Thermal Storage for Built Environment. Thermal storage systems with Phase Chage Materials (PCM) can be ulilised to reduce the energy required to cool and heat buildings. The PCM used has a freezing point around 20C. Thus alowing cool summer night air to freeze the PCM overnight. During the day warmer outside air is cooled significantly as it melts the PCM. PCM systems can be retrofitted to existing systems to precool the outside air, and thus significantly reduce the energy required to cool a bu ....Thermal Storage for Built Environment. Thermal storage systems with Phase Chage Materials (PCM) can be ulilised to reduce the energy required to cool and heat buildings. The PCM used has a freezing point around 20C. Thus alowing cool summer night air to freeze the PCM overnight. During the day warmer outside air is cooled significantly as it melts the PCM. PCM systems can be retrofitted to existing systems to precool the outside air, and thus significantly reduce the energy required to cool a building. This project deals with design, simulation and optimisation of this kind of thermal storage system. A laboratory prototype system will also be built and tested.Read moreRead less
Cellular and network basis of information processing in the mammalian visual system. The project aims to discover the strategies by which cells in the brain interact with each other to code the sensory input efficiently. It is expected that simultaneous recording of the activity of many neurones from the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats during visual stimulation will reveal how the biophysics of synaptic integration combined with excitatory and inhibitory inputs from different sources sculpt ....Cellular and network basis of information processing in the mammalian visual system. The project aims to discover the strategies by which cells in the brain interact with each other to code the sensory input efficiently. It is expected that simultaneous recording of the activity of many neurones from the visual cortex of anaesthetised cats during visual stimulation will reveal how the biophysics of synaptic integration combined with excitatory and inhibitory inputs from different sources sculpts the output of individual neurones. The experiments will be extended to the study of possible interactions between different areas of the brain and the study of mechanisms by which the cortical network and higher cognitive factors such as attention and memory might influence the coding of sensory information in awake animals.Read moreRead less
Integration of Solar, Wind and Storage Systems into Distribution Grids for Network Support. This project will contribute to the development and utilisation of renewable energy technologies for a sustainable future and facilitate their integration into electricity grids for network support. Innovative methodologies and technologies will be developed to reduce network problems associated with the integration of a large number of small-scale renewable energy resources into distribution grids. This ....Integration of Solar, Wind and Storage Systems into Distribution Grids for Network Support. This project will contribute to the development and utilisation of renewable energy technologies for a sustainable future and facilitate their integration into electricity grids for network support. Innovative methodologies and technologies will be developed to reduce network problems associated with the integration of a large number of small-scale renewable energy resources into distribution grids. This project will also develop assessment tools to examine the impact of renewable energy penetration on power quality aspects, network stability and protection performance. This research will provide remedies for potential problems introduced by their integration and improve voltage support in the electricity networks. Read moreRead less
Novel nanostructured high energy cathode material. Recently, the demand for rechargeable batteries has exploded due to the enormous increase in the variety and number of miniaturized devices. It is expected that this demand for high capacity rechargeable batteries as energy sources will become even greater in the future. This program is focused to develop novel high performance cathode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries. The outcomes of the project will be of great benefit to develop ....Novel nanostructured high energy cathode material. Recently, the demand for rechargeable batteries has exploded due to the enormous increase in the variety and number of miniaturized devices. It is expected that this demand for high capacity rechargeable batteries as energy sources will become even greater in the future. This program is focused to develop novel high performance cathode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries. The outcomes of the project will be of great benefit to develop new class rechargeable batteries that are economical, lightweight, environmentlly benign and high energy.Read moreRead less
Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and im ....Advanced Nanostructured Ceramic Composites for Ultracapacitors. The global climate changes and the related disastrous events such as heat flows, bushfires, and flooding will endanger the Australian population and our natural environment. The implementation of effective devices and technologies to reduce our carbon footprint is a priority task. The project addresses the issue by development of new ultracapacitor materials for next generation green energy storage devices through engineering and implementation of advanced nanoceramics and nanocomposites created by innovative nanotechnologies. The project will also contribute to other national research priorities such as materials and frontier technologies, reduction of atmospheric pollution, and decrease in the energy dependence of our country on oil.Read moreRead less
