BCIT Technology Centre
The Technology Centre's mission is to give British Columbia industry access to BCIT's people, equipment and ideas. The Centre has developed specialized expertise and facilities for: software and computer applications; medical device development; automation, robotics, electronics; multimedia applications; effluent and waste treatment; biotechnology applications.
Key People: Faculty: BCIT instructors are highly motivated educators. Participating in applied research with industry helps them stay current in their fields of expertise. Technology Centre Staff: The Technology Centre employs a team of more than 40 full-time researchers, technologists, and administrative staff to work on applied research projects with industry. Students: As part of their educational program, BCIT students conduct up to 500 industry-sponsored applied research projects each year. The BCIT Student Projects Program won the Conference Board of Canada's National Award of Excellence in Business Education Partnerships.
There are fees for services and rental of lab facilities and equipment. The Technology Centre is also prepared to consider joint ventures where both the client and the Centre contribute to the costs and share in the benefits of the project.
For student projects, there is no charge to the industry sponsor beyond a nominal registration fee. Companies can submit their ideas for student projects to the appropriate department or to the Technology Centre.
For small and medium-sized businesses requiring external funding, the Technology Centre can provide advice and guidance through its representatives of the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
Company Details
Company Information
Norman Streat
Title:
Manager
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(604) 432-8815
Fax:
(604) 436-0286
Email:
Click Here
James Watzke
Title:
Director, Technology Centre
Telephone:
(604) 432-8761
Fax:
(604) 436-0286
Email:
Click Here
Products
Combined Column System (ccs).
Integrated Resource Management/Community Involvement Approach To Urban Watershed Restoration And Management.
In 1993, the British Columbia Institute of Technology's Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program initiated the Burnaby Lake System Project, a five year urban watershed assessment, restoration and management project. Working through a community partnership involving BCIT, all levels of government, local business and community groups, the project initiates and implements applied research projects to assess, monitor, enhance and restore the natural resources of a highly developed urban watershed. Working with local resource managers, student project teams identify and inventory environmental problems/resources within the watershed.
In partnership with the local government/municipality, the project develops education material, develops mitigation and management strategies/solutions and implements enhancement projects to protect and restore fish, wildlife and recreational values within the watershed. Project restoration/enhancement activities involve both students, local citizens and community groups.
During the past two years the project has contributed significantly to enhancing the natural resources of the local community, improving inter-agency cooperation and communication and facilitated community access to additional technical and funding resources. In addition, the project continues to provide invaluable educational experiences and employment opportunities for BCIT students.
Supply The Bio-treatment Basin With Appropriate Nutrients.
Activated sludge treatment system fails unexpectedly in pulp and paper mills using H2O2 bleaching. The problem was identified as a lack of micro-elements depleted by chelating agents. The solution is supplying nutrients and micro-elements. This research was completed in 1995. The chelating agent investigated was DTPA.
Seamless Integration Of Solar Photovoltaic Modules Into Building/House Envelope.
Reducing energy use in buildings is crucial as buildings account for 40% of the total primary energy requirements in industrialized countries. Photovoltaics will play a significant role in the future built environment. Potentially, the available net solar surface on roofs in industrialized countries is sufficient for electrical self-sufficiency indefinitely. These BIPV projects are the first Canadian based investigations into the new era of solar PV energy-producing buildings.
The main objective of the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) projects is the seamless integration of PV modules into the building/house envelope to create a natural on-site link between the supply and demand of electricity. Various facade, roof and window elements are replaced with custom-made PV modules. BCIT Technology Centre's PEARL experts are providing the research, design, engineering, construction, testing and appropriate BIPV training with the idea to properly introduce photovoltaics in the building environment. In order to accomplish this, some demonstrations are chosen as BIPV showcases.
BCIT's PEARL developed a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) ventilation system for the refurbished Telus building in downtown Vancouver. An array of custom made semi-transparent poly-crystalline building-integrated solar panels has been incorporated into the office tower's new glazed curtain wall facade. Total DC power generated by this highly optimized PV array is 2.5 kilowatts per hour and is dedicated to powering 12 high-efficiency DC ventilation fans. The BCIT PV research team also designed and developed an unique maximum-power-point (MPP) controller to act as an interface between the PV modules and fans.
The PEARL team also developed a building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system for the CMHC Home 2000 (a healthy/flex Demonstration Home Project) that was exhibited at the Vancouver Home Show, and later located at BCIT's Burnaby Campus. A fully roof-integrated BIPV system is demonstrated. Total power generated by this grid-connected solar array is approximately two kilowatts, providing virtually all of the household's power needs.
Another building is a new $5.5-million development that is located at the BCIT's Burnaby Campus. The Technology Place building is envisioned as a green, environmentally responsible building where the BIPV system replaces windows and cladding at the main entrance of the building. Special BIPV modules, integrated into a curtain wall arrangement, replace existing facade and window elements (see-through solar panels), which leads to construction materials savings. Besides aesthetic aspects, the BIPV solar array will generate four kilowatts of power an hour ' enough to run most of the lighting in the building.
Benefits to the environment and the GHG emissions of implementing BIPV systems are enormous. The developed BIPV systems will offset approximately 3.3 tons of CO2 per year. These numbers would be significantly higher if BIPV systems are installed in provinces such Alberta and Ontario where electricity is generated by less clean means. It is estimated that these BIPV installations will trigger numerous other installations nation wide.
Services
Applied Research And Development