Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. This project aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, high resolution air quality networks. Recent developments in sensor technologies improve the ability to harvest atmospheric data. This project will develop, validate and implement methods for high sensitivity atmospheric sensing and apply cutting-edge statistical and analytic techniques to the data sets, ....Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. Establishing advanced networks for air quality sensing and analyses. This project aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, high resolution air quality networks. Recent developments in sensor technologies improve the ability to harvest atmospheric data. This project will develop, validate and implement methods for high sensitivity atmospheric sensing and apply cutting-edge statistical and analytic techniques to the data sets, unprecedented in scope and resolution. Outcomes include an open access database to quantify and visualise intra-urban air pollution and human exposure and develop air quality maps and smoke pollution management tools. It is expected to advance the evidence-based management of air as a resource, increasing economic prosperity and enhancing human health and quality of life.Read moreRead less
A HYBRID INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT AND POWER GENERATION. The management of solid wastes is a major global environmental issue and the current practice of landfilling is not a sustainable solution. Biogasification of the organic fraction provides not only a means of waste treatment but also generates a source of energy in the form methane but current technologies are expensive due to the long degradation times. In this project we investigate an innovative waste tr ....A HYBRID INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT AND POWER GENERATION. The management of solid wastes is a major global environmental issue and the current practice of landfilling is not a sustainable solution. Biogasification of the organic fraction provides not only a means of waste treatment but also generates a source of energy in the form methane but current technologies are expensive due to the long degradation times. In this project we investigate an innovative waste treatment system that will cut down the time required for processing wastes by a factor of 10 with considerable economic benefit. We will optimise the integration of this treatment system with a hybrid power generation system that utilises other renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy to deliver quality power at minimal cost.Read moreRead less
Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the c ....Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the characteristics of the particles, their sources and spatial and temporal variation across different urban areas and time scales. Further, the impacts of changing fuels, vehicle technologies, and climate on future trends of the particles will be elucidated.Read moreRead less
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from sewers – understanding, modelling and mitigation. The research and industry partners will collaborate on this project to quantify, understand and mitigate emissions of methane and nitrous oxide in sewer networks. Both methane and nitrous oxide are potent greenhouse gases, and their emissions need to be accounted for and mitigated for the water industry to achieve greenhouse neutral water services.
Production, Fate and Transport of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Waterways. Australian waterways are under severe pressure from both large variation in precipitation patterns and various sources of contamination. In particular, the management of algal blooms costs Australians hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Through the use of a unique approach this project will provide the necessary information for a science based decision making strategies to eradicate, as much as possible, algal blooms and ....Production, Fate and Transport of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Waterways. Australian waterways are under severe pressure from both large variation in precipitation patterns and various sources of contamination. In particular, the management of algal blooms costs Australians hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Through the use of a unique approach this project will provide the necessary information for a science based decision making strategies to eradicate, as much as possible, algal blooms and to reduce the risk of severe injuries to the public, livestock and the environment, resulting from contamination waterways by algal toxins. Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concent ....ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concentrator systems. Expected outcomes include long-term research, commercial research, publications, education, community outreach and commercialisation of solar energy technologies to benefit Australia's economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Predicting plankton patchiness in lakes using a high resolution sampling system. This research will benefit Australian Society through a better understanding and prediction of the response of aquatic systems to major shifts in the environment. Eutrophication and toxic algal blooms represent serious threats to the security of water supplies in Australia and elsewhere. Through development of high resolution technology (SPS), this project will provide the necessary knowledge and data for producing ....Predicting plankton patchiness in lakes using a high resolution sampling system. This research will benefit Australian Society through a better understanding and prediction of the response of aquatic systems to major shifts in the environment. Eutrophication and toxic algal blooms represent serious threats to the security of water supplies in Australia and elsewhere. Through development of high resolution technology (SPS), this project will provide the necessary knowledge and data for producing management tools capable of detailed predictions of the behaviour of aquatic systems. Successful management of Australian waters relies heavily on a better understanding of the scale dependent processes which govern the response to external perturbations such as increased nutrient export and consequent eutrophication.Read moreRead less
Airborne vibration isolation for geophysical exploration. Sensitive airborne instrumentation for geophysical exploration is almost always degraded in sensitivity by the high levels of vibration and acoustic noise in survey aircraft. This project will develop a prototype robust vibration isolator with exceptional isolation across the audio frequency band. The device uses advanced techniques developed for gravitational wave detection. The system will be tested in survey aircraft using both vib ....Airborne vibration isolation for geophysical exploration. Sensitive airborne instrumentation for geophysical exploration is almost always degraded in sensitivity by the high levels of vibration and acoustic noise in survey aircraft. This project will develop a prototype robust vibration isolator with exceptional isolation across the audio frequency band. The device uses advanced techniques developed for gravitational wave detection. The system will be tested in survey aircraft using both vibration sensors and actual survey instrumentation to confirm its effectiveness, robustness and durability.Read moreRead less
Variable speed diesel power conversion system using a doubly fed induction generator. The proposed Variable Speed Diesel Generator to be developed as part of this project will use less fuel and run cleaner with reduced wear than conventional generators. The widespread use of this technology in remote area diesel and hybrid power systems with renewable energy sources will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The project will result in enhanced national and international market oppor ....Variable speed diesel power conversion system using a doubly fed induction generator. The proposed Variable Speed Diesel Generator to be developed as part of this project will use less fuel and run cleaner with reduced wear than conventional generators. The widespread use of this technology in remote area diesel and hybrid power systems with renewable energy sources will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The project will result in enhanced national and international market opportunities for Australian made power generation equipment for rural electrification. This project will enable Australian companies to be on the leading edge of mini to medium size stand-alone mini grid diesel power stations. This will have a significant impact on the economic development and on job creation in AustraliaRead moreRead less
MULTI-FUNCTION POWER ELECTRONIC INTERFACE FOR HYBRID MINI-GRID SYSTEMS. Village electrification represents a high potential market for hybrid power systems. Many stand-alone diesel units are powering mini-grids all around the world and could be retrofitted with renewable power generators and battery storage units. Power electronics, the technology of efficiently processing electric power, plays an essential part in the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and micro-hydro a ....MULTI-FUNCTION POWER ELECTRONIC INTERFACE FOR HYBRID MINI-GRID SYSTEMS. Village electrification represents a high potential market for hybrid power systems. Many stand-alone diesel units are powering mini-grids all around the world and could be retrofitted with renewable power generators and battery storage units. Power electronics, the technology of efficiently processing electric power, plays an essential part in the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and micro-hydro at the electricity distribution level. The objective of this project will be to develop a new generation of core power electronics technology(patent pending)for single phase and medium scale three phase grid-interactive and standalone/hybrid renewable energy applications.Read moreRead less