An Innovative Powertrain Architecture and Optimal Energy Management for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the dependence of vehicles on fossil fuels, thereby reducing their emissions of carbon and other pollutants. The project will produce new knowledge in automotive engineering, software tools for vehicle design and a novel powertrain architecture with key components almost ready for commercial application. The research will ....An Innovative Powertrain Architecture and Optimal Energy Management for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technologies will significantly reduce the dependence of vehicles on fossil fuels, thereby reducing their emissions of carbon and other pollutants. The project will produce new knowledge in automotive engineering, software tools for vehicle design and a novel powertrain architecture with key components almost ready for commercial application. The research will directly contribute to the use of green energy and the reduction of vehicles' harmful environmental impacts. The nation will benefit from new economic activity, such as increased exports of automotive parts and components, and from strengthening its position as a world leader in reducing carbon emissions.Read moreRead less
A Fundamental Study on Redox Behaviour of Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Combustion. Our goal here is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the redox behaviour of metal oxide oxygen carriers which, arguably, underpins the feasibility of the Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) concept. Although the proposed work is fundamental and will contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the results will have immediate practical applications in power generation industry at both national and internatio ....A Fundamental Study on Redox Behaviour of Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Combustion. Our goal here is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the redox behaviour of metal oxide oxygen carriers which, arguably, underpins the feasibility of the Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) concept. Although the proposed work is fundamental and will contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the results will have immediate practical applications in power generation industry at both national and international levels. This should significantly contribute to the Australian Government's efforts in producing world class solutions for abatement of greenhouse emissions (Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Priority Goal 1.4 - Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation).Read moreRead less
Quantitative analysis of dynamic performance of vehicles with uncertain system parameters and road inputs. Ride comfort, road holding and stability of on-road vehicles are not only important quality indicators but major public health and safety issues. To accurately predict and prevent unsafe motions of a vehicle under all circumstances is still a major technological challenge. The research, which aims to develop a novel design theory, presents a significant step forward in tackling the challeng ....Quantitative analysis of dynamic performance of vehicles with uncertain system parameters and road inputs. Ride comfort, road holding and stability of on-road vehicles are not only important quality indicators but major public health and safety issues. To accurately predict and prevent unsafe motions of a vehicle under all circumstances is still a major technological challenge. The research, which aims to develop a novel design theory, presents a significant step forward in tackling the challenge in the quantitative performance analysis of vehicles with various uncertainties. The acquired knowledge will assist engineers in developing safer vehicles and also benefit the aeronautical, military and other transportation industries. The wider community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by car crashes.Read moreRead less
Dual input clutchless power-shifting transmission for hybrid vehicles. This project studies a newly proposed clutchless power-shifting transmission (CPT) for hybrid and electric vehicle applications. It aims to design new methods and actuators for power-on gear change to realise the best possible performance of the CPT, and through simulation and experimentation evaluate the system performance and response under both steady state and transient conditions. The proposed transmission is expected to ....Dual input clutchless power-shifting transmission for hybrid vehicles. This project studies a newly proposed clutchless power-shifting transmission (CPT) for hybrid and electric vehicle applications. It aims to design new methods and actuators for power-on gear change to realise the best possible performance of the CPT, and through simulation and experimentation evaluate the system performance and response under both steady state and transient conditions. The proposed transmission is expected to significantly reduce the efficiency losses present in modern vehicles and establish new techniques for achieving gear and mode changes that do not rely on friction clutches. It is anticipated that these novel technologies will provide new direction for developing the next generation of very high efficiency automotive power train technologies.