Enhancing natural convection heat transfer using a single horizontal non-metallic fin. This project will develop the basis for a simple design to improve the energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers. Heat exchangers are widely adopted in many electronic devices and industrial processes as they require no external power input, additional space, and are quiet, reliable and economical. The research will exploit the interaction between two flows to trigger turbulence, and will result ....Enhancing natural convection heat transfer using a single horizontal non-metallic fin. This project will develop the basis for a simple design to improve the energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers. Heat exchangers are widely adopted in many electronic devices and industrial processes as they require no external power input, additional space, and are quiet, reliable and economical. The research will exploit the interaction between two flows to trigger turbulence, and will result in an increase of the overall capacity and performance of engineering systems. This will contribute significantly to reductions in power consumption and improvements in productivity and work environment, leading ultimately to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Plate Wave Tomography for Reconstruction of Laminar Defects. The proposed project promotes a conceptual advance in the application of plate waves for the quantitative reconstruction of laminar defects by investigating fundamental experimental and analytical aspects of a novel approach in plate wave ultrasonic tomography. A successful development will have a comparable significance in the area of health monitoring of thin structures as computer tomography had in medical imaging. Previous attempts ....Plate Wave Tomography for Reconstruction of Laminar Defects. The proposed project promotes a conceptual advance in the application of plate waves for the quantitative reconstruction of laminar defects by investigating fundamental experimental and analytical aspects of a novel approach in plate wave ultrasonic tomography. A successful development will have a comparable significance in the area of health monitoring of thin structures as computer tomography had in medical imaging. Previous attempts have ignored wave scattering effects, and therefore do not describe the correct physics of the problem. With its combined experimental-numerical approach, the proposed fundamental studies will help to identify the potential of plate wave ultrasonic tomography for in-situ health monitoring of realistic structures and smart materials design.Read moreRead less
Tomographic Imaging of Structural Damage in Plates. The potential benefit of structural health monitoring is highlighted by the socio-economic impact of structural failure, which may result in loss of lives, infrastructure disruptions and loss of productivity. This proposal promotes a fundamental advance in the novel concept of ultrasonic diffraction tomography for imaging early stage structural damage in plates. The successful development will represent an essential advance in quantitative non- ....Tomographic Imaging of Structural Damage in Plates. The potential benefit of structural health monitoring is highlighted by the socio-economic impact of structural failure, which may result in loss of lives, infrastructure disruptions and loss of productivity. This proposal promotes a fundamental advance in the novel concept of ultrasonic diffraction tomography for imaging early stage structural damage in plates. The successful development will represent an essential advance in quantitative non-destructive evaluation of thin structures and enable the transition of the technique to realistic structures with all the potential benefits in mechanical and civil infrastructure management resulting in improved safety, reduced maintenance costs and the use of more efficient structural designs.Read moreRead less
Integrated Cooling Enhancement Technology for Power Electronics. This project aims to develop an unprecedented integrated cooling enhancement technology (IceTech) for silicon carbide on silicon power electronics. IceTech represents a radical departure from current failure-prone packaging solutions. The project aims to elucidate the fundamental interactions between magnetism, heat and mass transfer and apply them to cooling. In partnership with SPTS Technologies, the project then aims to develop ....Integrated Cooling Enhancement Technology for Power Electronics. This project aims to develop an unprecedented integrated cooling enhancement technology (IceTech) for silicon carbide on silicon power electronics. IceTech represents a radical departure from current failure-prone packaging solutions. The project aims to elucidate the fundamental interactions between magnetism, heat and mass transfer and apply them to cooling. In partnership with SPTS Technologies, the project then aims to develop fabrication processes for integrating microchannels and highly sensitive integrated silicon carbide temperature sensors into a chip. This novel fabrication technology allows for the implementation of the revolutionary enhanced cooling concept using two-phase flow with magnetic liquid plugs.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100397
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Advanced waste heat recovery systems. Vehicle emissions have recently driven the research, development, and commercialisation of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. The development of novel EGR gas coolers for such systems will probably lead to the breakthrough necessary for advancing EGR technologies, benefiting Australian clean energy supplies in general and transport vehicles in particular. The project aims to produce lighter and cleaner EGR systems at lower costs. This project also aims ....Advanced waste heat recovery systems. Vehicle emissions have recently driven the research, development, and commercialisation of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. The development of novel EGR gas coolers for such systems will probably lead to the breakthrough necessary for advancing EGR technologies, benefiting Australian clean energy supplies in general and transport vehicles in particular. The project aims to produce lighter and cleaner EGR systems at lower costs. This project also aims to enhance the international reputation and impact of Australian research in the internationally focused fields of microporous materials and clean transport technology.Read moreRead less
