Innovative Projects Realized

Assessing the Utility of a Commercial Mobile EEG in Detecting Age-Related Differences in the Brain

The world’s population is aging and thus, healthy cognitive aging a major healthcare priority and goal. Yet, a better understanding of how the brain changes with normal aging versus pathology is required. Recent advancements in wearable technologies may allow the assessment of brain function with greater ease, accessibility, and at a lower cost, as compared with traditional neuroimaging techniques. Specifically, there is now a commercially available mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) device that has the potential to provide information on brain functional connectivity. However, this needs to be tested and validated. Thus, the propose research will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a reference to determine whether the mobile EEG device can offer comparable resolution and sensitivity in assessing functional neural networks. The goal of Synaptitude Brain Health, the partner organization, is to promote overall brain wellness through non-pharmaceutical approaches. TO BE CONT”D

Green Chemistry for Green Solvents – Year two

A major contributor to smog formation is the release of volatile chemicals into the atmosphere which are emitted from many sources including automobile exhaust and consumer products such as paints. To combat the adverse effects smog has on air quality in North America, agencies such as Environment and Climate Change (Canada) and the Environmental Protection Agency (United States) enforce limits on the types and amounts of chemicals used in industrial applications and consumer products. Replacing chemicals that are known to contribute heavily to smog formation, with environmentally friendly chemicals are highly sought after targets. We propose to work with TBF Environmental to develop environmentally friendly alternatives, which will reduce harmful smog emissions when used in place of currently used industrial chemicals. We aim to produce environmentally friendly chemicals from renewable plant bio-mass.

Green Chemistry for Green Solvents

A major contributor to smog formation is the release of volatile chemicals into the atmosphere which are emitted from many sources including automobile exhaust and consumer products such as paints. To combat the adverse effects smog has on air quality in North America, agencies such as Environment and Climate Change (Canada) and the Environmental Protection Agency (United States) enforce limits on the types and amounts of chemicals used in industrial applications and consumer products. Replacing chemicals that are known to contribute heavily to smog formation, with environmentally friendly chemicals are highly sought after targets. We propose to work with TBF Environmental to develop environmentally friendly alternatives, which will reduce harmful smog emissions when used in place of currently used industrial chemicals. We aim to produce environmentally friendly chemicals from renewable plant bio-mass.

Local Buckling Response of Pipe

Onshore and offshore pipe systems may be subject to loading events that result in

mechanical response exceeding the material strength. There are technical and economic

incentives for developing non-conventional, higher strength materials for use in long

distance, large diameter and high pressure transmission pipeline systems. There exists

uncertainty on the key factors influencing the mechanical response of these materials in

pipe systems subject to large deformation loading events. This study will develop an

analytical tool that can be used to assess the pipe mechanical integrity. Functional

relationships will be developed to characterize the pipe strength and deformation

resistance that can be used by design engineering to develop practical and economic

solutions.

PART B- Conversion of CO2 and H2O to Syngas Using Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (RSOFCs) Technology – Year two

The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the highly promising performance of our world-leading catalysts in a scaled-up solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) system. SOECs can efficiently convert the greenhouse gas, CO2, or mixtures of CO2 and H2O, to useful chemicals and fuels, while running on excess electricity, thus serving to store intermittent electricity generated by wind and solar.
A leading company (ATCO) has identified our technology as being their first choice for the storage of solar/wind energy through CO2 + H2O conversion to syngas (CO + H2) or ultimately to methane. These products will be stored in ATCO’s salt caverns in Northern Alberta for later use as fuels, when energy is needed. We will be collaborating with ATCO to develop next generation SOECs for greening the energy grid.

PART B- Conversion of CO2 and H2O to Syngas Using Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (RSOFCs) Technology

The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the highly promising performance of our world-leading catalysts in a scaled-up solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) system. SOECs can efficiently convert the greenhouse gas, CO2, or mixtures of CO2 and H2O, to useful chemicals and fuels, while running on excess electricity, thus serving to store intermittent electricity generated by wind and solar.
The SOECs developed to date in our group are based on a family of new catalysts composed of low cost earth-abundant metals. These cells (ca. 1 cm2) have demonstrated exemplary rates of CO2 + H2O conversion. This is sufficient for initial proof-of-concept, however, to move the technology towards commercialization, it is essential that larger cells, up to 5 x 5 cm2 (16 cm2 electrode area), are developed and demonstrated. TO BE CONT’D