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Starter Alternator for Automobiles using a New Wide Speed Range Interior Permanent Magnet Motor and a Matrix Z-Source Converter. The projected growth of power demand and efficiency of future automobiles calls for a suitable integrated starter-alternator (ISA) to be developed. While interim solutions have been offered, a true ISA is still considered to be more than five years away. Considering the huge worldwide market, an ISA developed in Australia is expected to benefit the large ....An Integrated Starter Alternator for Automobiles using a New Wide Speed Range Interior Permanent Magnet Motor and a Matrix Z-Source Converter. The projected growth of power demand and efficiency of future automobiles calls for a suitable integrated starter-alternator (ISA) to be developed. While interim solutions have been offered, a true ISA is still considered to be more than five years away. Considering the huge worldwide market, an ISA developed in Australia is expected to benefit the large Australian automobile industry significantly. The CIs has strong links with local developers and suppliers of power semiconductors and motors, who have participated in the recent developments already carried out. A proven ISA developed locally should be a boon for these industries.Read moreRead less
Demand Dependent Active Suspensions for Preventing Vehicle Rollover. Rollover crashes are a major public safety issue in Australia. Reliable and low cost anti-roll technology and the availability of required design methodology and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The knowledge acquired from this project would provide an essential theoretical basis for commercialising th ....Demand Dependent Active Suspensions for Preventing Vehicle Rollover. Rollover crashes are a major public safety issue in Australia. Reliable and low cost anti-roll technology and the availability of required design methodology and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance its competitiveness in the global marketplace. The knowledge acquired from this project would provide an essential theoretical basis for commercialising the proposed suspensions and enhance the exports of Australian car component manufacturers. It would also benefit aeronautical, military and other industries. The wide community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by rollover crashes, and through increased employment in industry.Read moreRead less
Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In additio ....Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In addition, much needed Occupational Health & Safety information regarding vehicle rollover crashworthiness, which provide a safe work place environment for professional drivers and employees using vehicles, will be supplied to industry fleet managers, defence and emergency services.Read moreRead less
Carbon surface oxides: the key to understanding the chemical rate of carbon combustion. This project employs a unique combination of experimental measurements and fundamental quantum chemical calculations to study the oxides which form on the surface of carbon as it burns. Our objective is to develop a quantitative model for the kinetics of carbon combustion which will be a profound improvement over existing approaches. Such a model would provide the basis for the improved prediction of carbon c ....Carbon surface oxides: the key to understanding the chemical rate of carbon combustion. This project employs a unique combination of experimental measurements and fundamental quantum chemical calculations to study the oxides which form on the surface of carbon as it burns. Our objective is to develop a quantitative model for the kinetics of carbon combustion which will be a profound improvement over existing approaches. Such a model would provide the basis for the improved prediction of carbon combustion and gasification in current (coal-burning) power generation appliances, as well as catering for new approaches to lowering greenhouse emissions which also depend on the combustion and gasification of carbon as coal, biomass or refuse-derived fuel.Read moreRead less
In-cylinder soot sampling and morphology analysis in an optically-accessible diesel engine. Black soot emissions from diesel engines are associated with respiratory illness, cancer, and heart attacks. This project aims to reduce diesel soot emissions by clarifying the nature of the structure and size of soot particles that are sampled from both the engine cylinder and the tailpipe.
Investigation into on-road vehicle rollovers using a combined rigid and flexible multibody model. Rollover propensity is one of the major safety indicators of vehicles. In-depth understanding of the causes and mechanisms of vehicle rollovers and the availability of advanced design and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance the industry's competitiveness in the international marketplace. The developed knowledge would also ....Investigation into on-road vehicle rollovers using a combined rigid and flexible multibody model. Rollover propensity is one of the major safety indicators of vehicles. In-depth understanding of the causes and mechanisms of vehicle rollovers and the availability of advanced design and simulation tools will greatly assist the automotive industry in improving vehicle safety and consequently enhance the industry's competitiveness in the international marketplace. The developed knowledge would also benefit aeronautical, ship building and military industries which are generally well-equipped to absorb new technology and seek a competitive edge. The wide community would benefit by potentially reduced death rates and fatal injuries caused by rollover crashes, and through increased employment in industry. Read moreRead less