat; which is the scale fish complete their life histories. Drones are ideally suited for this challenge due to their affordability and ability to quickly survey areas. A methodology for sub-canopy basin scale mapping of aquatic habitat using drones will be tested and compared to ground surveyed data to determine their accuracy and applicability. TO BE CONT’D

Les initiatives de valorisation de la diversité ethnoculturelle comme pratique : une approche communicationnelle

Ce stage de recherche vise le développement et le transfert de connaissances dans les domaines de la gestion de la diversité et l’inclusivité dans les organisations. Plus spécifiquement, le stage permettra d’appuyer une société d’État québécoise dans la mise en place de deux nouvelles initiatives ayant pour but de valoriser la diversité et l’inclusivité. Les initiatives et les programmes de valorisation de la diversité, de plus en plus présents au sein des organisations, ont connu un succès pour le moins mitigé au cours des dernières années. Malgré leur importance, ces initiatives de diversité sont, semble-t-il, difficiles à mettre en place et il est d’autant plus ardu d’évaluer leurs impacts réels. Le but de ce projet sera donc de rendre compte du déploiement de ces initiatives au plus près du vécu des participants au programme, c’est-à-dire en mettant l’accent sur leurs pratiques mêmes dans ce contexte particulier.

Development and Analysis of Electric-Assist Wheelchair Systems

A power-assisted wheelchair is a hybrid between manual and power wheelchairs that consists of an electric-assist system that can be easily mounted on a manual wheelchair. The market for power-assisted wheelchair systems has seen growth in the past decade because of their benefits on the health and mobility of manual wheelchairs users. However, current power-assisted wheelchair systems are not fully addressing user requirements. The proposed research project involves analyzing the mechanical and subjective characteristics of currently available electric-assist systems. Testing will be performed using a dynamometer and a qualitative study will investigate human factors in the system design. This project could have impact by improving quality of life for wheelchair users by increasing mobility and reducing fatigue and injury.

Characterization and optimization of a multi-phase aerated stirred fermenter using experimental and computational techniques

Multi-phase aerated stirred fermenters are well-accepted in the production of biopharmaceuticals including antibodies and vaccines. Nevertheless, their hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics as well as the influence of various process engineering variables on their performance are not fully understood. In the current study, extensive experimentation (ERT and endoscopy) and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach will be employed to gain deep insights into the underlying phenomena happening in aerated stirred fermenter. The developed three-phase CFD model will be validated against the obtained experimental data set. The validated model will then be employed to identify the optimal operating conditions and design parameters to improve the performance of the aerated stirred fermenter.
The final aim of this project is to improve the understanding of aerated stirred fermenters which will increase system efficiency, speed vaccine development and reduce trial and error experimentation resulting in a considerable reduction in vaccine production cost.

Validation of small molecule inhibitors of PARG

Many types of cancer are currently untreatable. In Canada alone, 78,000 cancer-related deaths are seen annually, and obviously, new therapies are needed. We have identified the protein PARG as a potent stimulator of cancer growth and a valid target for anti-cancer therapy. However, specific, cell permeable inhibitors of PARG have historically been difficult to generate. Thus, PARG inhibitors have not yet reached the market nor even clinical trials. Towards this goal we have initiated a project to identify drugs to inhibit PARG. We now propose to test whether these have potent anti-PARG activity in cells and animal models of breast cancer and other cancers. We will also investigate whether an understudied class of chemicals called “macrocyclics” may also provide inhibitors of PARG. Overall, this work will add great value to our compounds, enabling their subsequent development into novel anti-cancer therapeutics.

Evaluation of botanical extract formulations for greenhouse pest management

The development of additional pesticides which minimize negative effects on the environment and beneficial insects is imperative for successful long-term management and enhanced sustainability of agricultural systems. Utilizing plant based essential oils, which generally have low toxicity to humans and other mammals, could increase sustainable pest management options. The chemical complexity of plant-based essential oils may contribute to their broad effectiveness, yet understanding the individual contributions of different chemical components in pest suppression could increase the precision by which these products are deployed. The identification of such compounds and their synergistic interactions are the goals of the proposed work. An increased understanding of direct and indirect effects of insect control products on beneficial predaceous insects will inform integrated pest management of agricultural pests.

Les mécaniques de jeux sérieux et la didactique de la grammaire du français

Le projet de recherche a pour objectif d’identifier les composants des jeux numériques (les mécaniques de jeux et d’apprentissage) et les mettre en lien avec les stratégies d’apprentissage les plus efficaces pour faire apprendre la grammaire et l’orthographe du français langue d’enseignement aux apprenants du primaire et secondaire dans les écoles québécoises. Tout ceci dans le but de concevoir et développer un jeu numérique pour l’apprentissage qui tient compte des avancés scientifiques en matière pédagogique et informatique, ainsi que de la réalité scolaire dans le contexte québécois.