Enhancing passive cooling using flexible baffles. The project aims to develop a novel passive strategy using fluid-structure-thermal interactions to enhance passive cooling by natural convection and improve the energy efficiency of engineering systems. Comparing to the existing strategies, the new strategy does not require driving fan or pump and is quiet, reliable, self-adaptive and economical. The Multiphysics embodied in the proposal is at the leading edge of the field. Expected outcomes incl ....Enhancing passive cooling using flexible baffles. The project aims to develop a novel passive strategy using fluid-structure-thermal interactions to enhance passive cooling by natural convection and improve the energy efficiency of engineering systems. Comparing to the existing strategies, the new strategy does not require driving fan or pump and is quiet, reliable, self-adaptive and economical. The Multiphysics embodied in the proposal is at the leading edge of the field. Expected outcomes include advanced understanding of the complex Multiphysics and design rules for enhancing passive cooling by natural convection using flexible baffles. The research is expected to bring direct economic benefit to relevant industry and significant environmental and social benefit to the general public.Read moreRead less
Micromechanical analysis of size segregation and its prediction in granular free-surface flows. Industries often suffer from size segregation in the handling and processing of granular materials, leading to significant economic consequences. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of size segregation and prediction models, enabling industries to eliminate, minimise, or manage the effects to an acceptable level.
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
Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use ....Engineering two dimensional polymers for membrane-based chemical separation. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional polymers with precisely controlled pore-sizes for preparing membrane materials which can efficiently separate these gaseous chemicals at ambient temperatures. Key industrial chemical mixtures with similar size and boiling points are difficult to separate by conventional distillation methods. Currently, purification of olefins alone accounts for 0.3% of global energy use. The expected outcomes of the project will have a huge impact on industrial purification processing by providing a disruptive membrane technology, and will significantly reduce energy consumption and open up new routes for resources.Read moreRead less
Transition of thermal boundary layers on heated flat and curved surfaces. This project aims to study the laminar to turbulent transition of the thermal boundary layer (TBL). The state of the TBL determines the heat transfer rate and energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers and heat dissipation systems. The intended outcome is to understand the TBL’s transitional behaviour and develop effective strategies for stimulating TBL transition to enhance heat transfer. This project will de ....Transition of thermal boundary layers on heated flat and curved surfaces. This project aims to study the laminar to turbulent transition of the thermal boundary layer (TBL). The state of the TBL determines the heat transfer rate and energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers and heat dissipation systems. The intended outcome is to understand the TBL’s transitional behaviour and develop effective strategies for stimulating TBL transition to enhance heat transfer. This project will develop a high-resolution, low-cost and easy-to-implement three-dimensional volumetric flow measurement technique based on stereoscopic shadowgraph and use it to study the TBL transition. This technique should provide a powerful tool for fluid mechanics and heat transfer research.Read moreRead less
Lowering noise emissions from gas turbines. This project aims to advance our understanding of the transmission and radiation of structure-borne noise in ductwork. The project expects to generate new and innovative techniques to lower structure-borne noise from the intake and exhaust systems used by gas turbines in the power generation industry. Expected outcomes include the development of advanced computational models, that are validated against experiment, and suitable for integration into a co ....Lowering noise emissions from gas turbines. This project aims to advance our understanding of the transmission and radiation of structure-borne noise in ductwork. The project expects to generate new and innovative techniques to lower structure-borne noise from the intake and exhaust systems used by gas turbines in the power generation industry. Expected outcomes include the development of advanced computational models, that are validated against experiment, and suitable for integration into a commercial design process. This will provide significant benefits for organisations working in the noise control industry, and lead to new ways of lowering environmental noise caused by ducts and pipes.Read moreRead less
Electronic topological materials. Discovery of new classes of materials with new functionalities or significantly improved performance has always been the driving force for the advance of modern science and technology, and the improvement of our daily lives. This project aims to discover a number of innovative materials, based on new strategies of materials design, discover their novel functionalities and novel quantum effects, and elucidate their underlying physics. It is expected that these no ....Electronic topological materials. Discovery of new classes of materials with new functionalities or significantly improved performance has always been the driving force for the advance of modern science and technology, and the improvement of our daily lives. This project aims to discover a number of innovative materials, based on new strategies of materials design, discover their novel functionalities and novel quantum effects, and elucidate their underlying physics. It is expected that these novel materials will provide a new platform for superconductivity, magnetism, spintronics, optical and multi-disciplinary sciences, and lead to future generations of advanced multifunctional electronic devices. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100583
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,000.00
Summary
Engineering of biocatalysis in metal-organic frameworks for CO2 conversion. Transforming the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels would be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. This project aims to architect a biocascade system in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for artificial CO2 conversion. Learned from the living organisms, a whole biocatalysis unit including enzymes and cofactors will be encased and protected in an artificial porous ....Engineering of biocatalysis in metal-organic frameworks for CO2 conversion. Transforming the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels would be beneficial for relieving energy shortage and improving global sustainability. This project aims to architect a biocascade system in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for artificial CO2 conversion. Learned from the living organisms, a whole biocatalysis unit including enzymes and cofactors will be encased and protected in an artificial porous polymeric MOF coating. This approach is expected to deliver robust biocatalysts with high reaction-activity and chemo-selectivity in converting CO2 into methanol under the industrial operating condition, involving thermal, pH, and chemical stressors. This advancement will contribute to a carbon-neutral industry and society.Read moreRead less
Deformation mechanisms of metastable titanium alloys. This project aims to understand the response of deformation-induced products in metastable titanium alloys to external loading. Metastable titanium alloys are mechanically tuneable because they can readily twin and phase transform under load during forming or in service. This project will develop a crystal plasticity model that accounts for these deformation mechanisms. These new alloys are expected to make titanium a viable lightweight alter ....Deformation mechanisms of metastable titanium alloys. This project aims to understand the response of deformation-induced products in metastable titanium alloys to external loading. Metastable titanium alloys are mechanically tuneable because they can readily twin and phase transform under load during forming or in service. This project will develop a crystal plasticity model that accounts for these deformation mechanisms. These new alloys are expected to make titanium a viable lightweight alternative for components in the aerospace and transport industries, with the weight savings helping reduce overall energy consumption.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100310
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,850.00
Summary
Nano-engineered, cost-effective lead chalcogenides to boost the performance of mid-range temperature thermoelectric materials. This project presents high performance, cost-effective lead-based thermoelectric materials for mid-range temperature thermoelectric generators. The development of these materials for waste heat recovery and solar thermoelectric generators will bring tremendous economic benefits and can have a profound impact on clean alternative energy sources.