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
Regulation of the Cell Bus Voltages of Large Scale Modular Multilevel Converters: Advanced Energy Converters for Future Electricity Grids. Large scale power electronic converters are essential to the emerging “Smart Grid” electrical distribution networks, using large numbers of cascaded cells to operate at the very high voltages that are required for direct grid connection. At present, the fundamental factors that drive the fluctuations of the cell DC link voltages, including in particular the c ....Regulation of the Cell Bus Voltages of Large Scale Modular Multilevel Converters: Advanced Energy Converters for Future Electricity Grids. Large scale power electronic converters are essential to the emerging “Smart Grid” electrical distribution networks, using large numbers of cascaded cells to operate at the very high voltages that are required for direct grid connection. At present, the fundamental factors that drive the fluctuations of the cell DC link voltages, including in particular the complex non-linear interactions caused by the physical cell switching processes, are very poorly understood. This project will use a new harmonic analysis strategy to investigate the basic engineering science that underpins this voltage fluctuation phenomena, to achieve a quantum step in the understanding of the fundamental operating processes of large scale cascaded converters.Read moreRead less
Transition to Customer Response Driven Networks. The project seeks to develop an electrical network costing framework that appropriately rewards customers who act to reduce network stress. The solution to the existing explosion in distribution network costs is to develop customer-responsive solutions in demand management and use of storage. The aim of this project is to develop a framework for network costs that is driven by local congestion and which would reward customer-responsive solutions. ....Transition to Customer Response Driven Networks. The project seeks to develop an electrical network costing framework that appropriately rewards customers who act to reduce network stress. The solution to the existing explosion in distribution network costs is to develop customer-responsive solutions in demand management and use of storage. The aim of this project is to develop a framework for network costs that is driven by local congestion and which would reward customer-responsive solutions. The vision is that the aggregator would provide customers with communications/control equipment that would automate the changes in the responsiveness so that customer-generated load shifting would act to limit peaks.Read moreRead less
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.
Microgrid architectures for efficient use of renewable energy sources. This project aims to research modifications to the electrical grid in the form of microgrid architecture for better use of renewable energy.Electrical supply grid and energy management systems designed for traditional centralised power generation, transmission and distribution increasingly use renewable energy sources. A redesigned grid, based on microgrid architectures using the proposed optimisation techniques, is expected ....Microgrid architectures for efficient use of renewable energy sources. This project aims to research modifications to the electrical grid in the form of microgrid architecture for better use of renewable energy.Electrical supply grid and energy management systems designed for traditional centralised power generation, transmission and distribution increasingly use renewable energy sources. A redesigned grid, based on microgrid architectures using the proposed optimisation techniques, is expected to save money and renew the grid’s infrastructure. This should also allow better use of renewable energy sources to meet Australia’s electrical power requirements.Read moreRead less
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
Degradation conscious grid-scale battery energy management scheme. The project aims to develop an improved battery management system to smooth the intermittent contribution of renewable energy sources to the grid. As the level of penetration of renewable energy sources into electrical grids increases, energy storage will play an increasingly important role in solving some of the technical challenges caused by the intermittent nature of the renewable sources. The existing design methods for gri ....Degradation conscious grid-scale battery energy management scheme. The project aims to develop an improved battery management system to smooth the intermittent contribution of renewable energy sources to the grid. As the level of penetration of renewable energy sources into electrical grids increases, energy storage will play an increasingly important role in solving some of the technical challenges caused by the intermittent nature of the renewable sources. The existing design methods for grid-scale battery management systems do not take into consideration the degradation of the battery banks. Thus, this project aims to fill this gap by developing an electrochemical-based, degradation-conscious, battery management system. The proposed system aims to increase the life span and capacity use of the batteries.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
Innovations in stability, reliability and protection of electric power distribution systems to enable increased use of green energy. This project will develop the innovative concepts necessary to increase the number of renewable energy sources in electric power distribution systems. The aim is to enable systems with a distributed mix of conventional rotary generators and renewable converter interfaced generators to operate safely and to required standards of reliability.