MICROWAVE SENSORS BASED ON MULTI-LAYER MICROSTRIP PATCH RESONATORS AND LINE RESONATORS. Inexpensive, easy-to-use, accurate, sensitive and compact sensor systems are needed to improve the quality of many agricultural and industrial products. For example, edible oil industry needs such a system to determine the water content in the seeds used for edible oil. Similarly, the measurement of moisture content is crucial for quality control and grading of industrial oils, paints, health products and man ....MICROWAVE SENSORS BASED ON MULTI-LAYER MICROSTRIP PATCH RESONATORS AND LINE RESONATORS. Inexpensive, easy-to-use, accurate, sensitive and compact sensor systems are needed to improve the quality of many agricultural and industrial products. For example, edible oil industry needs such a system to determine the water content in the seeds used for edible oil. Similarly, the measurement of moisture content is crucial for quality control and grading of industrial oils, paints, health products and many industrial sheets. We develop novel microwave sensor systems, based on multi-layer microstrip resonators, for such measurements of materials in the form of sheets, pastes, liquids or powders. They are also attractive for scientific applications such as monitoring the doping concentration of semiconductor materials.Read moreRead less
The development of new techniques for partial discharge monitoring and location in high voltage underground power cables. Increased utilization factors have caused a significant increase in the loading of high voltage distribution cables. This increased loading subjects cable insulation to increased stress which can degrade the insulation, cause cable failure and power loss to consumers. On-line cable insulation monitoring is required and partial discharge monitoring in cables provides a viable ....The development of new techniques for partial discharge monitoring and location in high voltage underground power cables. Increased utilization factors have caused a significant increase in the loading of high voltage distribution cables. This increased loading subjects cable insulation to increased stress which can degrade the insulation, cause cable failure and power loss to consumers. On-line cable insulation monitoring is required and partial discharge monitoring in cables provides a viable technique, but technical problems have prevented its application in on-line operation.
This project will develop techniques for such on-line monitoring. High frequency electrical sensors will be used to reduce interference and improve signal levels. Both a coarse alarm and a higher sensitivity monitor will be developed.
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Frequency and Voltage Stabilisation in Grid-connected Wind Farms Using Pitch-controlled Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs). Australian power systems are well developed but currently stretched to their maximum capacity and often over loaded. Development of a pitch controlled doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind farm is a practical solution to extend the capacities of large interconnected power systems. This research ensures that Australian Power Systems are able to incorporate pitch-c ....Frequency and Voltage Stabilisation in Grid-connected Wind Farms Using Pitch-controlled Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs). Australian power systems are well developed but currently stretched to their maximum capacity and often over loaded. Development of a pitch controlled doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind farm is a practical solution to extend the capacities of large interconnected power systems. This research ensures that Australian Power Systems are able to incorporate pitch-controlled DFIG without sacrificing operational simplicity and flexibility. It allows large scale penetration of renewable wind power into the grid, thereby reducing huge amount of green house gas emissions and delay capital expenditure on critical national assets.Read moreRead less
New drives and control techniques for high performance piezoelectric actuation. Piezoelectric actuators are made from a ceramic material that expands in response to an applied voltage. Although these actuators develop the greatest forces and most precise motion of any actuator, a number of performance limitations exist. This proposal aims to overcome these limitations and greatly increase the performance of piezoelectric actuators.
Improved piezoelectric actuators will result in a parallel i ....New drives and control techniques for high performance piezoelectric actuation. Piezoelectric actuators are made from a ceramic material that expands in response to an applied voltage. Although these actuators develop the greatest forces and most precise motion of any actuator, a number of performance limitations exist. This proposal aims to overcome these limitations and greatly increase the performance of piezoelectric actuators.
