Engineering Commons^™

Radioactive Waste, Andrii Ligun, Nazifa Afroz

Featured Student Work

The Technical Report addresses the critical issue of nuclear waste management, exploring its sources, challenges, and potential solutions. The report delves into the current state of nuclear waste disposal technologies, emphasizing the need for sustainable and secure practices. Important subjects include the classification of radioactive waste, the consequences of inappropriate disposal for the environment, and an assessment of current disposal techniques. The paper also addresses new disposal techniques and policy issues for the responsible and safe management of radioactive waste. The results highlight the significance of a comprehensive strategy for managing radioactive waste that strikes a balance between public involvement, …

The Use Of Membranes And Membrane Bioreactors For Wastewater Treatment By: Yasmine Healey Submitted: December 4th 2021 Chemical Engineering, Yasmine Healey

Featured Student Work

In the face of water shortages, population growth, and climate change, improvements in wastewater treatment operations and technology are necessary to reduce the over exploitation of freshwater resources around the world. Conventional wastewater treatment operations have succeeded in the past to treat industrial and municipal wastewater, however with increasing water demands and ever-changing environmental regulations, new and improved technology is necessary for a sustainable future. Membrane filtration and membrane bioreactors have increased in popularity as a new and improved method for wastewater treatment. Membrane bioreactors as well as various membrane filtration systems were studied in this report including their unit …

Inclusive Play Spaces, Carla Munemori Da Rosa Borges

Featured Student Work

Sheridan’s Material ConneXion Library Interior Decorating intern, Carla Munemori da Rosa Borges, researched materials suitable for a barrier-free design for children’s play areas. The role of sustainable materials in children’s play and recreation areas and the role of texture are explored. Materials from the Material ConneXion Library have been chosen and their use in inclusive play areas are analyzed for design consideration and use characteristics.

Implementation Of Machine Learning Algorithms For Prediction Of Fluidelastic Instability In Tube Arrays, Joaquin Moran, Yasser Selima

Publications and Scholarship

Fluidelastic instability (FEI) in tube arrays has been studied extensively experimentally and theoretically for the last 50 years, due to its potential to cause significant damage in short periods. Incidents similar to those observed at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station indicate that the problem is not yet fully understood, probably due to the large number of factors affecting the phenomenon. In this study, a new approach for the analysis and interpretation of FEI data using machine learning (ML) algorithms is explored. FEI data for both single and two-phase flows have been collected from the literature and utilized for training a …

Latency Of Concatenating Unlicensed Lpwan With Cellular Iot: An Experimental Qoe Study, Mouhamed Abdulla, Zohreh Motamedi, Alvin Ramoutar

Publications and Scholarship

Developing low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) solutions that are efficient to adopt, deploy and maintain are vital for smart cities. The poor quality-of-service of unlicensed LPWAN, and the high service cost of LTE-M/NB-IoT are key disadvantages of these technologies. Concatenating unlicensed with licensed LPWANs can overcome these limitations and harness their benefits. However, a concatenated LPWAN architecture will inevitably result in excess latency which may impact users’ quality-of-experience (QoE). To evaluate the real-life feasibility of this system, we first propose a concatenated LPWAN architecture and experimentally measure the statistics of end-to-end (E2E) latencies. The concatenated delay margin is determined by benchmarking …

Towards Better Remote Healthcare Experiences: An Mhealth Video Conferencing System For Improving Healthcare Outcomes, El Sayed Mahmoud, Edward Sykes, Blake Eram, Sandy Schwenger, Jimmy Poulin, Mark Cheers

Publications and Scholarship

This work investigated how to combine mobile cloud computing, video conferencing and user interface design principles to promote the effectiveness and the ease of using online healthcare appointment platforms. The Jitsi Meet video conference technology was selected from amongst 27 competing systems based on efficiency and security criteria. This platform was used as the foundation on which we designed, developed and evaluated of our video conferencing system specially designed for improving doctor-patient interaction and experiences. Nine doctor- patient functions were developed in order to facilitate efficient and effective online healthcare appointments, such as providing the doctor with the ability to …

Transcending Lockdown: Fostering Student Imagination Through Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning And Creativity In Engineering Design Courses, E. Martin Nolan

