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
Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future ....Nanostructured Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells. The expected outcome from the project is a new generation of low-cost silicon solar cell that will significantly reduce the costs of generating electricity from sunlight. Solar cells are presently the world's most rapidly growing energy source, with Australians and Australian companies already major players in the associated rapidly expanding industry. Solar cells represent the most benign technology yet suggested for supplying the world's future energy needs. A cleaner environment in the future than would otherwise be likely is another expected outcome as is the creation of major new opportunities for Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than ear ....Silicon Photonics and Third Generation Photovoltaics. The Fellowship would be used to launch a major new initiative addressing one of the key challenges facing microelectronics, the incorporation of optical functions into high density silicon integrated circuits, as well as accelerating development of a "third" generation of photovoltaic solar cells using similar techniques. This third generation thin-film technology would be capable of fundamentally higher energy conversion efficiency than earlier generations, at low cost. In both cases, the targeted outcome over the period of the Fellowship is to develop technology to the stage where it can be commercially evaluated, in a way likely to maximise Australian benefits.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
Design Methodology for Low- and Ultra-Low Power Integrated Circuits. This project will develop low-power and ultra low-power technology that is applicable to wide range of products and electronic devices. The results will benefit many areas, for example, wireless sensors employed in environmental monitoring, bio and life monitoring, bio-sensors to improve patient care, reduce medical costs, implantable devices and bio-interfaces that will enhance the quality of life and public health. This proje ....Design Methodology for Low- and Ultra-Low Power Integrated Circuits. This project will develop low-power and ultra low-power technology that is applicable to wide range of products and electronic devices. The results will benefit many areas, for example, wireless sensors employed in environmental monitoring, bio and life monitoring, bio-sensors to improve patient care, reduce medical costs, implantable devices and bio-interfaces that will enhance the quality of life and public health. This project will benefit Australia by developing frontier technologies with a strong potential for global impact. Bringing these solutions to the public and realizing their financial benefits will add a valuable component of economic diversity to the country in addition to positioning Australia as a leader in this field.Read moreRead less
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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Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient ma ....Compact high voltage superconducting fault current limiter employing a new core architecture and novel magnetic materials. The proposed project is an example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Fault current limiters are designed to protect electricity grids. The integration of superconductors in fault current limiting applications allows for this protection to be achieved in an energy efficient manner, since negligible impedance is applied to the network during the un-faulted state. Effective and efficient protection of the electricity network is of national interest, with any failure affecting industry and individuals. The proposed research team is in a leading position to develop the potential of this technology for both national networks and a world market.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and Modelling of Nanostructured Soft Magnetic Materials for Advanced Electromagnetic Applications. This project bridges the gap between nanomagnetic materials and practical applications. The knowledge generated and the international collaborations with world class scientists established through this cutting-edge research project will strengthen the leading status of Australia in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research outcomes will stimulate the growth of world ....Characterisation and Modelling of Nanostructured Soft Magnetic Materials for Advanced Electromagnetic Applications. This project bridges the gap between nanomagnetic materials and practical applications. The knowledge generated and the international collaborations with world class scientists established through this cutting-edge research project will strengthen the leading status of Australia in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The research outcomes will stimulate the growth of world class Australian industries and hence the national economy through the commercial manufacturing of hi-tech nanomagnetic materials and innovative smart devices and systems. High quality PhD and honours project students will be trained.Read moreRead less