Scaling laws for aerodynamics of moving wings in the Martian atmosphere. This project aims to increase understanding of the aerodynamics of bio-inspired flight in the low-density atmosphere of Mars. The significance of flight in planetary exploration is shown by the ongoing success of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, and the Dragonfly rotorcraft planned for use on Titan. Expected outcomes of this project will be innovative numerical modelling techniques validated using local specially designed ....Scaling laws for aerodynamics of moving wings in the Martian atmosphere. This project aims to increase understanding of the aerodynamics of bio-inspired flight in the low-density atmosphere of Mars. The significance of flight in planetary exploration is shown by the ongoing success of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, and the Dragonfly rotorcraft planned for use on Titan. Expected outcomes of this project will be innovative numerical modelling techniques validated using local specially designed low-pressure experimental facilities. Benefits will be more accurate design guidance for efficient and robust flapping and rotary wing robotic vehicles for Mars and other space exploration that take advantage of the unique atmospheric conditions, and in placing Australia at the forefront of such design technology.Read moreRead less
Novel framework for optimising battery-cooling microchannel heat exchangers. Thermal overheating can affect the capacity, safety and life expectancy of batteries for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. Microscale heat exchangers are a potential high-efficiency, low-bulk solution. This project aims to develop a novel computational methodology to optimise the design of those heat exchangers in which viscoelastic fluids are used to control flow instabilities and enhance heat transfer at ....Novel framework for optimising battery-cooling microchannel heat exchangers. Thermal overheating can affect the capacity, safety and life expectancy of batteries for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. Microscale heat exchangers are a potential high-efficiency, low-bulk solution. This project aims to develop a novel computational methodology to optimise the design of those heat exchangers in which viscoelastic fluids are used to control flow instabilities and enhance heat transfer at the microscale. A new microscopic fluid physics model will provide data for an innovative neural network framework to optimise the working fluid conditions and microscale design, which could contribute to increased adoption of renewable energy technologies that are supported by microscale heat exchangers.Read moreRead less
Thermal Optimisation of Gigascale Solar Photovoltaics. Large-scale solar photovoltaics are critical to decarbonising the global economy. Sun Cable is developing the world’s largest solar farm in the Northern Territory, and is considering deploying the 5B MAV solar array. At this scale, temperature-induced panel efficiency losses represent a major challenge that must be overcome through thermal performance optimisation. We will build sophisticated multiscale models to simulate and understand the ....Thermal Optimisation of Gigascale Solar Photovoltaics. Large-scale solar photovoltaics are critical to decarbonising the global economy. Sun Cable is developing the world’s largest solar farm in the Northern Territory, and is considering deploying the 5B MAV solar array. At this scale, temperature-induced panel efficiency losses represent a major challenge that must be overcome through thermal performance optimisation. We will build sophisticated multiscale models to simulate and understand the multiple interacting phenomena that cause panel heating, for the first time. This project will create the tools and know-how to optimise array design and solar farm development, delivering major efficiency gains and enhancing the viability of future gigascale solar projects.Read moreRead less
Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the ef ....Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the effects of hydrogen fuel on thermoacoustic instability under conditions relevant to gas turbines. By examining low-order models, commonly used for designing gas turbines, this project can significantly advance the field and facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen as a fuel source.Read moreRead less
Expanding the scramjet operating envelope through oxygen enrichment. This project aims to investigate the benefits of expanding the operating envelope of scramjets to higher altitudes and speeds by enriching their fuel with oxygen. This is expected to enhance the performance and flexibility of hypersonic air-breathing engines designed to form the core of a more reliable and economical access to space system. Expected outcomes of this project are a validated understanding and mapping of how oxyge ....Expanding the scramjet operating envelope through oxygen enrichment. This project aims to investigate the benefits of expanding the operating envelope of scramjets to higher altitudes and speeds by enriching their fuel with oxygen. This is expected to enhance the performance and flexibility of hypersonic air-breathing engines designed to form the core of a more reliable and economical access to space system. Expected outcomes of this project are a validated understanding and mapping of how oxygen enrichment can augment scramjet thrust at high altitudes and speeds, and a performance evaluation of a launch system optimised for this approach. This could provide significant benefits to the performance of reusable, air-breathing launch technology, where Australia is leading the push towards commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100400