Creative Humanities Special Issues

Engineering design and communication courses are typically dynamic, active learning spaces that bring together a complex array of knowledge and skills. Their ambiguous nature has allowed, often contentiously, subjects such as language and communication, the arts, the humanities and the social sciences to enter the discourse of engineering in a newly meaningful way. This paper considers this development in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular how the creativity and imagination required to succeed in engineering design might be cultivated in emergency distance learning. I consider a plethora of sources for guidance, with a special interest in how …

Framework For An Integrated Learning Block With Cdio-Led Engineering Education, Mouhamed Abdulla, Meagan Troop, Amjed Majeed

Publications and Scholarship

As a CDIO collaborating member, Sheridan’s School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology (MEET) maintains a curriculum that is deeply rooted in skills-based learning, experiential learning, and engineering design. To ensure our graduates are consistently agile and ready for the workforce, we are taking proactive measures to further improve their learningexperiences. An important challenge still impedingour students’knowledge acquisition is the perception that program courses have disjointed learning outcomes. In reality, the course map of programs is carefully designed in such a way that technical skills acquired in particular courses gradually build on each other. Despite the traditional existence of prerequisites …

Reasoning About Ideal Interruptible Moments: A Soft Computing Implementation Of An Interruption Classifier In Free-Form Task Environments, Edward R. Sykes

Publications and Scholarship

Current trends in society and technology make the concept of interruption a central human computer interaction problem. In this work, a novel soft computing implementation for an Interruption Classifier was designed, developed and evaluated that draws from a user model and real-time observations of the user's actions as s/he works on computer-based tasks to determine ideal times to interact with the user. This research is timely as the number of interruptions people experience daily has grown considerably over the last decade. Thus, systems are needed to manage interruptions by reasoning about ideal timings of interactions. This research shows: (1) the …

Low-Carbon Building Skills Website, Faculty Of Applied Science And Technology Sheridan College

Books and Websites

Low-carbon building involves designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and removing buildings in ways that conserve natural resources and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. To move towards a low-carbon economy, we need tradespeople who are educated in the design, construction maintenance and operation of buildings, who understand the industrial and constructions sectors, and are trained in low-carbon building skills.

Sheridan College’s participation in the Low Carbon Building Skills (LCBS) project involved developing and delivering low-carbon building skills curriculum across relevant disciplines and involving the full building cycle, from design to operations and optimization. The learning modules address what can be done to …

Intent Detection Through Text Mining And Analysis, Samantha Akulick, El Sayed Mahmoud

Publications and Scholarship

The article is about the work investigated using n-grams, parts-Of-Speech and Support Vector machines for detecting the customer intents in the user generated contents. The work demonstrated a system of categorization of customer intents that is concise and useful for business purposes. We examined possible sources of text posts to be analyzed using three text mining algorithms. We presented the three algorithms and the results of testing them in detecting different six intents. This work established that intent detection can be performed on text posts with approximately 61% accuracy.

An Engagement Strategy For Teaching Computing Concepts, El Sayed Mahmoud

Publications and Scholarship

The research work in this paper investigates a new teaching strategy that uses active learning through play to increase students’ uptake of learning computing concepts. The strategy promotes student engagement through playing a customized Jenga game. The game consists of a set of blocks, one side of each block is covered with a piece of dry-erase tape to allow erasing and writing on the blocks. This allows instructors to reuse this editable Jenga for developing their own game-based learning activities. The editable Jenga can be used without writing if needed. Three sample activities with writing have been developed and conducted …

Transforming Lives At Sheridan : A Tribute To Dr. Mozammel Khan, Lorraine Fraser, Mozammel Khan, Iain Mcnab, Jack Urowitz, Soumitra Nandi, Srinivas Ganapathyraju, Kam Ho, Daniel Zrymiak

Books and Websites

The original 2017 edition of this title was published in recognition of Dr. Mozammel Khan’s career in quality assurance instruction and positive impact on graduates of Sheridan College’s Quality Assurance Manfacturing Management program (PQUAS), with proceeds from the book supporting the Mozammel Khan scholarship Foundation. Khan, originally from Bangladesh, taught in Singapore before immigrating to Canada in the 1990s, where he founded the first post-secondary QA program of its kind in Ontario at Sheridan College.

