Low emission, Gas Turbine Air Compressor (GTAC) demonstrator. Compressed air production consumes a significant portion of electricity generated world-wide. The fragility of power infrastructure in many developed countries, and the growing Chinese economy, has created very large markets for compressed air plants that run off Diesel and natural gas fuels. Australia's reliance on coal introduces the added greenhouse incentive of reduced electricity use.
This project will demonstrate a novel air ....Low emission, Gas Turbine Air Compressor (GTAC) demonstrator. Compressed air production consumes a significant portion of electricity generated world-wide. The fragility of power infrastructure in many developed countries, and the growing Chinese economy, has created very large markets for compressed air plants that run off Diesel and natural gas fuels. Australia's reliance on coal introduces the added greenhouse incentive of reduced electricity use.
This project will demonstrate a novel air compressor concept that features a natural gas fuelled micro-gas turbine. This device is expected to have comparable thermal efficiency to other air compressors, but with very significantly reduced greenhouse and overall emissions, much quieter operation, lower cost and increased device compactness.
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Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resista ....Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resistant SS to alleviate failures. Inconsistencies in SCC data call for an improved understanding of the role of MIC on SCC, particularly because recent failure analyses have indicated a profound role of microbiological activity on localised corrosion (viz., pitting) of stainless steels and their weldments, as well as because pitting is known to facilitate SCC initiation.Read moreRead less
Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications. Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will al ....Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications. Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will allow for higher precision products to be produced and allow for new techniques to be developed. This information will allow for material processing in Australia to be maintained at world class levels, and for Australian industry to continue to lead the way in the production of technologically advanced materials.Read moreRead less
An intelligent design support system for manufacturing of palletising machinery. The food and beverage manufacturing process in most Australian enterprises is a highly automated process, where food cartons, bottles or cans are required to move at a controlled speed for filling or assembly operations. These operations require highly efficient and reliable material handling machinery such as palletising systems. The outcome of this research will be of direct economic benefit to Australian manuf ....An intelligent design support system for manufacturing of palletising machinery. The food and beverage manufacturing process in most Australian enterprises is a highly automated process, where food cartons, bottles or cans are required to move at a controlled speed for filling or assembly operations. These operations require highly efficient and reliable material handling machinery such as palletising systems. The outcome of this research will be of direct economic benefit to Australian manufacturers and suppliers of such machinery in reducing the cost and lead time of designing and delivering highly automated flexible palletising and de-palletising systems with maximum performance.Read moreRead less
Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms u ....Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms under stress. This will enable us to understand the principles required to design the strongest structures and facilitate the selection of materials and deposition parameters in order to produce coatings optimised for a range of demanding applications.Read moreRead less
Laser-based dynamic measurements, model identification and error compensation for multi-arm robotic pre-fabrication of structural components. The aim is to establish methodologies for laser-based dynamic measurements, accurate model identification and error correction in multi-arm cooperative robotic manipulation systems. The expected outcomes include development of enabling technologies and the world's first automated fabrication system for structural timber components. The novel methodologi ....Laser-based dynamic measurements, model identification and error compensation for multi-arm robotic pre-fabrication of structural components. The aim is to establish methodologies for laser-based dynamic measurements, accurate model identification and error correction in multi-arm cooperative robotic manipulation systems. The expected outcomes include development of enabling technologies and the world's first automated fabrication system for structural timber components. The novel methodologies established will increase safety, and improve and automate the fabrication of wall frames, roof trusses, and floor and ceiling panels for housing, industrial and commercial projects within Australia and overseas. Other application areas include multi-arm manufacturing and handling of large components, materials handling in hazardous environments, and robotic servicing tasks in remote places.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453732
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$726,164.00
Summary
Interactive network for plasma and surface analysis. Plasma-based materials synthesis and surface modification methods have great value because they allow a wide range of ion energies and processing conditions to be achieved. Accurate in-situ measurement of the plasma conditions is crucial to the development of reliable new processes. This proposal will establish unique capabilities for carrying out diagnostic studies of plasma surface treatment technologies. The proposal will link Australia's m ....Interactive network for plasma and surface analysis. Plasma-based materials synthesis and surface modification methods have great value because they allow a wide range of ion energies and processing conditions to be achieved. Accurate in-situ measurement of the plasma conditions is crucial to the development of reliable new processes. This proposal will establish unique capabilities for carrying out diagnostic studies of plasma surface treatment technologies. The proposal will link Australia's most advanced plasma processing and diagnostic equipment located at the University of Sydney and the ANU to advanced materials and surface analysis facilities at La Trobe and RMIT Universities in Melbourne, using interactive e-science links and vacuum sample-transfer facilities.Read moreRead less
Fundamentals of Damage Identification in Tubular Structures Using Guided Waves. This project addresses fundamental but frontier issues and techniques that will lead to ultimate solutions for online integrity/safety assessment of tubular engineering structures. The most important outcome will be the development of fundamental knowledge and algorithms of guided wave-based damage identification in tubular structures in applications, putting Australia at the international forefront of techniques in ....Fundamentals of Damage Identification in Tubular Structures Using Guided Waves. This project addresses fundamental but frontier issues and techniques that will lead to ultimate solutions for online integrity/safety assessment of tubular engineering structures. The most important outcome will be the development of fundamental knowledge and algorithms of guided wave-based damage identification in tubular structures in applications, putting Australia at the international forefront of techniques in efficient asset maintenance and management. This project focuses on cutting-edge technologies, including sensor networks with signal filtering/processing and software/hardware integration, which will incubate the commercialisation of practical sensor networks, benefiting the intellectual leadership of Australia.Read moreRead less
Autonomous service robots in a multi-agent based system for household and industrial environments. This project addresses fundamental research issues required to develop autonomous mobile robots for intelligent cleaning services. As an interdisciplinary project spanning the fields of robotics, mechatronics and AI, it offers potential benefits in bringing robots into less-structured human environments. Robots performing autonomous cleaning (including hazardous waste and spillage) and security tas ....Autonomous service robots in a multi-agent based system for household and industrial environments. This project addresses fundamental research issues required to develop autonomous mobile robots for intelligent cleaning services. As an interdisciplinary project spanning the fields of robotics, mechatronics and AI, it offers potential benefits in bringing robots into less-structured human environments. Robots performing autonomous cleaning (including hazardous waste and spillage) and security tasks in both household and industrial environments has tremendous national/community benefits in cost and time savings, improved efficiency and safety, and facilitating hazardous or labour intensive tasks. Other benefits include research training, strengthening Australia's R&D position in key innovative technologies, and creating jobs and exports.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346889
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,000.00
Summary
Optical fibre fabrication and characterisation facility for next-generation photonics research. Australia is a world leader in photonics, underpinning the future of information communications technologies. ICT research demands the next generation of optical fibres; requiring high precision, state-of-the-art fibre fabrication and characterization equipment for advanced research into new photonic materials and technologies. OFTC is the keystone supplier of application specific optical fibre to alm ....Optical fibre fabrication and characterisation facility for next-generation photonics research. Australia is a world leader in photonics, underpinning the future of information communications technologies. ICT research demands the next generation of optical fibres; requiring high precision, state-of-the-art fibre fabrication and characterization equipment for advanced research into new photonic materials and technologies. OFTC is the keystone supplier of application specific optical fibre to almost all photonics related research and developing industry in Australia. New equipment will enable OFTC to lead innovation and a high level of excellence in research in fundamental science, new technologies, new fibre including non-linear and photonic-bandgap, fibre devices, lasers and amplifiers, and support commercial development in Australia.Read moreRead less