Fast Signal Processing and Control Algorithms for Complex Hierarchical Systems. Complex dynamical behaviour is inherent to many real-world systems including telecommunications networks, financial markets and biological systems. High performance signal processing and control algorithms for such large-scale, complex systems are computationally very expensive in general. An important class of large-scale Markovian models arising in many applications shows a remarkable hierarchical property, display ....Fast Signal Processing and Control Algorithms for Complex Hierarchical Systems. Complex dynamical behaviour is inherent to many real-world systems including telecommunications networks, financial markets and biological systems. High performance signal processing and control algorithms for such large-scale, complex systems are computationally very expensive in general. An important class of large-scale Markovian models arising in many applications shows a remarkable hierarchical property, displaying strong interactions within certain clusters of states and weak interactions among these clusters. By utilizing this property, the proposed project will design and analyze novel reduced-complexity signal processing and control algorithms with rigorous performance guarantees. In addition, this project will explore possibilities of making these algorithms hierarchical such that they are easy to implement through decentralization.Read moreRead less
Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant wea ....Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant weaknesses. We will deliver considerable improvements in monitoring capability by developing the technology for using a network of small phased array radars. We aim to place monitoring resources where end-user needs are greatest.Read moreRead less
Novel Partial Discharge Detection Technique based on an Overhead Transmission Line Sensing Architecture. Overhead power transmission systems are a common instigator of fires through the production of sparks from faulty insulators. Australia is experiencing extended hot and dry conditions that amplify the risk of these events becoming large scale bushfires, causing millions of dollars of damage and destroying immeasurable amounts of native flora and fauna. The overhead transmission line sensing ....Novel Partial Discharge Detection Technique based on an Overhead Transmission Line Sensing Architecture. Overhead power transmission systems are a common instigator of fires through the production of sparks from faulty insulators. Australia is experiencing extended hot and dry conditions that amplify the risk of these events becoming large scale bushfires, causing millions of dollars of damage and destroying immeasurable amounts of native flora and fauna. The overhead transmission line sensing system proposed in this research will provide power companies with a cost effective insulator condition monitoring tool to continually survey Australia's aging electrical infrastructure. This ensures a reliable electricity supply to consumers, while also protecting the ecosystems of Australia's bushland. Read moreRead less
Stochastic Sensor Scheduling in Statistical Signal Processing. In several statistical signal processing applications, due to computational or communication constraints, at each time instant one can use only a few out of several possible noisy (stochastic) sensors. The stochastic sensor scheduling problem deals with how to dynamically choose which group of sensors to pick at each time instant. This project involves research in sensor scheduling for widely used stochastic dynamical systems such as ....Stochastic Sensor Scheduling in Statistical Signal Processing. In several statistical signal processing applications, due to computational or communication constraints, at each time instant one can use only a few out of several possible noisy (stochastic) sensors. The stochastic sensor scheduling problem deals with how to dynamically choose which group of sensors to pick at each time instant. This project involves research in sensor scheduling for widely used stochastic dynamical systems such as Hidden Markov Models and Jump Markov Linear Systems. It focuses on the design and analysis of stochastic control algorithms such as dynamic programming and simulation based randomized methods. The research will lead to an integrated theory incorporating stochastic control, statistical signal processing and combinatorial optimization. We will also apply the resulting techniques to tracking maneuvering targets given noisy observations.Read moreRead less
Capacity Enhancement, Energy-Loss Reduction and Voltage Control for Remote Three-Phase Distribution Feeders Supplying Electrical Power to Single-Wire Earth-Return Systems. Long distribution feeders supplying electrical energy to Single-Wire Earth-Return (SWER) systems are unique sub-systems of the electric power network in Australia. The SWER systems are inherently unbalanced and use conductors with high resistance values resulting in high energy losses. The capital costs of these systems are hi ....Capacity Enhancement, Energy-Loss Reduction and Voltage Control for Remote Three-Phase Distribution Feeders Supplying Electrical Power to Single-Wire Earth-Return Systems. Long distribution feeders supplying electrical energy to Single-Wire Earth-Return (SWER) systems are unique sub-systems of the electric power network in Australia. The SWER systems are inherently unbalanced and use conductors with high resistance values resulting in high energy losses. The capital costs of these systems are high due to the low area density of loads and the systems are challenged by increasing loads. New methods will be developed for load balancing, controlling losses and improving the power quality. Comparisons will be made between the new technologies and the reconstruction or augmentation of the feeders. It is expected that substantial economic and greenhouse emission benefits will result.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100046
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,454.00
Summary
