Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100675
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,386.00
Summary
Structural Vulnerability Analysis, Reinforcement and Defence for Smart Grid. This project intends to identify and analyse the structural vulnerabilities of the emerging ‘smart grid’ for electricity supply. The smart grid integrates a cyber network into the existing power network. Although the smart grid enables the integration of more renewable energy sources and contributes to an environmentally sustainable society, the network structure can introduce new vulnerabilities that may cause large ca ....Structural Vulnerability Analysis, Reinforcement and Defence for Smart Grid. This project intends to identify and analyse the structural vulnerabilities of the emerging ‘smart grid’ for electricity supply. The smart grid integrates a cyber network into the existing power network. Although the smart grid enables the integration of more renewable energy sources and contributes to an environmentally sustainable society, the network structure can introduce new vulnerabilities that may cause large cascading failures and lead to catastrophic blackouts. The project aims to establish a quantitative framework to analyse smart grid structural vulnerability. Furthermore, innovative reinforcement and defence strategies will be proposed that could reduce the risk of large blackout and build a more robust smart grid.Read moreRead less
The impact of the mass-adoption of electric cars on the Australian electricity grid. This project represents the first technical study in Australia into the impact on the electric utility system of the mass adoption of electric vehicles. At present, road transport accounts for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Australia. The mass adoption of electric vehicles could reduce GHG in transport by up to 24 per cent when charged from the current grid or by 100 per cent if using renewable ....The impact of the mass-adoption of electric cars on the Australian electricity grid. This project represents the first technical study in Australia into the impact on the electric utility system of the mass adoption of electric vehicles. At present, road transport accounts for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Australia. The mass adoption of electric vehicles could reduce GHG in transport by up to 24 per cent when charged from the current grid or by 100 per cent if using renewable power. As well as receiving environmental advantages, Australia will benefit from this project through: (1) advancements in the management of the electricity distribution system by the development of a smart grid; (2) the development of principles for the placement of charging stations suitable for unique local conditions, such as Australia's long distances.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
Novel power system architecture and control for 'More Electric Aircraft'. This project aims to propose a new conceptual design of an internal aircraft electrical system and its control, which minimises the issues of traditional power systems and takes advantage of contemporary control and technology advances to minimise weight/volume and maximise reliability. The project will target a specific design, which includes consideration of novel power electronic topologies, to achieve these goals. The ....Novel power system architecture and control for 'More Electric Aircraft'. This project aims to propose a new conceptual design of an internal aircraft electrical system and its control, which minimises the issues of traditional power systems and takes advantage of contemporary control and technology advances to minimise weight/volume and maximise reliability. The project will target a specific design, which includes consideration of novel power electronic topologies, to achieve these goals. The results will be validated through simulation, experiments and field testing. It is anticipated that the ideas developed within this project will have a major impact on More Electric Aircraft technology, as well as on general interconnected energy resource systems, such as DC and AC microgrids.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.
Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem whi ....Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem which is extremely difficult involving coupled nonlinear dynamics and under-actuation. We plan to address these problems by using modern control system design methods. Our specific goal is to achieve a provably stable, closed loop control system whose performance is independent of unmeasured disturbances and model errors.Read moreRead less
Development of High Performance Nanostructured (Bi, Sb)2Te3 Nanomaterials. The direct energy conversion between heat and electricity, based on thermoelectric effects without moving parts, has been considered as a green and sustainable solution to the global energy dilemma. This project aims to develop novel band-engineered (Bi, Sb)2Te3 nanomaterials for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel microwave assisted wet chemistry approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strateg ....Development of High Performance Nanostructured (Bi, Sb)2Te3 Nanomaterials. The direct energy conversion between heat and electricity, based on thermoelectric effects without moving parts, has been considered as a green and sustainable solution to the global energy dilemma. This project aims to develop novel band-engineered (Bi, Sb)2Te3 nanomaterials for high-efficiency energy conversion using novel microwave assisted wet chemistry approach, coupled with nanostructure and band engineering strategies. The key breakthrough is to design high performance (Bi, Sb)2Te3 thermoelectrics for satisfying the high efficiency solid-state devices. The expected outcomes will lead to an innovative technology that waste heat recovery and refrigeration, which will place Australia at the forefront of practical energy technologies.Read moreRead less
A systems materials engineering strategy for hybrid ion capacitors. This project aims to develop a data science-driven approach to allow the use of materials systems engineering strategy to quantify the cell-level design of electrochemical energy storage devices such as hybrid ion capacitors. The intended outcomes of this project include new dynamic equivalent circuit models and a new quantitative approach to make the electrodes pairing predictable and realise their optimal design against the ne ....A systems materials engineering strategy for hybrid ion capacitors. This project aims to develop a data science-driven approach to allow the use of materials systems engineering strategy to quantify the cell-level design of electrochemical energy storage devices such as hybrid ion capacitors. The intended outcomes of this project include new dynamic equivalent circuit models and a new quantitative approach to make the electrodes pairing predictable and realise their optimal design against the needs of the specific applications. It will also demonstrate a combined strategy of data science and discipline-specific experiments and theories to advance the emerging field of materials systems engineering. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101264
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Carbon nanotube-based supercapacitors: breaking the energy density limit. Novel electrodes will be nano-architectured by using ultralong single-walled carbon nanotube arrays and transition metal oxides to produce next-generation supercapacitors. The outcomes will lead to unprecedented energy densities in energy storage devices for sustainable future energy solutions.
Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enable ....Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enabled the recent commercialisation of SiC transistors. It is expected that the material advantages of SiC can be fully exploited by a new device structure and a new fabrication process.Read moreRead less