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SFU Partners with Sheridan and 3 BC Tech Companies for Research to Improve Low-Cost Graphite Thermal Management Products
Thursday, April 16, 2015Company Profile | Follow Company
Majid Bahrami, associate professor in the School of Mechatronics Systems Engineering at SFU (Photo Credit: SFU University Communications)
Vancouver, BC, April 16, 2015--(T-Net)--Simon Fraser University announced that it is partnering with Ontario's Sheridan College, and a trio of BC tech companies, on research aimed at helping the companies to gain market advantage from improvements on low-cost graphite thermal management products.
Graphite is an advanced engineering material with key properties that have potential applications in green energy systems, automotive components and heating ventilating air conditioning systems.
The project combines expertise from SFU's Laboratory for Alternative Energy Conversion with Sheridan's Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies.
With $700,000 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) College and Community Innovation program, the research will help accelerate the development and commercialization of this promising technology, says project lead Majid Bahrami, an associate professor in SFU's School of Mechatronics Systems Engineering (MSE) at SFU's Surrey campus.
The proposed graphite products take aim at a strategic $40 billion/year thermal management products market, Bahrami notes.
Inspired by the needs of the companies, Bahrami says the project has strong potential for generating intellectual property, leading to advanced manufacturing processes as well as new, efficient graphite thermal products.
The companies involved include:
Terrella Energy Systems, which recently developed a roll-embossing process that allows high-volume, cost-effective manufacturing of micro-patterned, coated and flexible graphite sheets;
Alpha Technologies, a leading telecom/electronics manufacturer, which is in the process of developing next-generation 'green' cooling solutions for their telecom/electronics systems;
Westport Innovations, which is interested in integrating graphite heat exchangers in their natural gas fuel systems, such as heat exchangers for heavy-duty trucks.
Bahrami, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Alternative Energy Conversion Systems, expects the project will also lead to significant training and future business and employment opportunities in the manufacturing and energy industry, as well as the natural resource sector and their supply chain.
"This project leverages previous federal government investment into world-class testing equipment, and SFU's strong industrial relationships and entrepreneurial culture, to realize collective benefits for students, researchers, and companies," says Joy Johnson, SFU's VP Research. "By working together and pooling resources, SFU and its partners will continue to generate novel green technologies and energy conversion solutions."
Fast Facts:
About SFU
As Canada's engaged university, SFU is defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement. SFU was founded almost 50 years ago with a mission to be a different kind of university—to bring an interdisciplinary approach to learning, embrace bold initiatives, and engage with communities near and far. Today, SFU is a leader amongst Canada's comprehensive research universities and is ranked one of the top universities in the world under 50 years of age. With campuses in British Columbia's three largest cities—Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby—SFU has eight faculties, delivers almost 150 programs to over 30,000 students, and boasts more than 130,000 alumni in 130 countries around the world.
Contact:
Majid Bahrami, 778.783.8538; mbahrami@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, University Communications, 778.782.9017; Marianne_Meadahl@sfu.ca
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