Reliable Integration of Distributed Low-Carbon Energy Resources. This project aims to generate new knowledge that will facilitate the integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources into electricity grids. This project expects to advance the theory, algorithms, and methods in the area of smart grids using innovative approaches of optimisation and data analytics. Expected outcomes of this project include novel algorithms and tools to enable the reliable integration of low-carbon distribute ....Reliable Integration of Distributed Low-Carbon Energy Resources. This project aims to generate new knowledge that will facilitate the integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources into electricity grids. This project expects to advance the theory, algorithms, and methods in the area of smart grids using innovative approaches of optimisation and data analytics. Expected outcomes of this project include novel algorithms and tools to enable the reliable integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources and unlock their value in electricity grids. This should provide significant benefits, such as affordable electricity for Australian consumers, improvements in the reliability of grids in Australia, and increased and more effective use of sustainable energy for emission reduction.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883074
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Distributed Generation Evaluation Facility and Power Control. The development and demonstration of Distributed Energy Resource solutions will assist the deployment of greenhouse gas reduction strategies and of reliability improvements with particular benefits for rural and remote electricity supply. Small generation units can be the best solution for some reliability and voltage support issues in rural/remote networks. The research will show how these can be operated and the benefits achievable ....Distributed Generation Evaluation Facility and Power Control. The development and demonstration of Distributed Energy Resource solutions will assist the deployment of greenhouse gas reduction strategies and of reliability improvements with particular benefits for rural and remote electricity supply. Small generation units can be the best solution for some reliability and voltage support issues in rural/remote networks. The research will show how these can be operated and the benefits achievable for sources including renewables in a manner that is accessible to communities and with a rigorous set of test scenarios that will satisfy concerns from utilities. The flexible system nature is the significant development previously unavailable to researchers/developers.Read moreRead less
Improved Capacitor Voltage Balance for Multicell Power Electronic Converters Controlled by Spectrally Optimal Modulation. There is a growing demand for high power and medium voltage energy conversion systems in a wide range of applications, including Rail, Renewable Energy, Defence and Electricity Distribution. Multicell-type multilevel converters are a very attractive means of satisfying this demand, but only if the cell voltages can be precisely regulated so as to ensure protection of the conv ....Improved Capacitor Voltage Balance for Multicell Power Electronic Converters Controlled by Spectrally Optimal Modulation. There is a growing demand for high power and medium voltage energy conversion systems in a wide range of applications, including Rail, Renewable Energy, Defence and Electricity Distribution. Multicell-type multilevel converters are a very attractive means of satisfying this demand, but only if the cell voltages can be precisely regulated so as to ensure protection of the converter while simultaneously ensuring the synthesis of switched waveforms with the required spectral quality. This project offers the potential to eliminate this barrier to the use of Multicell converter technology. In addition this project emphasises the development and training of people skilled in the design and development of this technology.Read moreRead less
Algorithms for change detection based on finite sample system identification theory. Detection of abrupt changes has many important applications. One particular application that will be investigated is leak detection in irrigation channels. As agriculture accounts for about 80% of Australia's water usage, the timely detection of leaks means that corrective actions can be taken early which will lead to large water savings and significant environmental benefits. The developed methods can be design ....Algorithms for change detection based on finite sample system identification theory. Detection of abrupt changes has many important applications. One particular application that will be investigated is leak detection in irrigation channels. As agriculture accounts for about 80% of Australia's water usage, the timely detection of leaks means that corrective actions can be taken early which will lead to large water savings and significant environmental benefits. The developed methods can be designed with any false alarm rate. This is important since frequent false alarms lead to wasted resources and operators will stop using the system. The technology once developed can be transferred to many other application areas such as urban water supplies, pipelines for oil and gas, and the process and manufacturing industries.Read moreRead less
Developing a Smart Monitoring System for Leakage Currents from Insulators on Wooden Poles. Numerous wooden poles are used for electricity power transmission in urban and rural areas of Australia. Insulators suspended on poles are subject to contamination and moisture that cause partial discharge currents to flow through the wooden poles, resulting in pole fires leading to loss of power to customers and possible bush fires. This project aims at studying the characteristics of leakage currents fr ....Developing a Smart Monitoring System for Leakage Currents from Insulators on Wooden Poles. Numerous wooden poles are used for electricity power transmission in urban and rural areas of Australia. Insulators suspended on poles are subject to contamination and moisture that cause partial discharge currents to flow through the wooden poles, resulting in pole fires leading to loss of power to customers and possible bush fires. This project aims at studying the characteristics of leakage currents from insulators on wooden poles in Australian conditions and developing a smart monitoring system to detect and prevent pole fires caused by leakage currents. The outcomes will reduce the risk of pole fires, hence improving public safety, reliability of power supply and sustainability of the Australian power industry.Read moreRead less