Impact

The Canadian energy sector has developed standard practices to ensure that oil and gas pipelines remain safe as they age. For the past decade, these standard practices have been influenced by a team of researchers, including one University of Alberta professor and his industrial partners, who use neutron beams to better understand stress and corrosion in pipeline steel.

After using neutron beams to gather data on why 3D printing sometimes fails, one industry–university collaboration is now offering more reliable printing algorithms.

A University of Manitoba physicist is part of an international research team developing a cancer treatment method that uses magnetic nanoparticles to kill tumours with heat.

Stress data from the CNBC helped Canada leverage closer research collaboration with allies.

Using the probing power of neutron beams, Professor Dimitry Sediako at the University of British Columbia is solving industrial challenges in the development of lighter powertrains for automotive and marine vehicles.

Hydro-Québec is using stress data from the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) to improve electricity generation from hydroelectric dams.

Operators of nuclear power plants use stress data from the CNBC to ensure safe, reliable and economic operations.

Stress data obtained at the CNBC contributed to a guide that is used by nuclear operators in Japan to inform decisions about expensive replacements of in-core components that may be susceptible to cracking.

Rolls Royce has applied for a patent for a new material for use in higher-efficiency jet engines, after collaborating with University of Cambridge scientists to study new alloys using neutron beams.

New Brunswick Power accessed neutron beams to obtain critical knowledge to understand unexpected incidents at its nuclear power plant and assure its safe and reliable operations.

Stress data from an array of feeder pipes obtained with neutron beams assists NB Power to manage the cracking issues and informs decision-making about the timing of its refurbishment.

The Canadian nuclear industry rose to immediate challenges posed by the cracking issues, employing neutron beams as part of their research on materials. That research provided confidence to continue with a multi-billion export project, enabled all the stations to assure safety for continued, and resulted in spin-off technology.