Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is ne ....Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is needed to exploit this potential. Fluid dynamics and optimisation researchers will design an improved vertical axis tidal turbine for use in the Torres Strait Islands. This project could improve tidal turbine design and turbine placement designs, and improve understanding of interactions between turbines and the maritime environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882471
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Three-Dimensional Optical Laser Velocimetry for the HRNBLWT (High Reynolds Number Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel). The experimental information that can be gained from this infrastructure would lead to significant advances in understanding turbulent flows, which would impact a broad range of engineering and geophysical fields. Some specific examples include the development of efficient turbulence control strategies for the reduction of skin-friction drag and improved combustion processes, resulting ....Three-Dimensional Optical Laser Velocimetry for the HRNBLWT (High Reynolds Number Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel). The experimental information that can be gained from this infrastructure would lead to significant advances in understanding turbulent flows, which would impact a broad range of engineering and geophysical fields. Some specific examples include the development of efficient turbulence control strategies for the reduction of skin-friction drag and improved combustion processes, resulting in not only better fuel efficiency for vehicles but also reduced CO2 and pollutant emissions. Significant advances could also be made in the area of understanding the dispersion of particles, including pollutants, in the atmosphere; wind turbine design and implementation strategies, and climate change modelling.Read moreRead less
The structure of turbulent boundary layers. This research has an enormous impact in many fields of engineering - for example, in aeronautical, mechanical, chemical, meteorological and biomedical engineering. The resulting energy and economic savings and the reduction in atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gasses will ultimately impact on areas such as global climatic change and the energy sustainability of our urban environment, thus influencing the well-being of all people living on this plan ....The structure of turbulent boundary layers. This research has an enormous impact in many fields of engineering - for example, in aeronautical, mechanical, chemical, meteorological and biomedical engineering. The resulting energy and economic savings and the reduction in atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gasses will ultimately impact on areas such as global climatic change and the energy sustainability of our urban environment, thus influencing the well-being of all people living on this planet. This research project will result in technological advancement and provide important training for future generations of researchers. This will entrench the Australian engineering and scientific community as world leaders in this area of scientific research.Read moreRead less
The structure of turbulence at high Reynolds numbers. The aim of this project is to gain a physical understanding of the process of turbulence in fluid motion, focusing on boundary layers adjacent to the surface of bodies, such as submarines and turbines. As turbulence is of fundamental importance in many engineering tasks, developing our understanding of the mechanisms involved will lead to progress in many areas. For example, accurate prediction of drag on vehicles, aircraft and ships, result ....The structure of turbulence at high Reynolds numbers. The aim of this project is to gain a physical understanding of the process of turbulence in fluid motion, focusing on boundary layers adjacent to the surface of bodies, such as submarines and turbines. As turbulence is of fundamental importance in many engineering tasks, developing our understanding of the mechanisms involved will lead to progress in many areas. For example, accurate prediction of drag on vehicles, aircraft and ships, resulting in reductions in fuel consumption. The wind tunnel used in this project is the largest of its type in the world, enabling pioneering experiments to be undertaken which will extend our understanding of the physics of turbulence for applied flows.
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Surface roughness and its effects on wall-bounded turbulence. Examples in engineering where turbulence is important are: wind tunnel model testing, numerical prediction of turbulent skin friction drag over an aircraft wing, turbulent forces and acoustic field around a submarine or a road vehicle, and the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. Turbulence may also be beneficial, for example, in improving engine combustion and decreasing pollutant emissions. Hence this study will have national ....Surface roughness and its effects on wall-bounded turbulence. Examples in engineering where turbulence is important are: wind tunnel model testing, numerical prediction of turbulent skin friction drag over an aircraft wing, turbulent forces and acoustic field around a submarine or a road vehicle, and the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. Turbulence may also be beneficial, for example, in improving engine combustion and decreasing pollutant emissions. Hence this study will have national benefits in many scientific fields, for example, in fuel savings (economy and energy ), stability of road vehicles (safety and health), noise generation and acoustic signatures of submarines (transforming defence technology and safeguarding Australia).Read moreRead less
Wall Turbulence Drag: Physical Mechanisms and Practicable Control Strategies. The proposed research will build on Australia's well-established strengths in Fluid Mechanics, and aim to establish within Australia world-leading expertise in turbulence control and drag reduction technology. This will have direct benefits to the Australian economy through Tourism (among other industries) by reducing the adverse impact of rising fuel prices on long-distance air travel, on which Australia is disproport ....Wall Turbulence Drag: Physical Mechanisms and Practicable Control Strategies. The proposed research will build on Australia's well-established strengths in Fluid Mechanics, and aim to establish within Australia world-leading expertise in turbulence control and drag reduction technology. This will have direct benefits to the Australian economy through Tourism (among other industries) by reducing the adverse impact of rising fuel prices on long-distance air travel, on which Australia is disproportionately reliant due to its geographic isolation. Efficient turbulence control strategies will also lead to improved combustion processes, resulting in not only better fuel efficiency but also reduced CO2 and pollutant emissions.Read moreRead less
Structure, Dynamics and Control of Wall-Bounded Turbulence. This research has immense impact in engineering and environmental science including aeronautical, mechanical, biomedical engineering, and meteorological science. The energy savings with reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from this research and economic benefits will impact directly on global climate change and a sustainable urban environment in Australia. This research will deliver technological advances in complex fl ....Structure, Dynamics and Control of Wall-Bounded Turbulence. This research has immense impact in engineering and environmental science including aeronautical, mechanical, biomedical engineering, and meteorological science. The energy savings with reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from this research and economic benefits will impact directly on global climate change and a sustainable urban environment in Australia. This research will deliver technological advances in complex fluid dynamics and instrumentation, in addition to new and exciting training opportunities for future generations of researchers and engineers. This project will secure Australian science and engineering as world leaders in the crucial area of Fluid Dynamics that influences our everyday lives.
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Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and com ....Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and combustion physics is fundamental to the delivery of an efficient and reliable combustion process using this fuel. Measurements using laser based diagnostics of the atomisation flow, droplet formation and combustion process will provide the experimental data to understand this complex interrelationship.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the mysteries of turbulent drag at the air-sea interface. 70% of the Earth's surface is the air-sea interface. A huge amount of energy and gas is exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean; exchanges that are crucial for life on earth. Climate models, weather and wave forecasts depend on oversimplified models for these exchanges. Oversimplification limits accuracy, with outcomes ranging from inaccurate climate predictions to costly and unnecessary rerouting of ships or evacuations of ....Unravelling the mysteries of turbulent drag at the air-sea interface. 70% of the Earth's surface is the air-sea interface. A huge amount of energy and gas is exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean; exchanges that are crucial for life on earth. Climate models, weather and wave forecasts depend on oversimplified models for these exchanges. Oversimplification limits accuracy, with outcomes ranging from inaccurate climate predictions to costly and unnecessary rerouting of ships or evacuations of oil platforms. This project promises new knowledge of the turbulent air flow above waves through innovative, ambitious experiments in our laboratory wind-wave tanks. Concurrently, novel numerical simulations will enable new models for sea drag coefficient, the most critical component in air-sea interaction models. Read moreRead less
Aerodynamic interaction of bluff bodies with applications to sports aerodynamics. Numerical modelling and experiments will be combined by this project to characterise the flow and reduce drag on a set of objects in the wake of another object. The Olympic pursuit cycling team is a typical application, with small improvements leading to major competitiveness gains. Findings will also apply to Paralympic team sports, and potentially transportation.