Editor Lorraine Fraser collects heartfelt letters of appreciation to Khan from alumni of the PQUAS program, who share memories, successes and challenges from their time …

Wireless Resource Virtualization: Opportunities, Challenges, And Solutions, M. Kali, M. Youssef, A. Shami, A. Al‐Dweik, Shirook Ali

Publications and Scholarship

Wireless resource virtualization (WRV) is currently emerging as a key technology to overcome the major challenges facing the mobile network operators (MNOs) such as reducing the capital, minimizing the operating expenses, improving the quality of service, and satisfying the growing demand for mobile services. Achieving such conflicting objectives simultaneously requires a highly efficient utilization of the available resources including the network infrastructure and the reserved spectrum. In this paper, the most dominant WRV frameworks are discussed where different levels of network infrastructure and spectrum resources are shared between multiple MNOs. Moreover, we summarize the major benefits and most pressing business …

Hydrothermal Conversion Of Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical Red Liquor Into Hydrochar, Ramy Gamgoum, Animesh Dutta, Rafael M. Santos, Yi Wai Chiang

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Hydrochar was produced from neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) red liquor as a possible bio-based solid fuel for use in power generation facilities. Hydrothermal conversion (HTC) experiments were conducted using a fixed liquor-to-water volume ratio of 1:8 and reaction time of 3 h. Solutions were processed using different chemical additives, pH and temperature conditions to determine the optimum conditions required for producing a high energy content solid fuel. The hydrochar samples produced were analyzed by ultimate, thermogravimetric (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses to determine physicochemical properties that are important for utilization as a fuel. The residual process liquids …

Co2 Energy Reactor – Integrated Mineral Carbonation: Perspectives On Lab-Scale Investigation And Products Valorization, Rafael M. Santos, Pol C. M. Knops, Keesjan L. Rijnsburger, Yi Wai Chiang

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

To overcome the challenges of mineral CO2 sequestration, Innovation Concepts B.V. is developing a unique proprietary gravity pressure vessel (GPV) reactor technology and has focussed on generating reaction products of high economic value. The GPV provides intense process conditions through hydrostatic pressurization and heat exchange integration that harvests exothermic reaction energy, thereby reducing energy demand of conventional reactor designs, in addition to offering other benefits. In this paper, a perspective on the status of this technology and outlook for the future is provided. To date, laboratory-scale tests of the envisioned process have been performed in a tubular “rocking autoclave” reactor. …

Area Contraction Effect On Shock Tube Performance, Numerical And Experimental Study, Ali Mohammed Hussein Mohsen, M. Z. Yusoff, Amir Alfalahi

Publications and Scholarship

The paper presents numerical and experimental study on the effect of area contraction in shock tube facility. The shock tube is the main component of short duration test facility at The Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Malaysia. In the shock tube, a small area contraction in form of a removable bush was facilitated adjacent to the diaphragm section. The flow process was simulated using a two-dimensional time-accurate Navier-Stokes solver. The solver uses second order accurate cell-vertex finite volume spatial discretization and fourth orders accurate Runge-Kutta temporal integration. In this study, the solver was programmed based on the dimensions and configuration of …

Nickel Extraction From Olivine: Effect Of Carbonation Pre-Treatment, Rafael M. Santos, Aldo Van Audenaerde, Yi Wai Chiang, Remus I. Iacobescu, Pol Knops, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

In this work, we explore a novel mineral processing approach using carbon dioxide to promote mineral alterations that lead to improved extractability of nickel from olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4). The precept is that by altering the morphology and the mineralogy of the ore via mineral carbonation, the comminution requirements and the acid consumption during hydrometallurgical processing can be reduced. Furthermore, carbonation pre-treatment can lead to mineral liberation and concentration of metals in physically separable phases. In a first processing step, olivine is fully carbonated at high CO2 partial pressures (35 bar) and optimal temperature (200 °C) with the addition of pH buffering …

Utilization Of Carbonated Bof Slag As Partial Replacement Of Aggregate In Cement Mortars, Marius Bodor, Rafael M. Santos, Geanina Cristea, Muhammad Salman, Özlem Cizer, Remus I. Iacobescu, Yi Wai Chiang, Koen Van Balen, Maria Vlad, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

After direct mineral carbonation, a material rich in carbonates and with reduced quantities of free oxides is obtained. The aim of this work was to show that such materials can be used in the construction domain. Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slag from the steelmaking process has been traditionally seen as unfit for bounded applications due to its propensity to swelling, resulting from hydration of its high free lime content. Here, BOF slag was crushed to suitable particle sizes, carbonated in an aqueous solution of carbonic acid, and utilized to replace 50% of natural sand aggregate in cement mortars. The mechanical …

The Power Of Creative Space In Engineering Education, Jeff Zabudsky, Farzad Rayegani, Yael Katz

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

In order to graduate globally capable engineers who are not only technically savvy, but socially competent and business smart, Sheridan’s School of Engineering has found both a process and a ‘place’ to meet these goals and align with their vision to create curricula that inspire innovation and creativity. The process: the CDIO methodology that helps graduate “ready to work” engineers. The place: Sheridan’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies (CAMDT).

