This text is part of the special Research section
Founded five years ago, Concordia University’s Green-SEAM network brings together specialists from all walks of life to develop processes that improve performance while integrating environmental concerns.
The work of the Green-SEAM (Surface Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing) network spans several cutting-edge fields, from the aerospace industry to the natural resources and ‘renewable energy. Formed five years ago, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada-funded network brings together surface engineering experts from 11 Canadian universities and 14 companies and other government laboratories that specialize in coating materials. .
“We wanted to create a place where specialists from different disciplines work together to develop processes that improve performance, but integrating environmental concerns,” explains Christian Moreau, professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering and director of Green -SEAM. Indeed, if, for example, the application of a coating on a turbine has an environmental cost (resources, material, energy), this process can lead to savings in gasoline or CO emissions.2.
This is why the Green-SEAM integrates specialists in life cycle analysis (LCA), such as Professor Shannon Lloyd. “It’s quite new, this integration of life cycle analysis into surface engineering research,” she says. “Historically, we focused on solving one problem, creating other problems in the process. We now have the tools and methods to really understand the impacts that a technology would have if it were developed, used and adopted in one way or another,” continues the professor.
From micro to macro
The members of Green-SEAM work on several themes, and their research includes both analyzes of specific technologies in development and macro studies focusing on possible innovations to improve an entire sector, such as the energy sector.
In collaboration with Safran, a French aviation company member of the network, Shannon Lloyd looked into two technologies with the potential to reduce the company’s environmental impact. It compared two types of technology for removing the coating from aircraft landing gear. Landing gear covers have a limited life and, rather than replacing all of this state-of-the-art equipment (which costs up to half a million dollars), we seek to remove the cover and put a new one on. . The researcher set out to compare the advantages and disadvantages of two technologies, that of the chemical bath (which we currently use), and a new pulsed water jet technology in development.
“We performed several scenarios to measure the performance of these technologies,” notes M.me Lloyd. Results ? The new technology is promising, and the mechanically detached coating could be recycled.
But innovative technologies are not always more environmentally efficient. In other research in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Prof. Lloyd compared the use of a heated coating for pipes to the heating elements currently used to coat them. While the coating results in energy savings, the installation and manufacturing process had an environmental cost that was not advantageous…unless the technology was used in places where electricity is generated with fossil fuels, like in Alberta or Nunavut.
Integrating LCA into mindsets
Not only is it important to study the environmental impacts of surface treatment technologies, but it is essential to do so from the start of development: “People in industry invest so much money in the development of technologies that they want more and more to have an overall picture of the environmental impacts,” emphasizes Mr. Moreau.
In addition to analyzing the environmental impact, researchers also study the economic viability of new technologies, crucial information for companies when it comes time to make decisions. “A decade ago, it was much more expensive to choose the best solution for the environment. But that’s less and less the case, especially when you consider all the other financial risks associated with environmental impacts,” says Ms.me Lloyd.
Companies face increasing pressure from a variety of stakeholders (government, citizens) to reduce their environmental impact. “The aviation sector is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. It’s happening fast,” recalls Mr. Moreau.
Even if many students still consider that the environmental impact is not their responsibility, the professors observe a growing interest in LCA. “It is essential. They are the future workers of the industry”, concludes the professor.