Day 8: August 18, 2014

Today we visited the Universidade Federal do Parana (Federal University of Parana).  During our time there we visited their hydropower dam simulation facilities and micro algae biomass labs.  Of the two, I found the hydropower dam simulation facility particularly interesting.  At the time of our visit, the university was crafting scale models of dam currently under construction, the Belmonte dam.  The purpose of their dam simulation facility is to recreate the dams to be constructed in a controlled and environment and study how they impact the environment, how designs can be improved and made more efficient.  

Previous dam projects worked by the university.

In addition to the dam simulators, we also visited the university’s biomass lab.  In the labs, the university grew micro algae.  This micro algae can be used for a variety of purposes, one of which is fuel.  One of the byproducts formed in the growing process can be used as fuel when burnt.  As a mechanical engineer, I did not find this part of the visit particularly interesting, but I feel this is mostly in part to dislike of chemistry and biology.  After visiting the Federal University of Parana, we embarked on one of the longest legs of our trip, a 7 hour bus ride to Vale do Ivai, a small town home to a sugar refinery plant.