Grants and Contributions

Contribution to assist Algonquins of Ontario in submitting a written intervention to the Commission regarding the enviornmental assesment scoping decision for Global First Power's micro modular reactor project.

The objective of the EAF is to support community based projects across Canada that improve accessibility, remove barriers, and enable Canadians with disabilities to participate in and contribute to their community.

The objective of the EAF is to support community based projects across Canada that improve accessibility, remove barriers, and enable Canadians with disabilities to participate in and contribute to their community.

Ceramic high temperature superconductors (HTS) are now routinely fabricated in the form of long lengths of tapes (several km), making it possible to envision large-scale superconducting applications. One issue concerns the physical properties of those HTS tapes, which can vary over length scales shorter than 1 millimeter, and lead to destructive hot spots in some circumstances. A strategy to find a solution to this problem at the design stage is to simulate the complete transient electrothermal behavior of long lengths of HTS tapes in real operating conditions while retaining their microscopic features. However, time transient simulations requires tremendous calculation times. AI techniques has proven useful for speeding up numeric simulations, but there are still open problems from the point of how to best use AI approaches due to the diversity and complexity of the physical systems object of the simulation. Because of its specificities, this particular application poses several challenges to the introduction of AI techniques, which makes it suitable from the point of view of both core AI research and material science. The AI solutions would benefit similar problems in other domains and the improvements in the design of superconductive tapes will find applications in many important areas, where high field magnets are required.

The project endeavors to develop a commercial-scale technology platform to convert concentrated CO2 from industrial emitters into aviation fuel with renewable H2. Such technology has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 80% compared to conventional aviation fuel. The platform involves the conversion of CO2 to CO by reverse water gas shift (RWGS) and the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process to liquid hydrocarbons, specifically jet-fuel. Both stages have been developed separately but there is no detailed study on their integration. Polytechnique Montreal’s team will focus on their integration and on the design of the catalysts for both stages. NRC teams in Ottawa will provide fundamental analytical techniques to characterize the catalysts and expertise on statistical analysis (machine learning).The NRC team in Edmonton will contribute expertise in density functional theory that is key to design active catalysts.

This project aims to develop and demonstrate feasibility of emerging miniaturized combustion-based HVAF spray technology for high resolution deposition of Ti-6Al-4V with near bulk properties in terms of strength and elongation to failure. This technology can provide a step-change in the restoration of engine components in the aerospace and power generation sectors. A commercial miniature HVAF system will be used to create deposits from standard spherical powders and irregular powders. The effect of processing parameters will be investigated and optimized with the goal to attain as-sprayed porosities of 1% or lower at deposition efficiencies exceeding 30%. In flight particle diagnostic tools will be used to relate spray parameters to particle temperature and velocity and ultimately the resulting buildup, delineating suitable processing windows. In a first screening, micro hardness, anticipated for the as-spayed coatings to lay in the range of 200-400 HV, will be assessed. At conditions meeting basic criteria of porosity and hardness, 8-10 mm thick deposits will be produced. Ultimately, as-sprayed and post-treated coating characteristics will be compared.

The research conducted in this project involves synthesizing cellulose nanocrystals conjugated to organic dye molecules. Spectroscopy and imaging will be used to study the physical and chemical properties of the resulting hybrids, and explore the use of dye-conjugated cellulose nanocrystals in photocatalysts and sensors. The work will involve establishing detailed protocols and recipes for the conjugation process. The work will involve the collection and analysis of data on conjugated cellulose nanocrystals from a variety of scientific instruments. The work will involve observing changes in the properties of conjugated cellulose nanocrystals upon exposure to common industrial gases found in automobile exhausts and thermal power plant emissions. The work will also involve examining the effect of illuminated cellulose nanocrystals on the rates of certain chemical reactions.

This project aims to develop and demonstrate feasibility of emerging miniaturized combustion-based HVAF spray technology for high resolution deposition of Ti-6Al-4V with near bulk properties in terms of strength and elongation to failure. This technology can provide a step-change in the restoration of engine components in the aerospace and power generation sectors. A commercial miniature HVAF system will be used to create deposits from standard spherical powders and irregular powders. The effect of processing parameters will be investigated and optimized with the goal to attain as-sprayed porosities of 1% or lower at deposition efficiencies exceeding 30%. In flight particle diagnostic tools will be used to relate spray parameters to particle temperature and velocity and ultimately the resulting buildup, delineating suitable processing windows. In a first screening, micro hardness, anticipated for the as-spayed coatings to lay in the range of 200-400 HV, will be assessed. At conditions meeting basic criteria of porosity and hardness, 8-10 mm thick deposits will be produced. Ultimately, as-sprayed and post-treated coating characteristics will be compared.

The research conducted in this project involves synthesizing cellulose nanocrystals conjugated to organic dye molecules. Spectroscopy and imaging will be used to study the physical and chemical properties of the resulting hybrids, and explore the use of dye-conjugated cellulose nanocrystals in photocatalysts and sensors. The work will involve establishing detailed protocols and recipes for the conjugation process. The work will involve the collection and analysis of data on conjugated cellulose nanocrystals from a variety of scientific instruments. The work will involve observing changes in the properties of conjugated cellulose nanocrystals upon exposure to common industrial gases found in automobile exhausts and thermal power plant emissions. The work will also involve examining the effect of illuminated cellulose nanocrystals on the rates of certain chemical reactions.

Ceramic high temperature superconductors (HTS) are now routinely fabricated in the form of long lengths of tapes (several km), making it possible to envision large-scale superconducting applications. One issue concerns the physical properties of those HTS tapes, which can vary over length scales shorter than 1 millimeter, and lead to destructive hot spots in some circumstances. A strategy to find a solution to this problem at the design stage is to simulate the complete transient electrothermal behavior of long lengths of HTS tapes in real operating conditions while retaining their microscopic features. However, time transient simulations requires tremendous calculation times. AI techniques has proven useful for speeding up numeric simulations, but there are still open problems from the point of how to best use AI approaches due to the diversity and complexity of the physical systems object of the simulation. Because of its specificities, this particular application poses several challenges to the introduction of AI techniques, which makes it suitable from the point of view of both core AI research and material science. The AI solutions would benefit similar problems in other domains and the improvements in the design of superconductive tapes will find applications in many important areas, where high field magnets are required.