Research Facilities  
 
  The Chair has at its disposal unique state-of-the-art research facilities installed in the Icing Research Pavillion at the University of Québec in Chicoutimi (UQAC). This pavilion, as well as several major pieces of equipment, were acquired with the aid of a sizeable grant awarded to Professor Farzaneh and his team within the framework of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), projects, with financial support from Hydro-Québec, the Quebec Government and UQAC.

  
  The pavillion was inaugurated on February 25, 2000. The laboratories housed in the pavillion are:

  

  Icing Precipitation Simulation Laboratory

  
  Physical Discharge Laboratory

  
         
 
High Voltage Laboratory

  
  Numerical Modeling
and Simulation Laboratory

  
 
 
  Nanomaterials and Surface Technologies Laboratory

  
  In 2005, as part of the expansion of the Pavilion of Icing Research, a new laboratory on nanomaterials, endowed with state-of-the art equipment, was created. This new infrastructure allows a wide variety of studies including deposits and chemico-physical characterization of materials (PECV, spraying, dip coating, centrifugal coating, XPS, MEB, AFM, contact angle, X-Ray microscopy in 3D, etc.), as well as ice adhesion measurement.
  X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

  
  Atmospheric Plasma Jet

  
         
 
Atomic Force Microscopy

  
  Low pressure plasma system

  
         
 
X-ray Microtomograph Skyscan

  
  Potentiostat

  
         
 
Accelerated Weathering Tester

  
  Drop Shape Analysis

  


 
  Through these laboratories, CIGELE students and researchers have access to ultramodern specialized research facilities and computer equipment such as:

  
  Three climate rooms, one of which is a vertical circulation room with a sliding roof, making possible not only very realistic simulation of different types of atmospheric ice, but also collection of natural precipitation, snow in particular.


  
Vertical circulation climate room with an
ice-covered post type insulator		  
Icing test on a three-phase disconnector
  View inside the vertical circulation climate room with freezing rain generator and high voltage bushing
  



800,000 volts impulse generator		  

Refrigerated Wind Tunnel		  


Two Test Transformers
  120,000 volt test transformer
 
350,000 volt test transformer


  Modular Impulse System
  
   


  A powerful computer system and software, as well as specialized equipment.  


  CIGELE is not, however, limited to that essential equipment alone, but can also rely on its own natural icing site on the Valin Mountain range near Chicoutimi, as well as on the Hydro-Québec natural icing sites, in particular the Mont Bélair site, near Quebec City. Real-time data communicated to CIGELE computers make it possible for its researchers to analyze results, to develop probabilistic icing models, and also to carry out theoretical studies and laboratory experiments.