Improved design and control of brushless doubly-fed reluctance machine generators for wind power applications. The growing importance of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years is driving the increased usage of renewable energy sources such as wind power. Currently the cost of wind energy is considerably higher than fossil fuel energy sources. Part of the reason for this is the initial cost and ongoing maintenance of the wind turbines. The proposed research considers a n ....Improved design and control of brushless doubly-fed reluctance machine generators for wind power applications. The growing importance of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years is driving the increased usage of renewable energy sources such as wind power. Currently the cost of wind energy is considerably higher than fossil fuel energy sources. Part of the reason for this is the initial cost and ongoing maintenance of the wind turbines. The proposed research considers a new kind of generator based on the Brushless Doubly Fed Machine (BDFRM) that has the potential to lower the initial cost of the generator/inverter hardware of the wind turbine, and also decrease the ongoing maintenance costs. If the research is able to show that the BDFRM is able to realise its potential, then this will aid the further use of wind energy.Read moreRead less
A high performance, robust and sensorless Natural Field Oriented controller for induction machine drives. Natural Field Orientation (NFO) is a technique of field oriented control of AC machines that is potentially very robust, able to operate at low speeds, and inherently sensorless. However, it is a little known fact that under regenerative conditions the algorithm is unstable. The primary aim of this project is to develop a NFO algorithm that is stable under regeneration, and has minimum depen ....A high performance, robust and sensorless Natural Field Oriented controller for induction machine drives. Natural Field Orientation (NFO) is a technique of field oriented control of AC machines that is potentially very robust, able to operate at low speeds, and inherently sensorless. However, it is a little known fact that under regenerative conditions the algorithm is unstable. The primary aim of this project is to develop a NFO algorithm that is stable under regeneration, and has minimum dependence on machine parameters. If these aims are achieved the NFO algorithm would be a significant addition to control algorithms for AC machines, allowing their use in a broader range of applications.
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Hot-swappable and High-efficient Grid-connected Power Electronics System For Photovoltaic Modules with Direct Power Transfer Technique. The project aims to increase the amount of available energy intake from photovoltaic panels, lengthen lifetime of power DC/AC inverter, reduce the amount of energy waste due to inefficient inverter by introducing new switching power converters with direct power transfer technique - bypassing part of the input power without repeatedly processing it, and using lon ....Hot-swappable and High-efficient Grid-connected Power Electronics System For Photovoltaic Modules with Direct Power Transfer Technique. The project aims to increase the amount of available energy intake from photovoltaic panels, lengthen lifetime of power DC/AC inverter, reduce the amount of energy waste due to inefficient inverter by introducing new switching power converters with direct power transfer technique - bypassing part of the input power without repeatedly processing it, and using long-life ceramic type capacitors. Development of this technology will mean reduced total cost, improved product lifetime and reduced global warming. It will lead to a reliable product that will help to put the Australian switching power converter industry into a leading position internationally in the design and manufacture of DC/AC inverters.Read moreRead less
Theoretical study and experimental verification of low cost, integrated and efficient AC/DC power supplies using time-multiplexing control. The project aims to reduce the amount of energy waste and cost due to inefficient AC/DC power supplies by introducing a novel power supply technique - combining conventional two-stage power circuits and using time-multiplexing control. Improvements in power supply efficiency and size will mean reduced total cost, improved product lifetime and reduced heating ....Theoretical study and experimental verification of low cost, integrated and efficient AC/DC power supplies using time-multiplexing control. The project aims to reduce the amount of energy waste and cost due to inefficient AC/DC power supplies by introducing a novel power supply technique - combining conventional two-stage power circuits and using time-multiplexing control. Improvements in power supply efficiency and size will mean reduced total cost, improved product lifetime and reduced heating up of the environment, leading to a reliable product that is particularly relevant to the Australian switching power supply industry. The development of this technology will help to put Australia into a leading position internationally in the design and manufacturing of AC/DC power supply.Read moreRead less
