Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategi ....Optimising Control of Hydroelectric Turbines Subject to Basslink Instability. With the introduction of Basslink, an underwater DC power cable across the Bass Strait, Tasmania will be connected to the national Electricity Market. Basslink will also provide an opportunity to utilise the significant water energy potential found throughout Tasmania. This project will examine the impact and disturbances due to the connection of Basslink with Tasmanian hydro power systems and develop control strategies for effective operation and control of hydro turbines with Basslink. Particular attention will be paid to the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Tasmania.Read moreRead less
Low Loss Distributed Wind Generators with Reduced Electromagnetic Interference and Shaft Voltage Based on Multilevel Converters. Distributed wind generators with minimum electromagnetic interference and bearing spikes are very important for the Australian energy industry because they are an environmentally friendly energy source. Predicting and reducing electromagnetic interferences and mechanical failures in wind farm systems is an important issue especially for the next generation of wind sys ....Low Loss Distributed Wind Generators with Reduced Electromagnetic Interference and Shaft Voltage Based on Multilevel Converters. Distributed wind generators with minimum electromagnetic interference and bearing spikes are very important for the Australian energy industry because they are an environmentally friendly energy source. Predicting and reducing electromagnetic interferences and mechanical failures in wind farm systems is an important issue especially for the next generation of wind systems when fast and advanced power electronic switches can create more EMI noise for both onshore and offshore wind farms. Medium-Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) systems have good performance and low losses, and are of particular interest to states which are close to wind power sources.Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enab ....Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enable better filtering of vehicle exhaust emissions and through the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide which reduces green gas emission. This will improve the efficiency of ozoniser systems which has many benefits as ozone is one of the most useful and environmentally friendly oxidising agents.Read moreRead less
Dust Physics: a Challenge in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. This proposal is highly relevant to development of the electricity-producing fusion power plants. The outcomes will contribute to the achievement of greater control, predictability, and cost efficiency of fusion reactors operation. The project falls within the " An Environmentally Sustainable Australia " research priority and will contribute to development of widely available energy source with essentially unlimited ....Dust Physics: a Challenge in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. This proposal is highly relevant to development of the electricity-producing fusion power plants. The outcomes will contribute to the achievement of greater control, predictability, and cost efficiency of fusion reactors operation. The project falls within the " An Environmentally Sustainable Australia " research priority and will contribute to development of widely available energy source with essentially unlimited supply and manageable environmental impact. 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
Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in ....Development of High Performance Ceramic Based Thermoelectric Materials for Power Regeneration Applications. Thermoelectric materials offer an opportunity for economic recovery of the waste heat from exhaust gases to reduce operational costs and CO2 emissions. An increase in thermoelectric conversion efficiency of a few percent, in power production, would translate to significant cost saving on a national scale, which is about several billions of Australian dollars worth of products per year in this area alone. Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy independence for Australia. Success of this program will facilitate the development of thermoelectric materials and renewable energy technologies, which have enormous national and international markets.Read moreRead less
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