Research Partnerships and Innovation

Research Partnerships & Innovation

News and Events

Seeking applied student research projects!

August 23, 2017

Do you know of any upcoming, ongoing or recently completed applied research projects that students either participated in or initiated? Please let us know.
We are seeking submissions for our second-annual Applied Research and Innovation Day taking place at the College on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Read More →

International Marketing Intelligence Service Now Accepting Clients

August 15, 2017

The International Marketing Intelligence (IMI) service provides timely and targeted research and supporting services to enterprises of all sizes that are actively considering expansion to international markets.

Our primary goal is to assist small and medium-sized enterprises commercializing and expanding their sales internationally by providing relevant business and market intelligence in countries and regions of interest. Read More →

Thermally Broken Concrete Balconies Project

August 14, 2017

This project focuses on developing cost-effective systems for the implementation of thermally broken concrete slabs for residential mid/high-rise construction.

Background

Traditionally, concrete balconies in mid/high-rise residential buildings are designed as an extension to the floor slab, constructed as a one or two-way reinforced concrete slab cantilevered out past the building’s exterior wall.

Without a thermal break, the balcony easily conducts heat, causing a significant amount of heat loss in the winter, leaving the floor slab and window-wall assembly considerably cooler than the interior temperature, and resulting in condensation.

If not properly controlled, materials eventually start to degrade, reducing the integrity and safety of the structure, and even compromising the indoor air quality from mold growth.

Our Research

  • This project includes experimentally investigating different forms of thermal insulation materials and different types of rebar and then performing thermal testing and analysis, and structural testing on these materials. BETAC is providing the laboratory space for casting samples and the environmental chambers needed for the thermal testing.
  • The main project team includes the College, the University of Manitoba, Crosier Kilgour & Partners and SMT Research.

Status

The first phase of this project started in June, 2016, and is due to complete in August, 2017. The completion of phase two is to be determined.

College Acknowledged as Core Player in Aerospace 'Innovation Hub'

July 28, 2017

Airport areas are leveraging multi-modal connectivity to become ‘Innovation hubs’ for today’s smartest initiatives, writes Chris LeTourneur, president and CEO of MXD Development Strategists, on the Airport World magazine website.
Red River College is listed as a key player, among other international examples, for our collaboration with StandardAero along with other aerospace companies and organizations.
Read the full piece here.

Energy Efficiency Technology Assessment: Drain Water Heat Recovery Evaluation

July 14, 2017

The objective of this project is to investigate and assess the energy efficiency, effectiveness, and performance of vertical, sloped and horizontal DWHR systems for MURB applications. BETAC will be working with Gary Proskiw, Manitoba Hydro, and Manitoba Housing on this project.

Background

Drain-water heat recovery (DWHR) systems recover heat from a building’s wastewater and use it to preheat the fresh incoming water, thereby reducing the overall domestic hot water (DHW) load.

All new Part 9 (residential) construction in Manitoba, as part of the province’s review of Section 9.36 of the National Building Code (other than for houses with slab-on-grade or crawl space foundations), now require a DWHR system. Their introduction into mid/high-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) has been extremely limited.

Our Research

The majority of information and testing available for DWHR performance was developed for vertical installations. However, the accessible portions of the drain lines in MURBs are predominately horizontal or sloped at 45°.

  • Therefore, BETAC will conduct a series of laboratory trials to evaluate the heat recovery performance of typical DWHR units installed in vertical, horizontal and sloped (45°) configurations with the use of Red River College’s plumbing workshop.
  • Surface temperatures and in-line temperatures will be monitored to permit better correction between the two variables for use in future field screening applications.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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