In-field assessment and lifetime prediction of composite insulators in high voltage electricity transmission networks. New types of composite insulators are now used in extra-high voltage overhead lines in Australia's national electricity grid. Flashover of such insulators due to early ageing may lead to unavailability of vital lines causing power transmission disruptions costing the National Electricity Market tens of millions of dollars.
In this project research will be conducted into agei ....In-field assessment and lifetime prediction of composite insulators in high voltage electricity transmission networks. New types of composite insulators are now used in extra-high voltage overhead lines in Australia's national electricity grid. Flashover of such insulators due to early ageing may lead to unavailability of vital lines causing power transmission disruptions costing the National Electricity Market tens of millions of dollars.
In this project research will be conducted into ageing of elastomers to provide early warning of insulator end-of-life and into new techniques for extracting elastomer samples from live high voltage insulators. Transgrid will cooperate in the application of the technology to give improved understanding of insulator ageing in transmission networks.
Read moreRead less
Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enab ....Improving the efficiency of silent discharge plasma systems through an effective high voltage power converter design match. The proposal seeks to develop important new technologies which will have an impact on our environment. Australia suffers from water resource scarcity and SDPSs represents an accepted solution for waste-water treatment. The project has significant implications for improving the cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems. Improved operation of SDPSs will enable better filtering of vehicle exhaust emissions and through the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide which reduces green gas emission. This will improve the efficiency of ozoniser systems which has many benefits as ozone is one of the most useful and environmentally friendly oxidising agents.Read moreRead less
Dust Physics: a Challenge in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. This proposal is highly relevant to development of the electricity-producing fusion power plants. The outcomes will contribute to the achievement of greater control, predictability, and cost efficiency of fusion reactors operation. The project falls within the " An Environmentally Sustainable Australia " research priority and will contribute to development of widely available energy source with essentially unlimited ....Dust Physics: a Challenge in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. This proposal is highly relevant to development of the electricity-producing fusion power plants. The outcomes will contribute to the achievement of greater control, predictability, and cost efficiency of fusion reactors operation. The project falls within the " An Environmentally Sustainable Australia " research priority and will contribute to development of widely available energy source with essentially unlimited supply and manageable environmental impact. Read moreRead less
Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transpar ....Design and synthesis of transparent conducting metal oxides. With advances in solar cell and flexible display technologies the demand and performance requirements for transparent conductors used as electrodes in these devices will increase dramatically. This research program is focused on developing new materials to meet the demand and the challenges of new, more advanced technologies. The project has the potential to generate valuable intellectual property in the form of new generation transparent conducting oxide materials for a rapidly growing set of applications. The new devices will directly improve our standard of living and additional economic benefits will come from commercialisation of the technology both here and overseas.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Phenomena in RF Plasmas for Materials Processing Applications. This coordinated and experimental and theoretical proposal focuses on the investigation of the nonlinear phenomena in radio frequency plasma discharges suitable for material processing applications. The effect of time-varying and steady-state nonlinear plasma responses on the electromagnetic fields and the working parameters of the low-frequency inductively coupled plasmas will be investigated theoretically and experimenta ....Nonlinear Phenomena in RF Plasmas for Materials Processing Applications. This coordinated and experimental and theoretical proposal focuses on the investigation of the nonlinear phenomena in radio frequency plasma discharges suitable for material processing applications. The effect of time-varying and steady-state nonlinear plasma responses on the electromagnetic fields and the working parameters of the low-frequency inductively coupled plasmas will be investigated theoretically and experimentally. The expected outcome of the project will be used for optimizing the performance and stability of the low frequency inductively coupled plasma devices.Read moreRead less
Low-order dynamical models for non-linear fluid behaviour in quasi two-dimensional plasmas. Two complex systems in which a magnetic field imposes two-dimensional fluid motions are turbulent fusion plasmas and magnetospheric plasmas. A distinctive property of 2D flows is the inverse energy cascade, whereby energy streaming into large-scale vortices, coherent structures, or sheared flows gives a remarkable propensity for self-organizing behaviour. This can be exploited to govern or guide our respo ....Low-order dynamical models for non-linear fluid behaviour in quasi two-dimensional plasmas. Two complex systems in which a magnetic field imposes two-dimensional fluid motions are turbulent fusion plasmas and magnetospheric plasmas. A distinctive property of 2D flows is the inverse energy cascade, whereby energy streaming into large-scale vortices, coherent structures, or sheared flows gives a remarkable propensity for self-organizing behaviour. This can be exploited to govern or guide our response to such systems. We propose to investigate the dynamics of momentum and energy exchange in these plasmas, using reduced dynamical models and bifurcation and stability mathematics. Expected outcomes are improved prediction of magnetospheric substorms and confinement of fusion plasmas.
Read moreRead less
Structural transitions in turbulent fluids and plasma through self-organization. Studies into structural transitions in turbulent systems will greatly benefit Australia through its contributions to the science of complex systems, in the areas of self-organization and turbulence control. Applications range from understanding the formation of the Earth's atmospheric spectrum to generation of transport barriers in magnetically confined plasma, as well as development of novel methods of turbulence c ....Structural transitions in turbulent fluids and plasma through self-organization. Studies into structural transitions in turbulent systems will greatly benefit Australia through its contributions to the science of complex systems, in the areas of self-organization and turbulence control. Applications range from understanding the formation of the Earth's atmospheric spectrum to generation of transport barriers in magnetically confined plasma, as well as development of novel methods of turbulence control in engineering. Recent discoveries by the authors open a window of opportunity for a breakthrough in this fundamental field of modern science. The project is based on several national and international collaborations. Australian postgraduate and research training is an integral part of the project.Read moreRead less
Hermetic bonding of biomedical polymers for cardiac-assist devices. The use of a polymeric ventricular assist device will bring a much better quality of life to patients with end-stage heart failure. The project will address the remaining challenge, the creation of a hermetic polymer seal, enabling the development of a small, light and highly efficient heart pump. The project has the potential to improve the lives of many Australians as our demographic profile shifts towards older people. Patie ....Hermetic bonding of biomedical polymers for cardiac-assist devices. The use of a polymeric ventricular assist device will bring a much better quality of life to patients with end-stage heart failure. The project will address the remaining challenge, the creation of a hermetic polymer seal, enabling the development of a small, light and highly efficient heart pump. The project has the potential to improve the lives of many Australians as our demographic profile shifts towards older people. Patients with advanced heart failure will live longer, with a higher quality of life. It will assist heart failure sufferers to remain productive members of our community, because many people who use the device will be fit to return to work.Read moreRead less
Guaranteeing the safety of short welds in automotive applications. Most safety-critical welds in the automotive and related industries are of short duration (less than three seconds). We will develop a unified theoretical model of short welds which accounts for all important phenomena. Using this model, we will create the first system to check every safety-critical weld in real time, with 3D data objects that use all the data available from the non-stationary process. The outcomes will be a comp ....Guaranteeing the safety of short welds in automotive applications. Most safety-critical welds in the automotive and related industries are of short duration (less than three seconds). We will develop a unified theoretical model of short welds which accounts for all important phenomena. Using this model, we will create the first system to check every safety-critical weld in real time, with 3D data objects that use all the data available from the non-stationary process. The outcomes will be a comprehensive understanding of short welds, which will be an essential step towards the development of more reliable welding procedures, and a weld fault monitor ready for industrial application.Read moreRead less
Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconn ....Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconnection at magnetic nulls, and bulk energization of electrons.
`Coherence? in sources of coherent emission will be quantified and a model for its interpretation for highly intermittent wave growth will be formulated.Read moreRead less