Thermal Storage for Built Environment. Thermal storage systems with Phase Chage Materials (PCM) can be ulilised to reduce the energy required to cool and heat buildings. The PCM used has a freezing point around 20C. Thus alowing cool summer night air to freeze the PCM overnight. During the day warmer outside air is cooled significantly as it melts the PCM. PCM systems can be retrofitted to existing systems to precool the outside air, and thus significantly reduce the energy required to cool a bu ....Thermal Storage for Built Environment. Thermal storage systems with Phase Chage Materials (PCM) can be ulilised to reduce the energy required to cool and heat buildings. The PCM used has a freezing point around 20C. Thus alowing cool summer night air to freeze the PCM overnight. During the day warmer outside air is cooled significantly as it melts the PCM. PCM systems can be retrofitted to existing systems to precool the outside air, and thus significantly reduce the energy required to cool a building. This project deals with design, simulation and optimisation of this kind of thermal storage system. A laboratory prototype system will also be built and tested.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
Assessment of the new technologies to maximise the internal energy efficiency by modelling the energy flows in Victorian power stations. Increased internal energy efficiency will reduce the CO2 emissions and increase the profit margin for the power stations. The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the internal energy efficiency in the brown coal fired power stations by modelling the internal energy flows to reveal the potentials in the 'waste' heat streams in the power stations, and t ....Assessment of the new technologies to maximise the internal energy efficiency by modelling the energy flows in Victorian power stations. Increased internal energy efficiency will reduce the CO2 emissions and increase the profit margin for the power stations. The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the internal energy efficiency in the brown coal fired power stations by modelling the internal energy flows to reveal the potentials in the 'waste' heat streams in the power stations, and to assess new waste heat recovery measures for the power industry. The proposed research, supported by the entire Victorian power generation industry, will help the industry to achieve their green house gas emission reduction target set by the Federal Government.
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Process scalability and performance prediction of Viscous Transfer Micro Turbines for use as miniaturised power supplies. This project aims to predict the performance and scalability of viscous transfer turbines. The work will be carried out with Micromachines Ltd., a firm developing working turbines with 50 mm rotors. The goal of the research is to gain an understanding of the scaling laws for these turbines, in order to predict their performance. Viscous transfer turbines have a very simple di ....Process scalability and performance prediction of Viscous Transfer Micro Turbines for use as miniaturised power supplies. This project aims to predict the performance and scalability of viscous transfer turbines. The work will be carried out with Micromachines Ltd., a firm developing working turbines with 50 mm rotors. The goal of the research is to gain an understanding of the scaling laws for these turbines, in order to predict their performance. Viscous transfer turbines have a very simple disc construction making them ideal for manufacturing as small-scale units (with a 5 mm rotor). Small enough to replace batteries, but with a higher power output, they would provide the need for higher power output devices to replace batteries.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH180100020
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,058,152.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions. The ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions aims to develop advanced energy storage technologies, including printed batteries, structural supercapacitors, innovative fuel cells and power-to-gas systems. It plans to integrate these storage solutions with existing energy networks and applications using novel storage monitoring, control and optimisation technologies. The Hub is expected to generate new knowledge in storage t ....ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions. The ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions aims to develop advanced energy storage technologies, including printed batteries, structural supercapacitors, innovative fuel cells and power-to-gas systems. It plans to integrate these storage solutions with existing energy networks and applications using novel storage monitoring, control and optimisation technologies. The Hub is expected to generate new knowledge in storage technology manufacturing, control and management. Expected outcomes include cheaper and more effective storage devices and better storage integration solutions, supporting renewables, reducing carbon emissions, and improving efficiency in the energy sector. Resulting benefits include a more sustainable, secure, reliable and economically efficient energy supply. This Hub will contribute to improving the economic efficiency of Australia’s energy sector.Read moreRead less
Dual Geothermal System for Fresh Water Production and Power Generation. The dual geothermal system for fresh water production and power generation developed in this project will use relatively low-temperature geothermal resources and assist in supplying domestic fresh water as well as electricity to small communities remote from the main electricity grid without any associated greenhouse gas emissions. The technology developed will provide an opportunity for industry development, employment crea ....Dual Geothermal System for Fresh Water Production and Power Generation. The dual geothermal system for fresh water production and power generation developed in this project will use relatively low-temperature geothermal resources and assist in supplying domestic fresh water as well as electricity to small communities remote from the main electricity grid without any associated greenhouse gas emissions. The technology developed will provide an opportunity for industry development, employment creation and export potential through commercial manufacture in Australia of small to medium scale dual geothermal systems (e.g., 0.1 MW, 75000 litres fresh water per day).Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH200100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub in New Safe and Reliable Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies. This Research Hub addresses safety and reliability issues, and environmental impact of current energy storage and conversion technologies. The research will deliver a new generation of technologies for storage from small scale portable devices to large scale industrial applications, using recycled and natural materials, and eliminating the serious fire risk in current technologies. Outcomes include innovative ....ARC Research Hub in New Safe and Reliable Energy Storage and Conversion Technologies. This Research Hub addresses safety and reliability issues, and environmental impact of current energy storage and conversion technologies. The research will deliver a new generation of technologies for storage from small scale portable devices to large scale industrial applications, using recycled and natural materials, and eliminating the serious fire risk in current technologies. Outcomes include innovative integrated energy conversion and storage technologies and new energy materials and devices designed for different scale applications, leading to creation of start up companies and commercialisation opportunities for existing partners, benefiting both the Australian economy and potentially transforming the energy industry landscape.Read moreRead less
A direct drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion. This project aims to investigate a direct drive linear electromagnetic generator system for the maximum wave energy conversion and frequency bandwidth. This system has a translator of a multiple degree of freedom non-linear oscillator system built with the Halbach ring array pattern and ferro-fluid bearings. To establish wave energy conversion science, this project will investigate the device, its integration with a buoy stru ....A direct drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion. This project aims to investigate a direct drive linear electromagnetic generator system for the maximum wave energy conversion and frequency bandwidth. This system has a translator of a multiple degree of freedom non-linear oscillator system built with the Halbach ring array pattern and ferro-fluid bearings. To establish wave energy conversion science, this project will investigate the device, its integration with a buoy structure under wave loadings and automatic control of power conversion and conditioning. The outcome could meet demands for wave energy conversion technologies that reduce power generation cost and emissions, benefiting the Australian economy and environment.Read moreRead less
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
Hybrid cooling for coal fired power stations. Water shortage is a nation wide problem facing Australian industries. The project will directly benefit the Victorian power industry through water saving. If the new proposed hybrid cooling system concept is proved to be practically feasible, it will put the Australian power industry in a strong competitive position in terms of its efficiencies and waste heat recovery technology. Lowering the temperature of water into the cooling tower by 2 degree, b ....Hybrid cooling for coal fired power stations. Water shortage is a nation wide problem facing Australian industries. The project will directly benefit the Victorian power industry through water saving. If the new proposed hybrid cooling system concept is proved to be practically feasible, it will put the Australian power industry in a strong competitive position in terms of its efficiencies and waste heat recovery technology. Lowering the temperature of water into the cooling tower by 2 degree, by using the hybrid cooling system, it would save over 17,500,000 tons of makeup water per year for the Victorian power industry alone. At the same time, the waste heat recovered by the heat pump can be fed back to the power generation cycle. Read moreRead less