Testing of Cannabinoid Oil Extracts in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)-Induced Neuropathic Pain (NPP)

The cannabinoid class of medications are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms such as spasticity and pain associated with MS. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which they exert their beneficial effects remain unknown. Recent research and clinical trials demonstrated that cannabinoids may not only alleviate the symptoms of MS, but may also slow the disease progression and delay the onset of symptoms. As such, investigative research is now expanding beyond the traditional paradigms of conventional medicine to now include that of the cannabinoids to the forefront of available treatments for MS. In this research, we aim to investigate the role of cannabinoids in improving myelin repair by beneficially altering the cytokine, chemokine, neurotrophin signalling pathway that has previously been shown to govern myelin repair.

Uplift models extension for smart marketing

Insurance companies heavily fund marketing campaigns such as, for instance, customer retention or cross-sell initiatives. Uplift modeling aims at predicting the causal effect of an action such as medical treatment or a marketing campaign on a particular individual by taking into consideration the response to an action. Typically, the result of an uplift model is used to call customers for marketing some products based on important attributes of a customer. The general objective of the research project is to explore the eventuality of introducing a clustering methodology that aligns with the detection of the uplift.

Development of chemical additives to improve the efficiency of solvent-aided thermal bitumen recovery processes – Year two

AlbCurrent commercial recovery method of Alberta’s oil sands is Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) which requires large amounts of steam. This means that large amounts of natural gas are burned to produce steam resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Solvent injection is one initiative gaining interest to overcome the aforementioned limitations.
Certain reservoir conditions, including heterogeneous geology and the presence of undesirable reservoir fluids (which may include excess water and natural gas), lead to inefficient and uneconomic recovery of bitumen using the current commercial recovery methods. This project will concentrate on the development of additives to these traditional processes that will improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon recovery by minimizing the effects of the undesirable geology, water and natural gas. Additives will be designed and simulated in the laboratory. It’s anticipated that the outcome of this project will help industry to produce bitumen at a lower cost and minimize environmental impact.

Development of chemical additives to improve the efficiency of solvent-aided thermal bitumen recovery processes

Alberta’s oil sands are one of the world’s largest known hydrocarbon deposits. Current commercial recovery methods such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) require large amounts of steam. This in turn means that large amounts of natural gas are burned to produce steam resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Solvent injection is one initiative that is gaining interest to overcome the aforementioned limitations.
Certain reservoir conditions, including heterogeneous geology and the presence of undesirable reservoir fluids (which may include excess water and natural gas), lead to inefficient and uneconomic recovery of bitumen using the current commercial recovery methods. This project will concentrate on the development of additives to these traditional processes that will improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon recovery by minimizing the effects of the undesirable geology, water and natural gas. Additives will be designed and simulated in the laboratory. TO BE CONT’D

IEC 61850-Based Centralized Intelligent Station-Level Protection for Power Systems with Multi-Technology Distributed Energy Resources

Protection systems perform vital function in power distribution systems to ensure safety of public and equipment during network faults, and usually designed assuming a single power source supply. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are fast becoming an integral part of most Electric Power Systems around the world. Improvement in reliability, efficiency, power quality, and reduction in greenhouse emissions are some of the reasons behind this. However, the integration of DERs in distribution systems will result in structural changes causing a bidirectional power flow and variable fault current level. Depending on the DER penetration level and technology type, this could result in the failure of the existing protection schemes and their coordination. This project proposes to develop an innovative, reliable, communication-based Centralized Intelligent Station-level Protection (CISP) system using emerging technologies.

Conceptual Design of New Nuclear Waste Container

Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) material, can be considered a promising way to innovate in the management of Low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) storing industry. UHP-FRC exhibits exceptional mechanical, serviceability, and durability characteristics in comparison to its traditional concrete counterparts. The current proposal focuses on the use of UHP-FRC in a new design of high integrity nuclear waste containers considering drop-impact and fire effects. The conceptual design of waste container will be performed using ABAQUS software. The drop-impact will be performed based on realistic drop heights and orientations of the storage facility and its handling systems provided by Master Peers. Complete material behaviour of UHP-FRC is considered in order to take the advantage of enhanced post-peak capacity. Thereafter, the final design of the container will be optimized under fire effect.