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A comprehensive model was developed to simulate gasification of pine sawdust in the presence of both air and steam. The proposed model was built upon the premise of an existing Aspen Plus-based biomass gasification model with select improvements. These include the addition of a temperature-dependent pyrolysis model, an updated hydrodynamic model, more extensive gasification kinetics and the inclusion of tar formation and reaction kinetics. The Aspen Plus process simulator was used in combination with a more extensive Fortran subroutine to appropriately model a Bubbling Fluidized Bed (“BFB”) gasifier. The validity of the model was compared on two fronts: Firstly, the accuracy of the model’s predictions in comparison with the actual experimental results; and secondly, the relative accuracy of the model prediction in comparison to the original base-model.

The design that is being developed is a Water Monitoring System for Speed and Eramosa Rivers. This design consists of four sensors (turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and water level) which monitor the Speed and Eramosa Rivers in Guelph, Ontario. The sensors input measurements to a microcontroller which processes the inputs. The software contained on the microcontroller will pass a warning message to a wireless modem which relays the problem to a base station if dangerous contamination levels are reached.

The city of Leh was the capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. Over time, due to wars, politics, and isolation, the capital city fell into a state of disrepair soon after the royal family was exiled. An explosion in tourism over the last few decades has seen a revival in the local community but most of the benefits including generated tourism revenue have been directed towards development outside the historical boundary of Leh. The residents of what is now known as Leh Old Town suffer from poverty, lack of basic infrastructures such as drainage, and limited access to water. Additionally, Leh Old Town was also placed under World’s Monument Watch in 2008 due to issues related to low-scale modern construction and urgent need of repair for 55% of the historic buildings. Climate change has also been cited as a cause of concern due to issues related to faster melting glaciers and flash floods due to the lack of a drainage system. The main aim of this practicum is to study and demonstrate the role that landscape architects can play in the rehabilitation of historical alpine settlements that have been adversely affected by anthropological factors such as politics, climate change, and over-tourism. It does so by highlighting the cultural and architectural heritage of the Old Town of Leh, known as Kharyog in Ladakhi, and demonstrating the use of indigenous construction materials and methods that have been superseded by modern materials imported from other parts of the country. It also aims to study how the positive effects of tourism can be distributed equally throughout a community to improve the quality of life for the residents of Leh Old Town.

About 45% applications from PV solar farm developers seeking connections to the distribution grids in Ontario were denied in 2011-13 as the short circuit current (SCC) capacity of several distribution substations had already been reached. PV solar system inverters typically contribute 1.2 p.u. to 1.8 p.u. fault current which was not considered acceptable by utility companies due to the need for very expensive protective breaker upgrades. Since then, this cause has become a major impediment in the growth of PV based renewable systems in Ontario. A novel predictive technique has been patented in our research group for management of short circuit current contribution from PV inverters to ensure effective deployment of solar farms. This thesis deals with the real time testing and validation of a short circuit current (SCC) controller based on the above technique. With this SCC controller, the PV inverter can be shut off within 1-2 milliseconds from the initiation of any fault in the grid that can cause the short circuit current to exceed the rated current of the inverter. Therefore, the power system does not see any short circuit current contribution from the PV inverter and no expensive upgrades in protective breakers are required in the system. The performance of the PV solar system with the short circuit current controller is simulated and tested using (i) industry grade electromagnetic transients software PSCAD/EMTDC (ii) real time simulation studies on the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) (iii) physical implementation on dSPACE board to generate firing pulses for the inverter. The validation of controller is done on dSPACE board with actual PV inverter short circuit waveforms obtained from Southern California Edison Short Circuit Testing Lab. This novel technology is planned to be showcased on a physical 10 kW PV solar system in Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation, Sarnia, Ontario. This proposed technology is expected to remove the technical hurdles which caused the denials of connectivity to several PV solar farms, and effectively lead to greater connections of PV solar farms in Ontario and in similar jurisdictions, worldwide.

Emissions trading is a crucial policy tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way. The world’s largest existing emissions trading scheme is the European Union’s cap-and–trade Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). It was established in 2005 through the Emissions Trading Directive to help the European Union and its member states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fulfill their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol in a cost-effective way. The Directive recognizes that linking the EU ETS to other emissions trading schemes would increase the cost-effectiveness of reaching the community’s emissions reduction commitment. When the EU ETS was launched in 2005, in its first phase, it covered over 11,500 energy-intensive installations across the then 15 EU member states, representing 45 percent of the EU’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Currently in its second trading period, from 2008 to 2012, the EU ETS now addresses emissions from the enlarged EU, with 27 member states. The EU ETS is also linked to domestic emissions trading schemes in Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. Most recently, in August 2012, Australia and the EU announced their intention of linking their emissions trading schemes. Switzerland is also considering the establishment of a domestic emissions trading scheme and anticipating linking to the EU ETS in the future. Because of its size and harmonization experience, this scheme offers a starting point for establishing a global network of greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes. Greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in Canada, in particular, the proposed federal scheme and the existing Alberta provincial scheme are also potential candidates for linkage under article 25 of the EU Trading Directive, through an agreement for the mutual recognition of allowances. However, the different designs of the EU and Canadian domestic emissions schemes will pose challenges in establishing linkage. This thesis identifies some of the key features in the design of emissions trading schemes and the implications of these design features when exploring linkage between the EU ETS and the Canadian emissions trading schemes.

When work started on a code for energy conservation in buildings, a preference was expressed for a performance code rather than a prescriptive code. With this type of code, the level of performance or energy budget must be specified and will vary depending on factors including building occupancy and geographical location. This note is one of three giving suggested norms for energy consumption. Two school building layouts, one extended and one compact, were developed. The energy consumption of primary and secondary schools with these layouts was computed. The energy norms derived from these analyses were plotted and compared to recorded energy figures for existing schools.

This study explores the current landscape of entomophagy in Canada from gauging Canadians' acceptance of insect consumption to investigating how behavioural change strategies can encourage regular insect consumption. The research comprises a comprehensive literature review to expand our knowledge of global entomophagy practices, consumption barriers, and behavioural change; expert interviews to gain insights into the present state of entomophagy in North America; and an online survey to examine Canadians' consumption patterns. The outcome of this project is behavioural change strategies that encompass rebranding insects, fostering safe spaces, nurturing aspiration, leveraging media influence, and introducing targeted education. In essence, the study enhances our comprehension of the barriers to entomophagy adoption in Western countries and lays the groundwork for future research and initiatives aimed at promoting insects as a viable supplementary protein source. By promoting sustainable food practices, entomophagy can address global food system challenges such as hunger, food waste, and food insecurity, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future for all.

Bibliography: p. 103-104.