Batteries are main storage systems in many applications such as electric vehicles, shipping, transportation, and utility backup power. With the recent breakthrough in the supercapacitor technology, it is predicted that supercapacitors will challenge the batteries in many of these applications since their power delivery is much faster than the batteries. The current chargers are designed […]

Aluminum smelting is a highly energy consuming industrial process. The process generates a large amount of the heat that leaves through the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas must be scrubbed of its contaminants before release to the atmosphere at the gas treatment unit exit. The scrubbing process is more effective if this gas is cooled […]

The main mission of FortisBC is delivering energy (in the form of electricity and natural gas) safely and reliably at the lowest reasonable cost with lowest emissions. Any maloperations or unexpected interruptions in equipment of the energy supply network may lead to unreliable and unsafe conditions of power delivering to the consumers. For this purpose, […]

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are usually employed to quickly render images on everyday computer screens, and do so quickly and efficiently for relatively little cost. Modern GPUs are able to do hundreds or thousands of simultaneous calculations; rewriting conventional computer problems in the language of GPUs offers the potential to dramatically decrease the computing time […]

In this research, a new approach to model Frequency Dependant Network Equivalent (FDNE) will be introduced and implemented in PSCAD/EMTDC. FDNEs are used to accelerate and reduce the size of unnecessary part of the network under simulation. The new approach utilizes Brune’s network synthesis and Tellegen’s extension to create a multiport network whose impedance is […]

The Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell Division (MBFC) in Burnaby, Canada develops and runs the manufacturing processes required for the assembly of Fuel Cell Stacks prototypes. MBFC uses the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to collect and analyse data from the manufacturing lines to the database system. However, because the size of the collected data is very large, […]

It is difficult to perform the dynamic analysis on large scale power systems within a desirable time frame. Most utilities therefore resort to reduce the scale of power system by representing the external system using an equivalent network. This project proposal in conjunction with Manitoba HVDC Research Centre aims to develop simulation based methods complemented […]

The proposed research aims to develop a novel fiber optic based technology for the monitoring and detection of defaults in power transformers, which could lead to an in-service failure and power outages. The partner company has developed a sensor that is sensitive to vibration and moisture. Also, small electrical sparks, known as partial discharges, in […]

Improving the quality of fuels, increasing the efficiency and also producing lower emissions is one of the main challenges of the 21st century. A Calgary company, Katal, is working on a hydrorefining process in order to produce diesel fuel with superior quality compared with the traditional fuel. The company, however, has limited scientific understanding of […]

This project will use a low energy particle accelerator to explore methods of improving the number of fusion reactions in specially designed targets. This work will then be used assist in the development of a feasible commercial fusion power plant that is green, uses cheap and abundant fuel, and is reliable.

Exploring the best smart energy choices to meet the growing energy needs of British Columbia (BC) is important due to Canada’s new climate change mitigation targets as well as the rising economic burdens of energy use. A collaborative study has been proposed between UBCO and FortisBC identify smart solutions energy conservation, climate change mitigation, demand […]

More and more distributed energy resources (smart loads, self-generation, electric vehicles, etc.) are installed directly at the customers.  This causes fluctuations in the distribution network that can reverse the power flow or increase the cold pick-up effect. The infrastructures in place have not been designed for this new reality and they must be adapted accordingly, […]