Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Resolving flame stabilisation mechanisms in the transition to moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion. Next-generation combustion technologies are required in the transition to more efficient, and less polluting, energy production. This project will address the important issue of understanding flame stabilisation on a fundamental level to facilitate the design and development of more efficient and sustainable combustion systems.
Better predictions of spray flames. This project aims to predict spray flames using experimental and computational modelling of the combustion near burning droplets in spray flames. Spray flames are the dominant source of energy for the transportation sector, and are expected to remain so well into the future. Limited understanding of combustion processes surrounding the burning of the droplets restricts further technological development. This project is expected to enable progress in design too ....Better predictions of spray flames. This project aims to predict spray flames using experimental and computational modelling of the combustion near burning droplets in spray flames. Spray flames are the dominant source of energy for the transportation sector, and are expected to remain so well into the future. Limited understanding of combustion processes surrounding the burning of the droplets restricts further technological development. This project is expected to enable progress in design tools for spray flame combustors operating on liquid fuels, including bio-fuels. The result will be lower pollutant emissions and lower the cost of design of new engines.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Waste Heat Recovery from Low-grade Heat Sources Using a Novel Supercritical Power Cycle. Compared with conventional technologies for waste heat recovery, GRANEX cycle offers higher thermal efficiencies, better economics and a greater degree of robustness. If deployed ascross the country to recover even 10% of the nation's waste heat, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by 9 mega tonne which is roughly 1.6% of the annual national emissions. That is equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions ....Enhanced Waste Heat Recovery from Low-grade Heat Sources Using a Novel Supercritical Power Cycle. Compared with conventional technologies for waste heat recovery, GRANEX cycle offers higher thermal efficiencies, better economics and a greater degree of robustness. If deployed ascross the country to recover even 10% of the nation's waste heat, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by 9 mega tonne which is roughly 1.6% of the annual national emissions. That is equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions from 648,000 houses or 2 million cars. The proposed research will place Australia within the forefront of the research and development activities in the field of waste heat recovery and will clearly contribute to the Federal Government’s effort in the National Research Priority 1, An Environmentally Sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of a fuel control system for small two-stroke engines. The two-stroke engine is well known not only for its mechanical simplicity and power-to-weight advantages, but also for its high hydrocarbon emission caused by fuel short-circuiting. Driven by new regulations, developing new technologies for small two-stroke engines to meet pollutant emission standards has become urgent. This project aims to develop a fuel control system for reducing hydrocarbon and other emissions of a two-strok ....Development of a fuel control system for small two-stroke engines. The two-stroke engine is well known not only for its mechanical simplicity and power-to-weight advantages, but also for its high hydrocarbon emission caused by fuel short-circuiting. Driven by new regulations, developing new technologies for small two-stroke engines to meet pollutant emission standards has become urgent. This project aims to develop a fuel control system for reducing hydrocarbon and other emissions of a two-stroke engine designed and produced by Australia's leading lawnmower manufacturer. The knowledge and technology developed will be broadly applicable. By reducing engine pollutant emissions and improving fuel energy efficiency, this research addresses environmental and energy efficiency imperatives.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101253
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,000.00
Summary
Artificial tornados enhance updraft in natural draft cooling towers. This project aims to investigate and develop a novel air flow enhancement concept, induced plume swirl, and its engineering approaches to boost the cooling capacity of natural draft cooling towers (NDCTs). These towers are widely used in thermal power plants due to their low operating costs. The project will explore why and how the artificial natural convective air swirls (vortices) significantly increase the updraft inside NDC ....Artificial tornados enhance updraft in natural draft cooling towers. This project aims to investigate and develop a novel air flow enhancement concept, induced plume swirl, and its engineering approaches to boost the cooling capacity of natural draft cooling towers (NDCTs). These towers are widely used in thermal power plants due to their low operating costs. The project will explore why and how the artificial natural convective air swirls (vortices) significantly increase the updraft inside NDCTs and identify effective, low-energy cost swirl inducement methods to increase the efficiency of operation. A wide application of this technology will result in economic and environmental benefits, including increases in overall energy conversion efficiencies, cuts in operational costs in the order of billions, and reductions in carbon emissions in the thermal power sector.Read moreRead less
Adaptation of carbon free fuels to high temperature industrial processes. This project aims to deepen our understanding of the underpinning scientific and engineering solutions required to adapt carbon free renewable fuels to high temperature industrial processes. The project will advance the knowledge base of innovative strategies, such as fuel blending and oxidant stream vitiation needed to replace fossil based fuels with alternatives such as hydrogen, or ammonia. Advance experimental and comp ....Adaptation of carbon free fuels to high temperature industrial processes. This project aims to deepen our understanding of the underpinning scientific and engineering solutions required to adapt carbon free renewable fuels to high temperature industrial processes. The project will advance the knowledge base of innovative strategies, such as fuel blending and oxidant stream vitiation needed to replace fossil based fuels with alternatives such as hydrogen, or ammonia. Advance experimental and computational tools will be used to investigate the controlling parameters to facilitate adaptation including burning characteristics, modes of heat transfer and pollutant emissions. The project will generate deeper understanding of the proposed approaches, detailed and unique high fidelity data, and suitable predictive models.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Dual Fuel Compression Ignition (Diesel) Engines With Respect to Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions. A successful dual-fuel compression ignition (diesel) engine technology utilizing renewable alcohol fuels will provide a commercially attractive, immediate solution to the global fuel challenges of security and cost of oil supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality . This project provides both the rigorous laboratory and field testing required to develop, test, optim ....Optimisation of Dual Fuel Compression Ignition (Diesel) Engines With Respect to Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions. A successful dual-fuel compression ignition (diesel) engine technology utilizing renewable alcohol fuels will provide a commercially attractive, immediate solution to the global fuel challenges of security and cost of oil supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality . This project provides both the rigorous laboratory and field testing required to develop, test, optimize and validate both engine performance and pollution emissions. This ethanol dual fuel approach has the potential to reduce Australia's dependence on imported fuels, support the development of regional agriculture and employment through the expansion of the biofuels industry and enhance the environmental performance of transport and stationary engines.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
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
Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the ....Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the engine requirements (via variable geometry intakes that can be under the control of the engine management computer) offering substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.Read moreRead less