Multilevel converters. Until recently the vast majority of power electronic applications have been to low voltage systems. However, developments in high voltage semiconductor switches in the last decade have generated significant activity in high voltage power electronic applications.
Traditional two level converters have significant problems in high voltage applications - high output dv/dt damages insulation and motor bearings, and the semiconductor switches have high switching losses.
Mu ....Multilevel converters. Until recently the vast majority of power electronic applications have been to low voltage systems. However, developments in high voltage semiconductor switches in the last decade have generated significant activity in high voltage power electronic applications.
Traditional two level converters have significant problems in high voltage applications - high output dv/dt damages insulation and motor bearings, and the semiconductor switches have high switching losses.
Multilevel converters hold the promise of alleviating these problems. This project will research and develop multilevel converter technology for static VAR compensators and medium voltage drives, initially targeted at mining applications.Read moreRead less
Application Oriented System Level Optimum Design Method for Advanced Electrical Drive Systems. The new concept of application-oriented, integrated, system level design will relieve the constraints formerly applied to appliances by motors and give appliance designers full freedom to pursue the best appliance functions. The new platform will become a powerful tool for designing advanced drive systems of new materials, novel topologies, low cost and high performance, and shorten significantly the p ....Application Oriented System Level Optimum Design Method for Advanced Electrical Drive Systems. The new concept of application-oriented, integrated, system level design will relieve the constraints formerly applied to appliances by motors and give appliance designers full freedom to pursue the best appliance functions. The new platform will become a powerful tool for designing advanced drive systems of new materials, novel topologies, low cost and high performance, and shorten significantly the period of new product development. This will enhance tremendously the competitiveness of Australian industry. The energy savings achieved by using efficient systems will contribute significantly towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. High quality PhD and honours degree students will be trained.Read moreRead less
Mathematical Foundations of Distributed Radar. Conventional military threats to Australia are large or fast moving objects such as ships and aircraft and conventional radar systems are designed to handle such threats. Recent global political shifts have changed the threats to include objects that are small and slowly moving, such as people, small vehicles and boats. Advances in radar hardware make feasible small, low-powered, devices with inherently reduced performance in comparison to deployed ....Mathematical Foundations of Distributed Radar. Conventional military threats to Australia are large or fast moving objects such as ships and aircraft and conventional radar systems are designed to handle such threats. Recent global political shifts have changed the threats to include objects that are small and slowly moving, such as people, small vehicles and boats. Advances in radar hardware make feasible small, low-powered, devices with inherently reduced performance in comparison to deployed systems. Methods for information integration over a dispersed system of such small devices, design of suitable waveform suites and clever local signal processing algorithms will be developed to achieve the performance improvements the hardware offers, to handle the new threats.Read moreRead less
High quality and robust energy conversion systems for distribution networks. This project aims to protect distribution networks by reducing harmonics and electromagnetic Interference generated by modern power electronics equipment. Due to global demand for energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the utilisation of renewable energy sources and efficient loads using power electronics technology in distribution networks is increasing. Aspects of this technology are highly complex ....High quality and robust energy conversion systems for distribution networks. This project aims to protect distribution networks by reducing harmonics and electromagnetic Interference generated by modern power electronics equipment. Due to global demand for energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the utilisation of renewable energy sources and efficient loads using power electronics technology in distribution networks is increasing. Aspects of this technology are highly complex and not well understood and the robustness of existing and future power grids will be affected. The project will minimise risk factors associated with high frequency noise and resonances in low voltage grids both of which are very important for power electronics manufacturers and utility companies in Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100885
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,723.00
Summary
Aerial robots contacting objects in dynamic environments. This project will allow small unmanned aerial vehicles to touch objects to perform tasks and to fly confidently in complex and cluttered environments where contact with surroundings is inevitable. This will enable robots to perform critical tasks such as servicing power lines, bridges and other elevated infrastructure.
Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficie ....Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficiency, tubular, linear permanent magnet motors for fluid pumping. Further, an intelligent electronic controller will be developed to control the motor speed and reversals without sensors in the motor. Initial applications will be solar powered water pumping and purification.Read moreRead less
Development of Low Cost High Performance Motor Drives for Electrical Appliances using New Soft Magnetic Composite Materials. This project aims to break the major barrier to commercial production of efficient electrical appliances by developing low cost high performance motor drives using new soft magnetic composite materials. Initial applications will be swimming pool/spa pump drives. Optimum material composition, novel motor topologies, intelligent variable speed drive, and motor manufacturing ....Development of Low Cost High Performance Motor Drives for Electrical Appliances using New Soft Magnetic Composite Materials. This project aims to break the major barrier to commercial production of efficient electrical appliances by developing low cost high performance motor drives using new soft magnetic composite materials. Initial applications will be swimming pool/spa pump drives. Optimum material composition, novel motor topologies, intelligent variable speed drive, and motor manufacturing techniques using mould injection/compaction will be developed to reduce the production cost with improved performance in collaboration with Waterco. The new technology will contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emission by reducing energy consumption of electrical appliances and once commercialised will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Australian industry in the world market.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Low Cost Low Noise Variable Speed Compressor Drive for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems. This project aims to break the major barriers to the commercial production of efficient refrigerators and air conditioners by developing a high efficiency low cost low noise variable speed compressor drive. High performance PM motors, power electronic fault tolerant converters/inverters, and intelligent algorithms for motor control and temperature control will be developed to meet ....High Efficiency Low Cost Low Noise Variable Speed Compressor Drive for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems. This project aims to break the major barriers to the commercial production of efficient refrigerators and air conditioners by developing a high efficiency low cost low noise variable speed compressor drive. High performance PM motors, power electronic fault tolerant converters/inverters, and intelligent algorithms for motor control and temperature control will be developed to meet the specific requirements of compressor drives in collaboration with Kirby Refrigeration. The new technology will contribute to the reduction of CO2 greenhouse gas emission by reducing the energy consumption of refrigerators and air conditioners and once commercialised will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Australian industry in the world market.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
No load diesel application in remote power systems. No load diesel application in remote power systems. This project aims to investigate and optimise no-load diesel application within remote area renewable hybrid power systems. While hundreds of remote Australian communities rely on expensive diesel for power generation, this project intends to increase penetration of alternative renewable sources into remote and isolated power systems. Using dual thermodynamic and electrical modelling, this pro ....No load diesel application in remote power systems. No load diesel application in remote power systems. This project aims to investigate and optimise no-load diesel application within remote area renewable hybrid power systems. While hundreds of remote Australian communities rely on expensive diesel for power generation, this project intends to increase penetration of alternative renewable sources into remote and isolated power systems. Using dual thermodynamic and electrical modelling, this project will investigate low to no-load diesel threshold capability, reducing diesel consumption at minimal costs. The project is expected to return immediate benefits to remote mining, defence and tourism based communities, providing a pathway to reduced diesel usage and increased renewable penetration.Read moreRead less