Improved piezoelectric actuators will result in a parallel improvement of analytic and process machines throughout the scientific and industrial community. Examples include: improved atomic scale microscopes, finer tolerance steel rolling mills, more accurate micro-surgical tools, and automated manipulation of sperm and egg cells in IVF therapy.Read moreRead less
Integrated On-line Condition Monitoring and Failure Diagnosis in Induction Motors. Electric motors are widely used in industry. Traditional maintenance approaches have involved regular overhauls/inspections and replacement after a fixed period. On-line condition monitoring involves taking non-invasive measurements to determine the motor's "health" and only scheduling maintenance when required. The benefits are reduced unexpected failures and reduced maintenance costs due to the greater maintena ....Integrated On-line Condition Monitoring and Failure Diagnosis in Induction Motors. Electric motors are widely used in industry. Traditional maintenance approaches have involved regular overhauls/inspections and replacement after a fixed period. On-line condition monitoring involves taking non-invasive measurements to determine the motor's "health" and only scheduling maintenance when required. The benefits are reduced unexpected failures and reduced maintenance costs due to the greater maintenance intervals. The majority of existing work on condition monitoring has looked at using a single sensor type (eg. vibration) for fault prediction. The proposed work seeks to improve the reliability and accuracy of fault diagnosis by correlating information from multiple sensor types, which can be accessed remotely.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
Structure-Activity Relationships in Silicon-based Photovoltaics Through Atomic Scale Microscopy. This project aims to develop new design principles for silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs) through a comprehensive study of atomic-scale structures and phenomena in PV materials. The development of more efficient photovoltaic materials is of major global importance, given the pressing need for clean and renewable sources of energy. Australia has international leadership in developing solar cell technol ....Structure-Activity Relationships in Silicon-based Photovoltaics Through Atomic Scale Microscopy. This project aims to develop new design principles for silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs) through a comprehensive study of atomic-scale structures and phenomena in PV materials. The development of more efficient photovoltaic materials is of major global importance, given the pressing need for clean and renewable sources of energy. Australia has international leadership in developing solar cell technologies, and the ideal natural environment to exploit these technologies. The fundamental insights derived in this project, such as detailed 3D maps of dopant distributions at the atomic scale, will bolster Australia's international reputation in the field and provide better control in the design of PV devices. Read moreRead less
Instrumentation for High Voltage Power Distribution Using Optical Fibre Sensors. This project aims to realise a novel optical fibre voltage sensor, exploit a recent discovery of Bassett and Haywood in interferometry to improve an existing optical current sensor, and bring the voltage and current sensor together in a combined field trial on a high voltage distribution network.
The voltage sensor concept is unique and provides significant advantages.
The expected outcomes of this project are an ....Instrumentation for High Voltage Power Distribution Using Optical Fibre Sensors. This project aims to realise a novel optical fibre voltage sensor, exploit a recent discovery of Bassett and Haywood in interferometry to improve an existing optical current sensor, and bring the voltage and current sensor together in a combined field trial on a high voltage distribution network.
The voltage sensor concept is unique and provides significant advantages.
The expected outcomes of this project are an electro-optically active silica fibre suitable for voltage sensing, a prototype voltage sensor and signal processing system, and a prototype combined electrical power (voltage and current) measurement unit deployed in a field trial.
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New Approach to Photonic Interferometry with Applications in Sensing. This project is based on a new technique for photonic interferometry, the Network Independent Multiple Interrogation (NIMI) technique.
This project aims to:
1) gain a better understanding of the NIMI method
2) exploit the NIMI technique in other applications
3) provide the key technology for future optical, current and voltage sensing systems for high voltage networks.
This work is significant as it represents a breakthro ....New Approach to Photonic Interferometry with Applications in Sensing. This project is based on a new technique for photonic interferometry, the Network Independent Multiple Interrogation (NIMI) technique.
This project aims to:
1) gain a better understanding of the NIMI method
2) exploit the NIMI technique in other applications
3) provide the key technology for future optical, current and voltage sensing systems for high voltage networks.
This work is significant as it represents a breakthrough in interferometry, with wide applications in scientific and engineering instrumentation.
The expected outcomes are:
1) an improved understanding of the merits and limitations of the NIMI technique
2) new application of the NIMI technique
3) improvements to the NIMI technique and the optical high voltage sensing systems to which it is appliedRead 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