THE ALTERNATE ENERGY GROUP

This group has been particularly active in recent years. PIAS has undertaken several major national and internationally based research projects for the development of innovative alternate energy technologies in solar engineering, methane generation/biomass energy, wind energy, wave energy, improvement of indoor air quality, small-scale hydroelectric development, co-generation, appropriate technology and sustainable development studies. Projects typically involved the development of technology from initial conceptual stages, through laboratory testing and onto pilot-scale evaluation and commercialization.   Examples of some of the work carried out by the Alternate Energy Group includes:

• Technical consultation related to the development of energy efficient housing. 

• Analysis of solar engineering fluid mechanics and heat transfer. 

• Advanced energy storage technologies including phase-change media, porous rock beds and flywheels. 

• Active solar heating including advanced solar panel design and economic of solar systems. 

• Passive solar heating technologies including Trombe Wall design, energy flow calculations, solar pond design and underground housing. 

• Solar cooling and dehumidification. 

• Theory and design of domestic and industrial cogeneration systems. 

• Low cost mini-hydro electric facility design and development. 

• Energy conservation research. 

• Methane generation from agricultural and sewage wastes. 

• Use of advanced biofilters for indoor air quality management and for reduction of energy consumption for industrial air emission control. 

• Development of new wind and wave energy concepts. 

• Sustainable development research and Third World Development issues. 

RECENT PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Some of the recent research activities carried out by the Pacific Institute include:

• Investigations into the optimization of passive solar heating technologies done, for the Government of Ecuador. 

• Research into the improvement of biomass upgrading done, for the EEC alternate energy department. 

• Study of new techniques for the control and treatment of lower back pain, done for the Government of Canada . 

• Study of the biodiversity and ecosystems present in urban wilderness areas, done for the Riverview Horticultural Society. 

• Research into the catalytic augmentation of aerobic bioremediation, done for the U.S. Air Force. 

• Development of Advanced Bed Concept Biofilters for the remediation of chlorinated organic contaminants, done for a private U.S. client. 

• Investigation into advanced cooling technologies for VLSIC chips done for a private client. 

• Study of transient, two-phase, capillary pumped, heat transport systems for NASA.