INNOVATION July-August 2014

2O13 2O14 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Dish Verification Antenna-1 The National Research Council is developing a candidate antenna for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international effort to build a radio-telescope the equivalent of 50 times more sensitive than existing telescopes. Roughly 2,500 15-m offset-Georgian antennas are needed with exceptional stability and low-cost manufacturability. The Dish Verification Antenna-1 (DVA-1) is an innovative design using two rim-supported reflectors (15 m primary, 4 m secondary). The reflectors are carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoques fabricated using a precision mold and vacuum infusion process. Surface deviations from the mold of 50 and 500 microns rms have been achieved, demonstrating that large high- performance reflectors with low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) can be made using mass production techniques. An inauguration of the antenna is expected in early September. National Research Council Canada; project manager: Gary Hovey; lead engineer: Gordon Lacy, P.Eng.; engineering and technology support team: Peter Byrnes, P.Eng., Joeleff Fitzsimmons, P.Eng., Richard Hellyer, Tyler Willis, Rob Messing.

Port Hardy Airport – Waterworks Rehabilitation Project Port Hardy Airport was originally built during World War II and much of the existing water infrastructure on-site today still dates from that time. The Port Hardy Airport Waterworks Rehabilitation Project consisted of two main components: Hydrant removals and limited replacement from the main site distribution system and upgrades to the reservoir controls, re-circulation and re-chlorination system. Five hydrants were removed from the system as they were not needed for fire protection, and 11 hydrants replaced. The reservoir re-circulation and re-chlorination system was updated and will be re-programmed and re-configured to optimize water quality in the system. Client: Public Works and Government Services Canada and Transport Canada. Engineers: Andrew Gower, P.Eng. (project lead, Wedler Engineering LLP); Brian Muir, P.Eng. (electrical engineering, Muir Engineering); Biren Juttun, P.Eng., Gouin Barford, P.Eng. (Public Works and Government Services Canada).

Chemical Production from Biosolids Rotorua, New Zealand, has geothermal sites, pristine lakes and cultural attractions visited by over 3 million tourists a year. In 2006, Rotorua sewage biosolids disposal was costing over $1 million per year and nutrient pollution in its lakes was rising. Council wanted a sustainable solution that destroyed biosolids without incineration. In response, Crown Research Institute Scion developed a process that exothermically converted biosolids to acetic acid, ammonium sulphate and phosphate-rich ash, while reducing nutrients in the treated effluent. Pilot scale studies at Rotorua’s sewage treatment plant were completed in 2013 and the first commercial TERAX TM system is now being designed. The acetic acid produced will be recycled to offset chemical usage in tertiary sewage treatment, while the ammonium sulphate and phosphate will be used by a local agrichemicals manufacturer. Biosolids trucking and disposal will be eliminated. Owner: Rotorua District Council. Technology licensor: Terax Limited Partnership (Steve Sopora, P.Eng.). Process development: Scion. Engineer: WorleyParsons NZ.

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