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,963.00
Summary
Fallopian tube on-a-chip for understanding mammalian reproduction. This project aims to reveal the fundamental physics and biology of mammalian reproduction by engineering the first comprehensive 3D culture model of the fallopian tube. The project expects to generate significant new knowledge about the exact role of the fallopian tube anatomy and physiology on the formation and function of epithelial tissue, using innovative approaches to simultaneously measure the full dynamics of epithelial ce ....Fallopian tube on-a-chip for understanding mammalian reproduction. This project aims to reveal the fundamental physics and biology of mammalian reproduction by engineering the first comprehensive 3D culture model of the fallopian tube. The project expects to generate significant new knowledge about the exact role of the fallopian tube anatomy and physiology on the formation and function of epithelial tissue, using innovative approaches to simultaneously measure the full dynamics of epithelial cell activity and sperm motion. The expected outcome of the project is to reveal the cooperative role of sperm, egg and epithelial tissue on fertilisation. This should provide significant benefits, such as important biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction and new research tools to replace animal models.Read moreRead less
Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcome ....Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcomes include the development of a new instrument and fundamental knowledge leading to improved designs with higher efficiencies in power generation and transport, resulting in significant benefits such as increased energy security, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved quality of life for individuals and society.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100625
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,700.00
Summary
Integrated slab-mode beam engineering for handheld terahertz systems. Current dominant system architectures for terahertz waves are adapted from other ranges, leading to critical bottlenecks. This project will address this with a new integration platform that is tailored to the particular needs of terahertz waves. This requires advances in the emerging field of micro-scale integrated optics, combined with antenna-theory principles, semiconductor science, and advanced microfabrication to incorpor ....Integrated slab-mode beam engineering for handheld terahertz systems. Current dominant system architectures for terahertz waves are adapted from other ranges, leading to critical bottlenecks. This project will address this with a new integration platform that is tailored to the particular needs of terahertz waves. This requires advances in the emerging field of micro-scale integrated optics, combined with antenna-theory principles, semiconductor science, and advanced microfabrication to incorporate active devices. Novel spatially-dependent dispersion engineering techniques will also be pioneered for phased-array-free beamforming. This will enable a broad variety of all-in-one handheld systems for practical applications of terahertz waves such as noninvasive standoff sensing and self-aligning wireless links.Read moreRead less
Microfluidics to explore the uptake of nanoparticles by endothelial cells. This project aims to develop microfluidic technologies for generating lipid nanoparticles with customised properties and investigating their delivery to endothelial cells under various flow dynamics. The project expects to advance our fundamental knowledge of biophysical and biological mechanisms underlying the uptake of lipid nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced delivery ....Microfluidics to explore the uptake of nanoparticles by endothelial cells. This project aims to develop microfluidic technologies for generating lipid nanoparticles with customised properties and investigating their delivery to endothelial cells under various flow dynamics. The project expects to advance our fundamental knowledge of biophysical and biological mechanisms underlying the uptake of lipid nanoparticles by endothelial cells. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced delivery of nanoparticles to vessel walls. This should provide significant benefits, such as establishing a framework for designing future nano delivery systems, which would benefit Australian biotechnology industries.
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On the Hunt: Boosting Productivity of Cell Factories by Advanced Searches . This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying protein secretion in yeast, an industrial workhorse and a model organism. It will develop a unique multifaceted research platform to identify and analyse superior yeast strains with the desired traits at the single-cell level. Expected outcomes include a new analytical tool for high-throughput strain analysis and advanced knowle ....On the Hunt: Boosting Productivity of Cell Factories by Advanced Searches . This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying protein secretion in yeast, an industrial workhorse and a model organism. It will develop a unique multifaceted research platform to identify and analyse superior yeast strains with the desired traits at the single-cell level. Expected outcomes include a new analytical tool for high-throughput strain analysis and advanced knowledge of yeast molecular biology that can be applied to improve cell factories for the next generation of fuels, food and pharmaceuticals. This will provide significant economic and social benefits by boosting biotech industry growth, facilitating the transition to a sustainable society and improving Australia’s biosecurity.Read moreRead less