In the fall of 2013 Sheridan unveiled its new visual identity with a tag line that challenges people to "get creative." It's a bold and courageous statement that reflects …

Distinguishing Between Carbonate And Non-Carbonate Precipitates From The Carbonation Of Calcium-Containing Organic Acid Leachates, Rafael M. Santos, Yi Wai Chiang, Jan Elsen, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Two organic acids were trialled for the extraction of calcium from steelmaking blast furnace slag for the purpose of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) production: succinic and acetic acids. While the leaching performance of succinic acid was superior, carbonation of its leachate did not result in the production of PCC, but rather the precipitation of calcium succinate, and only after the use of pH buffering agents (sodium hydroxide or bicarbonate). In contrast, carbonation of the acetic acid leachate resulted in the production of PCC, also with the aid of buffering agents. This discrepancy highlights the need for a combination of chemical, …

Towards Zero-Waste Mineral Carbon Sequestration Via Two-Way Valorization Of Ironmaking Slag, Yi Wai Chiang, Rafael M. Santos, Jan Elsen, Boudewijn Meesschaert, Johan A. Martens, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

A three-stage process was developed to transform blast furnace slag (BFS) into two valuable products: precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and zeolitic materials. The conceptualized process aims to simultaneously achieve sustainable CO2 sequestration and solid waste elimination. Calcium is first selectively extracted by leaching with an organic acid, followed by carbonation of the leachate to precipitate CaCO3. In parallel, the hydrothermal conversion of the extracted solid residues in alkali solution induces the dissolution/precipitation mechanism that leads to the formation of micro- and meso-porous zeolitic materials. Leaching selectivity was identified as a key factor in the valorization potential of both products. Acetic …

Chemoorganotrophic Bioleaching Of Olivine For Nickel Recovery, Yi Wai Chiang, Rafael M. Santos, Aldo Van Audenaerde, Annick Monballiu, Tom Van Gerven, Boudewijn Meesschaert

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Bioleaching of olivine, a natural nickel-containing magnesium-iron-silicate, was conducted by applying chemoorganotrophic bacteria and fungi. The tested fungus, Aspergillus niger, leached substantially more nickel from olivine than the tested bacterium, Paenibacillus mucilaginosus. Aspergillus niger also outperformed two other fungal species: Humicola grisae and Penicillium chrysogenum. Contrary to traditional acid leaching, the microorganisms leached nickel preferentially over magnesium and iron. An average selectivity factor of 2.2 was achieved for nickel compared to iron. The impact of ultrasonic conditioning on bioleaching was also tested, and it was found to substantially increase nickel extraction by A. niger. This is credited to an enhancement …

Effect Of Accelerated Carbonation On Aod Stainless Steel Slag For Its Valorisation As A Co2-Sequestering Construction Material, Muhammad Salman, Özlem Cizer, Yiannis Pontikes, Rafael M. Santos, Ruben Snellings, Lucie Vandewalle, Bart Blanpain, Koen Van Balen

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Non-stabilized Argon Oxygen Decarburisation (AODNS) slag in powdered form was examined for its carbon dioxide sequestration capacity and for its potential utilization in the fabrication of high value building materials. The curing of the sample was carried out in two accelerated carbonation environments: i) in a carbonation chamber, maintained at atmospheric pressure, 22 °C, 5 vol.% CO₂ and 80% RH; and ii) in a carbonation reactor, where the CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) and temperature could be further increased. In the carbonation chamber, an average compressive strength of over 20 MPa, on a 64 cm …

