Robust electricity networks accommodating high levels of renewables. Increased wind and solar power are an essential part of greenhouse gas reduction. This project develops innovative network controls using remote measurements for transmission robustness and control on customer demand management to control voltage. These steps will make the electricity supply system robust to high levels of renewable generation.
An optimal electrical drive system for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This project aims to develop an optimal electrical drive system for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a novel hybrid powertrain architecture governed by a smart energy management strategy, and to train high quality PhD students. The outcomes will provide an innovative clean and efficient transport solution and greatly strengthen the Australian automotive industry.
Wide-area interconnected clean energy highway. This project aims to facilitate the deployment of the clean energy highway, an integrated electricity and gas network. Renewable energy sources, advanced transmission facilities and power-to-gas technologies are changing energy systems. All these changes, while potentially making energy systems more responsive, efficient and resilient, also make implementation difficult. This project aims to make implementation easier to ensure more sustainable solu ....Wide-area interconnected clean energy highway. This project aims to facilitate the deployment of the clean energy highway, an integrated electricity and gas network. Renewable energy sources, advanced transmission facilities and power-to-gas technologies are changing energy systems. All these changes, while potentially making energy systems more responsive, efficient and resilient, also make implementation difficult. This project aims to make implementation easier to ensure more sustainable solutions for energy generation, delivery and use in this new energy era. The expected outcome is a sound and robust suite of models and associated methodologies to study, analyse and design the clean energy highway.Read moreRead less
Harmonic suppression and delay compensation for inverters. The aim of this project is to use variable prediction horizon nonlinear model predictive control to achieve near perfect harmonic suppression for inverters in the face of realistic and unavoidable switching delays. Other aims include further performance improvement based on the application of Kalman observer, and extension of the ideas to a variety of switching topologies and validation of the results by simulation and experiments. The i ....Harmonic suppression and delay compensation for inverters. The aim of this project is to use variable prediction horizon nonlinear model predictive control to achieve near perfect harmonic suppression for inverters in the face of realistic and unavoidable switching delays. Other aims include further performance improvement based on the application of Kalman observer, and extension of the ideas to a variety of switching topologies and validation of the results by simulation and experiments. The intended main outcome of the project is the development of a methodology for non-interfering operation of inverters, particularly, in grid connected applications. This is expected to facilitate a further integration of renewable energy and highly efficient power utilisation. Both factors are crucial in the sustainable clean energy future.Read moreRead less
Distributed control for wide-area demand response. This project underpins the paradigm shift from load following to load shaping in power system operation by unlocking the untapped potential of the demand side. The approach taken is to use modern ideas in distributed control. This will facilitate large-scale integration of renewable energy sources and thus render the energy supply more sustainable.
Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as w ....Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles. The fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine offers very high power density, efficiency and constant-power speed range which are properties sought after for electric vehicles. Accurate mathematical models are essential for high performance control of the FSCW machine. This project seeks to develop these models, as well as sensorless controllers for the FSCW IPM machine.Read moreRead less
Control of Distributed Energy Storage System using Vanadium Batteries. This project aims to develop a new control approach to distributed energy storage at stack, system and microgrid levels, utilising one of the most promising flow battery technologies - vanadium redox batteries. This is the first attempt of a storage centric approach that includes: an integrated approach to design and control of vanadium flow batteries with novel advanced power electronics technologies to achieve optimal charg ....Control of Distributed Energy Storage System using Vanadium Batteries. This project aims to develop a new control approach to distributed energy storage at stack, system and microgrid levels, utilising one of the most promising flow battery technologies - vanadium redox batteries. This is the first attempt of a storage centric approach that includes: an integrated approach to design and control of vanadium flow batteries with novel advanced power electronics technologies to achieve optimal charging/discharging conditions; and, a scalable distributed energy storage and power management approach incorporating energy pricing for storage dispatch that allows distributed autonomous controllers to achieve optimal local techno-economic performance and microgrid-wide efficiency and reliability.Read moreRead less
Multi-Agent Solutions for the Development of Self-Organised and Self-Adapted Distributed Energy Generation Systems. The project aims to develop a self-organised multi-agent framework for modelling Marco-Smart Grid (SMG), dynamic coordination mechanisms between SMGs in distributed energy systems, and self-adaptation approaches for SMGs and restoration strategies to detect and recover an SMG network from faults and outages. The significance of this project lies in its promise to solve the challeng ....Multi-Agent Solutions for the Development of Self-Organised and Self-Adapted Distributed Energy Generation Systems. The project aims to develop a self-organised multi-agent framework for modelling Marco-Smart Grid (SMG), dynamic coordination mechanisms between SMGs in distributed energy systems, and self-adaptation approaches for SMGs and restoration strategies to detect and recover an SMG network from faults and outages. The significance of this project lies in its promise to solve the challenging issues of Smart Grid (SG) in multi-agent research and provide practical solutions to the development of effective and higher-quality distributed energy-generation systems with renewable energy resources. The expected outcomes are a framework, models, mechanisms and approaches in SG research and their practical applications.Read moreRead less
Modelling and distributed control of large infrastructure networks. The main outcome of this project will be the capability to study systematically basic questions on the operation of large infrastructure systems. Methodologies for control of larger systems and security issues will be developed. Application of the techniques to several applications areas will include power grids and traffic networks.
Microscopy characterisation for the designing of Li-based batteries. This project aims to optimise the design of all-solid-state batteries by employing state-of-the-art microscopy and atomic tomography techniques. Demand for safer rechargeable batteries with higher energy densities has been rapidly increasing. The safety issues associated with current lithium batteries become more serious with the size change (small for portable electronics and large for vehicles) because of the difficulty in ha ....Microscopy characterisation for the designing of Li-based batteries. This project aims to optimise the design of all-solid-state batteries by employing state-of-the-art microscopy and atomic tomography techniques. Demand for safer rechargeable batteries with higher energy densities has been rapidly increasing. The safety issues associated with current lithium batteries become more serious with the size change (small for portable electronics and large for vehicles) because of the difficulty in handling of flammable organic liquid electrolytes. The scientific knowledge and engineering understanding acquired through this project will enable the battery industry to produce higher performance solid state batteries.Read moreRead less