Hydro-mechanical interactions in coal geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide. One of the most critical environmental issues facing society is that of global warming because of increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide released from burning of fossil fuels. Storage of CO2 in the ground, geo-sequestration, offers the promise of significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 release, particularly from coal fired power stations which produce 40% of Australia's CO2 emissions. The proposed project will lead ....Hydro-mechanical interactions in coal geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide. One of the most critical environmental issues facing society is that of global warming because of increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide released from burning of fossil fuels. Storage of CO2 in the ground, geo-sequestration, offers the promise of significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 release, particularly from coal fired power stations which produce 40% of Australia's CO2 emissions. The proposed project will lead to greater understanding and reduced risks during the injection and storage of CO2 in deep unmineable coal deposits. This will contribute to national efforts to reduce global warming, safeguard the Australian coal industry, and allow continued electricity generation from coal-fired plants. Read moreRead less
Nanostructured materials for development of advanced lithium energy storage systems. This project is expected to bring several national benefits. Novel nanostructured electro-active materials and high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries will be developed. The application of advanced lithium batteries as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will realise nearly zero emission transportation. The widespread usage of EVs and HEVs could significantly ....Nanostructured materials for development of advanced lithium energy storage systems. This project is expected to bring several national benefits. Novel nanostructured electro-active materials and high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries will be developed. The application of advanced lithium batteries as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will realise nearly zero emission transportation. The widespread usage of EVs and HEVs could significantly reduce air pollution, improve urban environment and increase national energy security and energy independence.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The exp ....Hydrogen storage materials for energy conversion applications. For a clean environment, the ideal synthetic fuel is hydrogen because it is lightweight, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, the effective storage of hydrogen remains a scientific challenge. This project aims to develop innovative materials with high hydrogen storage capacity and long cycle life, including new composite hydrides, catalysed metal hydrides and various nanotubes. The expected outcome is the achievement of high reversible hydrogen storage capacity to meet all the demands required for energy conversion applications, in particular, for hydrogen storage/fuel-cell vehicular applications.Read moreRead less
New concepts with multidisciplinary approach: novel functionalised nanostructures for hydrogen storage. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and advanced materials. Developing new methodologies to fabricate novel functionalised nanostructured materials with tailored properties has great potential in areas including energy storage, novel catalysts, novel sensors, micro/nano-electronics, etc. This project will enhance the i ....New concepts with multidisciplinary approach: novel functionalised nanostructures for hydrogen storage. This project addresses National Research Priorities in the areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies and advanced materials. Developing new methodologies to fabricate novel functionalised nanostructured materials with tailored properties has great potential in areas including energy storage, novel catalysts, novel sensors, micro/nano-electronics, etc. This project will enhance the international reputation and impact of Australian research in the internationally focused fields of nanotechnology and hydrogen energy technology. Applying innovative nanotechnology to the area of hydrogen energy will add to Australia's export potential and reduce Australia's reliance on foreign fuel sources.
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First principles for development of novel hybrid electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. Electrochemical energy is regarded as an alternative green energy/power source. The breakthrough technologies to be developed will allow us to realise the great goal of widespread usage of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, inducing dramatic improvements to our environment. It will also help us to reduce our dependence on the current oil-driven economy, and increase national energ ....First principles for development of novel hybrid electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. Electrochemical energy is regarded as an alternative green energy/power source. The breakthrough technologies to be developed will allow us to realise the great goal of widespread usage of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, inducing dramatic improvements to our environment. It will also help us to reduce our dependence on the current oil-driven economy, and increase national energy security and energy independence. The project will establish indigenous expertise and scientific know-how on electrochemical energy storage and conversion technology. The competitive results from this research will provide an incentive to the Australian automobile and energy industries. Read moreRead less