Robust control of spatially distributed uncertain systems. This project is aimed at studying the problem of robust control of spatially distributed uncertain systems. This is an important area of research that has attracted extensive interest in recent years. This is mainly due to the introduction of new technologies such as MEMS and Smart Structures with capabilities such as distributed sensing and actuation. This research will establish a framework for the modeling of Uncertainly in the mathe ....Robust control of spatially distributed uncertain systems. This project is aimed at studying the problem of robust control of spatially distributed uncertain systems. This is an important area of research that has attracted extensive interest in recent years. This is mainly due to the introduction of new technologies such as MEMS and Smart Structures with capabilities such as distributed sensing and actuation. This research will establish a framework for the modeling of Uncertainly in the mathematical descriptions of spatially distributed systems and the design of robust control methodologies capable of maintaining robust closed loop stability as well as guaranteeng robust performance of the closed loop system.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
Application Oriented System Level Optimum Design Method for Advanced Electrical Drive Systems. The new concept of application-oriented, integrated, system level design will relieve the constraints formerly applied to appliances by motors and give appliance designers full freedom to pursue the best appliance functions. The new platform will become a powerful tool for designing advanced drive systems of new materials, novel topologies, low cost and high performance, and shorten significantly the p ....Application Oriented System Level Optimum Design Method for Advanced Electrical Drive Systems. The new concept of application-oriented, integrated, system level design will relieve the constraints formerly applied to appliances by motors and give appliance designers full freedom to pursue the best appliance functions. The new platform will become a powerful tool for designing advanced drive systems of new materials, novel topologies, low cost and high performance, and shorten significantly the period of new product development. This will enhance tremendously the competitiveness of Australian industry. The energy savings achieved by using efficient systems will contribute significantly towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. High quality PhD and honours degree students will be trained.Read moreRead less
EMERGENCY CONTROL FOR POWER SYSTEM SEPARATION. In 2003 we saw major blackouts of power systems for US/Canada, Italy and London leading to billions of dollars of lost production and major impacts on many peoples lives. One aspect contributing to some of these is the control of system dynamic response and the targeted use of emergency controls such as load and generator shedding. This project is contributing to the development of an integrated control response such that appropriate levels of emerg ....EMERGENCY CONTROL FOR POWER SYSTEM SEPARATION. In 2003 we saw major blackouts of power systems for US/Canada, Italy and London leading to billions of dollars of lost production and major impacts on many peoples lives. One aspect contributing to some of these is the control of system dynamic response and the targeted use of emergency controls such as load and generator shedding. This project is contributing to the development of an integrated control response such that appropriate levels of emergency controls are determined and the probability of cascading blackouts reduced through automated systems. Read moreRead less
Advanced Planning Tools for the Prevention of System-wide Blackouts of Large Power Systems. In 2003 there had been major power blackouts in US/Canada, Italy and in Scandinavia leading to billions of dollars of lost production and had raised concern about national security. Prevention of blackout should be one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. National security for any critical infrastructure of any country is more vulnerable for a prolonged blackout. This project will provid ....Advanced Planning Tools for the Prevention of System-wide Blackouts of Large Power Systems. In 2003 there had been major power blackouts in US/Canada, Italy and in Scandinavia leading to billions of dollars of lost production and had raised concern about national security. Prevention of blackout should be one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. National security for any critical infrastructure of any country is more vulnerable for a prolonged blackout. This project will provide comprehensive planning tools to prevent blackouts in the Australian National Electricity grid. Any benefit to electricity industry will finally result in further benefits to the national economy and security as a whole.
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Electricity Distribution in the Bush: Operation, Control and Energy Management of Grid Connected Distributed Generation Based Microgrids. Increasing the access of electricity by conventional means to remote areas requires a substantial increase in generating and transmission capacities over what is presently available. These will require large capital expenditure and will increase the levels of emissions of carbon dioxide and various nitrous oxides. As an alternative distributed generation (DG) ....Electricity Distribution in the Bush: Operation, Control and Energy Management of Grid Connected Distributed Generation Based Microgrids. Increasing the access of electricity by conventional means to remote areas requires a substantial increase in generating and transmission capacities over what is presently available. These will require large capital expenditure and will increase the levels of emissions of carbon dioxide and various nitrous oxides. As an alternative distributed generation (DG) using renewable energy resources and alternative fuels can be used to mitigate environmental impacts and cost. This project will contribute to the knowledge of operating a microgrid based on various DG energy sources that will be environmentally friendly and renewable. Community and economic benefits will flow from increased diversity of supply and reduced environmental impacts.Read moreRead less