Magnesium Chloride As A Leaching And Aragonite-Promoting Self-Regenerative Additive For The Mineral Carbonation Of Calcium-Rich Materials, Rafael M. Santos, Marius Bodor, Paul N. Dragomir, Andreea G. Vraciu, Maria Vlad, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Two approaches for the intensification of the mineral carbonation reaction are combined and studied in this work, namely: (i) the calcium leaching and aragonite promoting effects of magnesium chloride (MgCl2), and (ii) the passivating layer abrasion effect of sonication. The alkaline materials subjected to leaching and carbonation tests included lime, wollastonite, steel slags, and air pollution control (APC) residue. Batch leaching tests were conducted with varying concentrations of additives to determine extraction efficiency, and with varying solids-to-liquid ratios to determine solubility limitations. Aqueous mineral carbonation tests, with and without the use of ultrasound, were conducted applying varying concentrations of magnesium …

Impacts Of Nickel Nanoparticles On Mineral Carbonation, Marius Bodor, Rafael M. Santos, Yi Wai Chiang, Maria Vlad, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

This work presents experimental results regarding the use of pure nickel nanoparticles (NiNP) as a mineral carbonation additive. The aim was to confirm if the catalytic effect of NiNP, which has been reported to increase the dissolution of CO2 and the dissociation of carbonic acid in water, is capable of accelerating mineral carbonation processes. The impacts of NiNP on the CO2 mineralization by four alkaline materials (pure CaO and MgO, and AOD and CC steelmaking slags), on the product mineralogy, on the particle size distribution, and on the morphology of resulting materials were investigated. NiNP-containing solution was found to reach …

Recent Developments And Perspectives On The Treatment Of Industrial Wastes By Mineral Carbonation - A Review, Marius Bordor, Rafael M. Santos, Tom Van Gerven, Maria Vlad

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Besides producing a substantial portion of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, the industrial sector also generates significant quantities of solid residues. Mineral carbonation of alkaline wastes enables the combination of these two by-products, increasing the sustainability of industrial activities. On top of sequestering CO2 in geochemically stable form, mineral carbonation of waste materials also brings benefits such as stabilization of leaching, basicity and structural integrity, enabling further valorization of the residues, either via reduced waste treatment or landfilling costs, or via the production of marketable products. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art of this technology and the latest developments in this field. …

Comparative Study Of Ageing, Heat Treatment And Accelerated Carbonation For Stabilization Of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash In View Of Reducing Regulated Heavy Metal/Metalloid Leaching, Rafael M. Santos, Gilles Mertens, Muhammad Salman, Özlem Cizer, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

This study compared the performance of four different approaches for stabilization of regulated heavy metal and metalloid leaching from municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA): (i) short term (three months) heap ageing, (ii) heat treatment, (iii) accelerated moist carbonation, and (iv) accelerated pressurized slurry carbonation. Two distinct types of MSWI-BA were tested in this study: one originating from a moving-grate furnace incineration operation treating exclusively household refuse (sample B), and another originating from a fluid-bed furnace incineration operation that treats a mixture of household and light industrial wastes (sample F). The most abundant elements in the ashes were Si …

Accelerated Mineral Carbonation Of Stainless Steel Slags For Co2 Storage And Waste Valorization: Effect Of Process Parameters On Geochemical Properties, Rafael M. Santos, Jens Van Bouwel, Ellen Vandevelde, Gilles Mertens, Jan Elsen, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

This work explores the mineral carbonation of stainless steel slags in search for a technically and economically feasible treatment solution that steers these waste residues away from costly disposal in landfills and into valuable applications. Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) and Continuous Casting (CC) slags prove ideal for mineral carbonation as their powdery morphology forgoes the need for milling and provides sufficient surface area for high reactivity towards direct aqueous carbonation. Experiments were undertaken using two methodologies: unpressurized thin-film carbonation, and pressurized slurry carbonation. The influence of process parameters (temperature, CO2 partial pressure, time, solids loading) on the slag carbonation conversion …

Ultrasound-Intensified Mineral Carbonation, Rafael M. Santos, Davy Francois, Gilles Mertens, Jan Elsen, Tom Van Gerven

Faculty Publications and Scholarship

Several aspects of ultrasound-assisted mineral carbonation were investigated in this work. The objectives were to intensify the CO₂ sequestration process to improve reaction kinetics and maximal conversion. Stainless steel slags, derived from the Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) and Continuous Casting / Ladle Metallurgy (CC/LM) refining steps, were used for assessing the technical feasibility of this concept, as they are potential carbon sinks and can benefit from reduction in alkalinity (pH) by mineral carbonation. Ultrasound was applied by use of an ultrasound horn into the reaction slurry, where mineral carbonation reaction took place at 50 ^oC for up to …