On June 24th, graduate students in ChemE had the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into one of Canada’s most critical pieces of energy infrastructure during a CEGSA-organized tour of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) Cogeneration Plant at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The industry visit is the latest in a series of experiential learning opportunities organized by the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (CEGSA), following successful tours of McMaster University’s nuclear reactor and Toronto’s R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant earlier this year. Designed to expose graduate students to a broad range of engineering sectors, the GTAA cogeneration facility offered participants a unique perspective on large-scale energy production and utility operations.
Due to operational constraints, the tour was limited to 10 graduate students, including six PhD and four MEng students representing a variety of research groups within the department. The visit was led by Mark Ellis (ChemE 2T2) an alumnus with more than two decades of industrial experience and the past two and a half years at the GTAA facility.
The tour was divided into two components. Participants first explored the airport’s central utilities plant, which has supplied Toronto Pearson with hot and chilled water year-round for decades. They then visited the cogeneration plant, which was commissioned following the Northeast blackout of 2003 and has been connected to Ontario’s electrical grid since 2006. The visit concluded with an informal discussion in which Ellis shared insights into engineering careers, the job search process, and the value of obtaining a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licence.
Throughout the tour, students observed how concepts learned in the classroom—including thermodynamics, transport phenomena, heat and mass balances, and gas turbine operation—are applied in a complex industrial environment. While the overall design of a cogeneration system may appear straightforward in theory, participants gained an appreciation for the intricate network of control systems, quality assurance measures, and interconnected subsystems required to operate the facility safely and efficiently.
“Seeing the complexity of a full-scale cogeneration facility really put our classroom learning into perspective,” said one participant. “It was valuable to understand not only the engineering principles involved, but also the operational and economic decisions that engineers make every day.”
Several aspects of the facility left a lasting impression. Students were surprised by the significant role economics plays in day-to-day operations, with decisions about when to operate certain systems influenced by energy demand, market conditions, and performance incentives. They also learned that while the airport’s central utilities plant operates continuously, the power generation unit only comes online during periods of high electricity demand. Because the visit took place on a mild weekday, the facility’s two large natural gas turbines were not operating.
Participants also discovered the rigorous water treatment processes required to support the airport’s heating and cooling systems. Water is filtered through 0.22-micron filters to remove microorganisms and sediment, with an on-site treatment facility ensuring the high water quality necessary for reliable operation.
Perhaps most striking was the scale of responsibility involved in operating and maintaining industrial equipment. Students learned that repairs to major gas turbine components can exceed one million dollars, underscoring the precision, diligence, and accountability required of plant engineers and operators every day.
Beyond the technical knowledge gained, the visit reinforced the importance of experiential learning in preparing students for careers in engineering. Industry tours provide opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world practice, while also allowing students to network with experienced professionals and build relationships with fellow graduate students outside the laboratory.
CEGSA extends its sincere thanks to Mark Ellis for generously sharing his time, expertise, and enthusiasm throughout the visit. His engaging tour and candid career advice provided participants with valuable insights into both industrial engineering practice and professional development.