Innovative Grid-Connected, Small-Scale Wind Turbine Generators Offering Low Cost and Wide Operating Speed Range. Growing concerns about sustainability issues with fossil fuels have resulted in strong interest in wind power worldwide. Grid-connected inverters are an efficient way of utilising small wind turbines on domestic, farming or small commercial properties which have access to the power grid. Existing small-scale, grid-connected wind turbines are expensive and have a limited operating wind ....Innovative Grid-Connected, Small-Scale Wind Turbine Generators Offering Low Cost and Wide Operating Speed Range. Growing concerns about sustainability issues with fossil fuels have resulted in strong interest in wind power worldwide. Grid-connected inverters are an efficient way of utilising small wind turbines on domestic, farming or small commercial properties which have access to the power grid. Existing small-scale, grid-connected wind turbines are expensive and have a limited operating wind speed range. We are investigating new designs for low-cost wind turbine generators which can produce power over a wide range of wind speeds. The project should result in a greater application of small-scale wind generators in Australia and will lead to reductions in fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Modelling the capillary entrapment phenomena and integrity of geological reservoirs for clean energy, water and waste management technologies. This project will improve our understanding of non-linear flow and fracture phenomena in porous media which is prerequisite for the development of new emerging technologies targeting the reduction of the greenhouse gas emission and development of effective waste and water management solutions including coal gasification, in-situ storage of natural and non ....Modelling the capillary entrapment phenomena and integrity of geological reservoirs for clean energy, water and waste management technologies. This project will improve our understanding of non-linear flow and fracture phenomena in porous media which is prerequisite for the development of new emerging technologies targeting the reduction of the greenhouse gas emission and development of effective waste and water management solutions including coal gasification, in-situ storage of natural and non-hydrocarbon gases, underground disposal of hazardous wastes and vadose zone remediation. The project will result in a dramatic improvement of the predictive tools for traditional ground water management, irrigation and petroleum recovery applications. It has the strength to place Australia in the forefront of these technologies. Read moreRead less
Composite conductive electrodes for low energy desalination. Good quality drinking water supply is a critical issue for water security particularly for inland regional and remote communities, where seawater desalination is not a feasible option. The proposed research has the great potential to develop an alternative, low cost, robust desalination process for brackish water supplies. The superior electrode materials are the key to achieve this goal. The water industry will use the information to ....Composite conductive electrodes for low energy desalination. Good quality drinking water supply is a critical issue for water security particularly for inland regional and remote communities, where seawater desalination is not a feasible option. The proposed research has the great potential to develop an alternative, low cost, robust desalination process for brackish water supplies. The superior electrode materials are the key to achieve this goal. The water industry will use the information to assist their decision making for future water supply augmentation in regional communities. High capacity and lower energy forms of desalination are critical to ensuring desalinated water comes at an affordable price for the regional communities.Read moreRead less
Impact of rolling dynamic compaction. The project will lead to improved understanding and greater use of rolling dynamic compaction (RDC). RDC is a relatively new compaction technique that can be used to improve soft and derelict ground prior to the construction of roads, railways, subdivisions and structures. This project will also lead to greatly reduced ground improvement costs.
Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes a ....Removal and degradation of microplastics using halloysite nanocomposite. The project aims to utilize halloysite clay combined with novel highly magnetized nanoparticles for the removal and degradation of microplastics in the contaminated water system. The project expects to fabricate cheap and environmentally-friendly materials using innovative chemical synthesis and surface modification for adsorption and decomposition of microplastics utilizing both high surface area of halloysite nanotubes and catalytic activity of transition metals. This project will facilitate collaboration between multidisciplinary researchers and a vibrant group of industrial participants to advance next-generation composite materials for water treatment and ensure the supply of clean water for healthy living.Read moreRead less
Hybrid cooling for coal fired power stations. Water shortage is a nation wide problem facing Australian industries. The project will directly benefit the Victorian power industry through water saving. If the new proposed hybrid cooling system concept is proved to be practically feasible, it will put the Australian power industry in a strong competitive position in terms of its efficiencies and waste heat recovery technology. Lowering the temperature of water into the cooling tower by 2 degree, b ....Hybrid cooling for coal fired power stations. Water shortage is a nation wide problem facing Australian industries. The project will directly benefit the Victorian power industry through water saving. If the new proposed hybrid cooling system concept is proved to be practically feasible, it will put the Australian power industry in a strong competitive position in terms of its efficiencies and waste heat recovery technology. Lowering the temperature of water into the cooling tower by 2 degree, by using the hybrid cooling system, it would save over 17,500,000 tons of makeup water per year for the Victorian power industry alone. At the same time, the waste heat recovered by the heat pump can be fed back to the power generation cycle. Read moreRead less
Development and Modellling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes. The success of this program will help place Australia at the forefront of water quality control and management research. It will address concerns with managing and treating waters of changing characteristics due to climate change. In addition to the socio benefits, project success will also impart economic benefits to the nation through (i) fabricating new hybrid coagulants, that are versatile with enhanced performance ....Development and Modellling of Advanced Coagulation and Oxidation Processes. The success of this program will help place Australia at the forefront of water quality control and management research. It will address concerns with managing and treating waters of changing characteristics due to climate change. In addition to the socio benefits, project success will also impart economic benefits to the nation through (i) fabricating new hybrid coagulants, that are versatile with enhanced performance for removing NOM, and possess antimicrobial properties (ii) developing a new energy efficient photocatalysis technology.The proposed research will expand the knowledge base in this area and increase Australia’s international profile as a global leader in developing cutting-edge cost effective water resource technologies.Read moreRead less
High performance conductive mesoporous carbon electrodes: a low energy desalination alternative. The high cost of existing desalination technology has limited its wider application. There is an urgent need for alternatives which require less energy than current methods. The proposed electrosorption process utilising porous carbon electrodes has the advantage of very low energy demand. Electrosorption therefore has the opportunity to become an alternative desalination option for application in a ....High performance conductive mesoporous carbon electrodes: a low energy desalination alternative. The high cost of existing desalination technology has limited its wider application. There is an urgent need for alternatives which require less energy than current methods. The proposed electrosorption process utilising porous carbon electrodes has the advantage of very low energy demand. Electrosorption therefore has the opportunity to become an alternative desalination option for application in a national and global water desalination market. Advancement in water desalination technology has the potential for a profound social, economical and environmental impact. This vital research is aligned with the National Research Priority 1, An Environmentally Sustainable Australia; Priority Goal: Water, A critical resource.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560930
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$167,777.00
Summary
Airborne laser scanning for advanced environmental monitoring. This proposal seeks to enhance the national capability for airborne remote sensing of key environmental variables through the acquisition of an airborne laser scanner and inertial navigation system. Many environmental science studies, such as hydrology, soil moisture scaling and salinity, can be significantly enhanced by airborne laser scanning, through the creation of high precision, high resolution digital terrain models. Airborne ....Airborne laser scanning for advanced environmental monitoring. This proposal seeks to enhance the national capability for airborne remote sensing of key environmental variables through the acquisition of an airborne laser scanner and inertial navigation system. Many environmental science studies, such as hydrology, soil moisture scaling and salinity, can be significantly enhanced by airborne laser scanning, through the creation of high precision, high resolution digital terrain models. Airborne laser scanning can also measure three dimensional vegetation canopy structure, a useful indicator of biomass, carbon storage and vegetation health. This infrastructure will provide Australian researchers with a unique arsenal of remote sensing tools for advanced yet affordable environmental research studies.Read moreRead less
Controlling arsenic to unlock value in gold and copper resources. This project aims to characterise the transformation of arsenic between oxidation states during mineral processing. Up to one third of the world’s gold reserves are locked up in arsenic rich minerals and 5000 tonnes of arsenic is released annually from mine waste. The project will enable the development of process technology that immobilises and removes arsenic at the earliest possible stage. The use of novel time-resolved in-situ ....Controlling arsenic to unlock value in gold and copper resources. This project aims to characterise the transformation of arsenic between oxidation states during mineral processing. Up to one third of the world’s gold reserves are locked up in arsenic rich minerals and 5000 tonnes of arsenic is released annually from mine waste. The project will enable the development of process technology that immobilises and removes arsenic at the earliest possible stage. The use of novel time-resolved in-situ techniques proposed in this research will give vital information of the complex chemical pathways involved during processing which current characterization methods on pre- and post-processed species do not achieve.Read moreRead less