Nano optoelectronic coupling: towards an ultrasensitive sensing technology. This project aims to elucidate ultrasensitive mechanical and thermal sensing effects that are tens of thousands of times better than conventional sensing technologies. This is achieved through controlling interactions between photons and electrons at the interface of two semiconductors. Outcomes of this project include scientific breakthroughs that are expected to revolutionise and disrupt the established sensing technol ....Nano optoelectronic coupling: towards an ultrasensitive sensing technology. This project aims to elucidate ultrasensitive mechanical and thermal sensing effects that are tens of thousands of times better than conventional sensing technologies. This is achieved through controlling interactions between photons and electrons at the interface of two semiconductors. Outcomes of this project include scientific breakthroughs that are expected to revolutionise and disrupt the established sensing technologies. Microscopic low power mechanical and thermal sensors with ultra-high sensitivity have great value to enhance safety, security, and productivity of industry and society. The project is expected to generate new knowledge and place Australia as the world leader in physical sensing and create a new industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101073
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,000.00
Summary
Defying conventions with a liquid metal-embedded hybrid elastomer composite. Conductive elastic composites are one of the key components used in flexible/wearable electronic devices in the manufacture of sensors and interconnects; however, conventional composites experience a relatively low sensitivity to strain, and their conductivity decreases when stretched (i.e. they exhibit a negative piezoconductive effect). This project aims to understand the unprecedented positive piezoconductive effect ....Defying conventions with a liquid metal-embedded hybrid elastomer composite. Conductive elastic composites are one of the key components used in flexible/wearable electronic devices in the manufacture of sensors and interconnects; however, conventional composites experience a relatively low sensitivity to strain, and their conductivity decreases when stretched (i.e. they exhibit a negative piezoconductive effect). This project aims to understand the unprecedented positive piezoconductive effect exhibited on the liquid metal-embedded hybrid elastomer (LMHE) and explore its potential to address the key challenges faced by conventional materials. The outcomes of this project will benefit the advanced manufacturing sector by developing high-performance composites to revolutionise future wearable electronic technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100600
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
A microfluidic platform for optimised detection of protein complexes. This project aims to develop an integrated lab-on-a-chip platform interfacing droplet-based microfluidics with conventional mass spectrometry. The platform detects suitable protein complexes using a fraction of the samples used in conventional tools. The system creates droplets on demand, injects and mixes a controlled volume of reagents into a single droplet using an array of embedded electrodes. This technology will screen d ....A microfluidic platform for optimised detection of protein complexes. This project aims to develop an integrated lab-on-a-chip platform interfacing droplet-based microfluidics with conventional mass spectrometry. The platform detects suitable protein complexes using a fraction of the samples used in conventional tools. The system creates droplets on demand, injects and mixes a controlled volume of reagents into a single droplet using an array of embedded electrodes. This technology will screen drug-like samples. This technology is expected to replace traditional time-consuming drug screening techniques, and reduce time and cost of drug discovery. Its commercialisation would complement the existing tools in the pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100692
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Multiphysics inertial microfluidics: from fundamentals to applications. Separation of particles and particularly cells is an indispensable process in disease diagnostics, chemical/biological assays and food/chemical industries. This project aims to study the interplay between inertial fluid flow, electricity, and magnetism in microscale for particle separation. The project is expected to establish the fundamental theory underpinning the development of the proposed advanced separation technology. ....Multiphysics inertial microfluidics: from fundamentals to applications. Separation of particles and particularly cells is an indispensable process in disease diagnostics, chemical/biological assays and food/chemical industries. This project aims to study the interplay between inertial fluid flow, electricity, and magnetism in microscale for particle separation. The project is expected to establish the fundamental theory underpinning the development of the proposed advanced separation technology. This disruptive technology is expected to enable the unique, high-performance and high-throughput separation of particles such as cells. The technology will potentially benefit the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, providing economic opportunities and maintaining high-quality healthcare for Australia.Read moreRead less
Magnetofluidic sample handling for enhanced point-of-care diagnosis. This project aims to decipher the mechanism behind recent discovery on the enhancement of mixing and separation with magnetism and to apply it to the rapid and early detection of malaria and cancer. This mechanism provides novel and unique fluid handling capabilities, which allow the development of revolutionary point-of-care diagnostic approaches that integrate magnetic mixing, separation and detection on a single device. The ....Magnetofluidic sample handling for enhanced point-of-care diagnosis. This project aims to decipher the mechanism behind recent discovery on the enhancement of mixing and separation with magnetism and to apply it to the rapid and early detection of malaria and cancer. This mechanism provides novel and unique fluid handling capabilities, which allow the development of revolutionary point-of-care diagnostic approaches that integrate magnetic mixing, separation and detection on a single device. The outcomes of this project are instrumental for the reduction of healthcare cost, promoting good health for Australian and potentially creating new jobs in the niche biomedical industry.Read moreRead less