Improved Capacitor Voltage Balance for Multicell Power Electronic Converters Controlled by Spectrally Optimal Modulation. There is a growing demand for high power and medium voltage energy conversion systems in a wide range of applications, including Rail, Renewable Energy, Defence and Electricity Distribution. Multicell-type multilevel converters are a very attractive means of satisfying this demand, but only if the cell voltages can be precisely regulated so as to ensure protection of the conv ....Improved Capacitor Voltage Balance for Multicell Power Electronic Converters Controlled by Spectrally Optimal Modulation. There is a growing demand for high power and medium voltage energy conversion systems in a wide range of applications, including Rail, Renewable Energy, Defence and Electricity Distribution. Multicell-type multilevel converters are a very attractive means of satisfying this demand, but only if the cell voltages can be precisely regulated so as to ensure protection of the converter while simultaneously ensuring the synthesis of switched waveforms with the required spectral quality. This project offers the potential to eliminate this barrier to the use of Multicell converter technology. In addition this project emphasises the development and training of people skilled in the design and development of this technology.Read moreRead less
The modelling and estimation of volatility in energy markets. The growing trend of deregulation of energy markets poses important problems for users and suppliers of energy as well as for government policy makers. In particular it has become necessary to manage the risk of unexpected load and price fluctuations. One of the main challenges concerns the extreme volatility of prices and the evaluation of derivative prices and hedging ratios to take account of volatility. The outcomes of project wil ....The modelling and estimation of volatility in energy markets. The growing trend of deregulation of energy markets poses important problems for users and suppliers of energy as well as for government policy makers. In particular it has become necessary to manage the risk of unexpected load and price fluctuations. One of the main challenges concerns the extreme volatility of prices and the evaluation of derivative prices and hedging ratios to take account of volatility. The outcomes of project will be of benefit to all participants in Australian energy markets who need to use derivative positions to hedge energy risk. This issue has become important due to the increasing national focus on efficient use of energy resources.Read moreRead less
Residential Air Conditioning, Comfort and Demand Response in Australia. Rapid growth in residential air conditioning (AC) ownership will potentially undermine national energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction targets. Furthermore, residential AC is placing a strain on the national electricity system, especially during heat waves when electricity demand peaks. These AC-driven peak loads occur occasionally each summer, but increasing grid capacity to meet them represents a grossly inefficient in ....Residential Air Conditioning, Comfort and Demand Response in Australia. Rapid growth in residential air conditioning (AC) ownership will potentially undermine national energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction targets. Furthermore, residential AC is placing a strain on the national electricity system, especially during heat waves when electricity demand peaks. These AC-driven peak loads occur occasionally each summer, but increasing grid capacity to meet them represents a grossly inefficient infrastructure investment. This project will generate Australia's most comprehensive data set on exactly how, when, where, and why residential AC systems are being used. The outcomes will provide a solid platform on which national electricity demand management and AC greenhouse-gas mitigation strategies can be designed.Read moreRead less
The development of new techniques for partial discharge monitoring and location in high voltage underground power cables. Increased utilization factors have caused a significant increase in the loading of high voltage distribution cables. This increased loading subjects cable insulation to increased stress which can degrade the insulation, cause cable failure and power loss to consumers. On-line cable insulation monitoring is required and partial discharge monitoring in cables provides a viable ....The development of new techniques for partial discharge monitoring and location in high voltage underground power cables. Increased utilization factors have caused a significant increase in the loading of high voltage distribution cables. This increased loading subjects cable insulation to increased stress which can degrade the insulation, cause cable failure and power loss to consumers. On-line cable insulation monitoring is required and partial discharge monitoring in cables provides a viable technique, but technical problems have prevented its application in on-line operation.
This project will develop techniques for such on-line monitoring. High frequency electrical sensors will be used to reduce interference and improve signal levels. Both a coarse alarm and a higher sensitivity monitor will be developed.
Read moreRead less
Performance of Centrifugal Chillers using Hydrocarbons. Centrifugal chillers cool most large buildings. Their energy consumption and fluorocarbon emissions are a global environmental concern. A 40% increase in rotational speed and replacement of the fluorocarbon refrigerant by a hydrocarbon is proposed. Over 4% energy savings with no performance changes is predicted. The aims are to prepare a conversion protocol, measure chiller performance before and after conversion, develop a new model of ....Performance of Centrifugal Chillers using Hydrocarbons. Centrifugal chillers cool most large buildings. Their energy consumption and fluorocarbon emissions are a global environmental concern. A 40% increase in rotational speed and replacement of the fluorocarbon refrigerant by a hydrocarbon is proposed. Over 4% energy savings with no performance changes is predicted. The aims are to prepare a conversion protocol, measure chiller performance before and after conversion, develop a new model of evaporator heat transfer and correlate the model with chiller measurements. The capital cost of compliance with the Montreal Protocol for a large building will be reduced by $10,000 with about $5,000 in annual energy cost savings.Read moreRead less
Emergency Control of Catastrophic Disturbances in a Power System. Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, there are increased concerns about the security and robustness of power systems to evolving spectra of threats, such as natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes and hurricanes), equipment failure, human error, or deliberate sabotage and attack by terrorists. In this project, pattern recognition of local parameter changes in distributed monitoring systems will be used to identify any th ....Emergency Control of Catastrophic Disturbances in a Power System. Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, there are increased concerns about the security and robustness of power systems to evolving spectra of threats, such as natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes and hurricanes), equipment failure, human error, or deliberate sabotage and attack by terrorists. In this project, pattern recognition of local parameter changes in distributed monitoring systems will be used to identify any threatened breakdown in the power system. Once identified, methods based on intelligent agents will be used to trigger the appropriate countermeasures to maintain the integrity of transmission grids.Read moreRead less
An intelligent integrated energy communication system. This multidisciplinary research project is an essential step towards transforming Australia's electricity infrastructure to become more intelligent. The real time monitoring of the power quality and energy usage will add value to the grid's operation, reducing planning and maintenance costs. Our intelligent grid technologies will contribute to the safeguarding of one of Australia's most critical infrastructures. Our technologies will contrib ....An intelligent integrated energy communication system. This multidisciplinary research project is an essential step towards transforming Australia's electricity infrastructure to become more intelligent. The real time monitoring of the power quality and energy usage will add value to the grid's operation, reducing planning and maintenance costs. Our intelligent grid technologies will contribute to the safeguarding of one of Australia's most critical infrastructures. Our technologies will contribute to the reduction of energy consumption and address environmental concerns. Training of postgraduate students in a multidisciplinary environment will create a capable new generation of researchers.Read moreRead less