Developing a competitive H2 production suystem based on engineered cells of green algae. The depletion of oil reserves and the effects of global warming make the development of new, clean, sustainable fuel production systems critically important. This frontier technology has the ability to drive solar-powered hydrogen production from water. Extending the system to marine algal cells provides the possibility of coupling clean fuel production with water purification as the product of H2 combustion ....Developing a competitive H2 production suystem based on engineered cells of green algae. The depletion of oil reserves and the effects of global warming make the development of new, clean, sustainable fuel production systems critically important. This frontier technology has the ability to drive solar-powered hydrogen production from water. Extending the system to marine algal cells provides the possibility of coupling clean fuel production with water purification as the product of H2 combustion is pure water. We have already engineered green algae that produce H2 from H2O at a rate ~1000% higher than the Wild-type and through this project will incorporate further improvements with the aim of developing a competitive H2 production system.Read moreRead less
Design of Secure Electronic Voting Systems. It is inevitable that electronic voting will eventually replace current paper based voting schemes. The main outcome of the research will be the fundamental knowledge required to develop secure electronic voting schemes. The security aspects of the design will be thoroughly analysed to ensure that the integrity of the ballot is maintained without compromising user privacy. The practical aspects of implementing such a system will also be investigated ....Design of Secure Electronic Voting Systems. It is inevitable that electronic voting will eventually replace current paper based voting schemes. The main outcome of the research will be the fundamental knowledge required to develop secure electronic voting schemes. The security aspects of the design will be thoroughly analysed to ensure that the integrity of the ballot is maintained without compromising user privacy. The practical aspects of implementing such a system will also be investigated and a prototype implementation provided. The project will combine the expertise in electronic voting schemes at QUT with that of Dr Lee.Read moreRead less
The investigation of the effects of catalyst doping, element substitution and defects design in carbon materials for hydrogen storage. The successful introduction of an efficient and clean hydrogen economy is contingent on developing a cost-effective storage technology. Carbon materials have demonstrated significant promise in this area. The project aims to investigate the storage capacity of hydrogen in carbon materials by doping catalysts, substituting elements and introducing designed defect ....The investigation of the effects of catalyst doping, element substitution and defects design in carbon materials for hydrogen storage. The successful introduction of an efficient and clean hydrogen economy is contingent on developing a cost-effective storage technology. Carbon materials have demonstrated significant promise in this area. The project aims to investigate the storage capacity of hydrogen in carbon materials by doping catalysts, substituting elements and introducing designed defects into the structures of carbon materials, with both theoretical and experimental methods. This project also aims to foster a long term linkage with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan thus enhancing Australian Universities's integration with the research institutions overseas in research and developmentRead moreRead less
Performance analysis of the Unified Power Flow Controller based on multi-bridge converter. The objective of this research is to conceive a new configuration of UPFC without series injection transformers, based on two-level full-bridge modules. The conceived system can be utilized for the power systems to control the power flow through the transmission line.
The benefit is in reducing restrictions on electricity transfer links.
The project will develop a laboratory version of the novel UPFC de ....Performance analysis of the Unified Power Flow Controller based on multi-bridge converter. The objective of this research is to conceive a new configuration of UPFC without series injection transformers, based on two-level full-bridge modules. The conceived system can be utilized for the power systems to control the power flow through the transmission line.
The benefit is in reducing restrictions on electricity transfer links.
The project will develop a laboratory version of the novel UPFC demonstrating the hardware and control requirements for this form of UPFC which could reduce the costs of this corrective solution up to 30% below existing solutions.
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Power system composite load modeling. Load modelling remains an open problem (and probably the most important unsolved problem) for the power industry world wide and is a priority for the research community in Australia. Without reliable load models it is impossible to perform accurate power system security assessment, which may lead to power system blackouts causing billions of dollars and hinder national security. This project aims at developing a composite load model and tackles all the up-to ....Power system composite load modeling. Load modelling remains an open problem (and probably the most important unsolved problem) for the power industry world wide and is a priority for the research community in Australia. Without reliable load models it is impossible to perform accurate power system security assessment, which may lead to power system blackouts causing billions of dollars and hinder national security. This project aims at developing a composite load model and tackles all the up-to-date most challenging problems using existing resources and expertise. It will provide one of the most valuable tools for the Australian power industry.Read moreRead less
Drying sewage sludge using hot oil. The project seeks to investigate and develop an entirely new area of fundamental and applied research involving the process, mechanisms and kinetics of direct dehydration of sewage sludge by fry-drying in hot oil. Frying can be carried out as a drying process, though it not widely recognized or applied in this way, and has consequently not been exploited outside of the traditional food industries. It potentially provides a wide range of significant benefits ....Drying sewage sludge using hot oil. The project seeks to investigate and develop an entirely new area of fundamental and applied research involving the process, mechanisms and kinetics of direct dehydration of sewage sludge by fry-drying in hot oil. Frying can be carried out as a drying process, though it not widely recognized or applied in this way, and has consequently not been exploited outside of the traditional food industries. It potentially provides a wide range of significant benefits for sludge drying, including high efficiency and low costs, and produces a non-offensive product with a high energy value suitable for (renewable) power generation.Read moreRead less
Frictional and viscous effects during transport in nanopores. Gas mixtures exposed to materials containing molecular sized pores (nanopores) are adsorbed, forming states of matter not existing in the bulk. Differential forces acting on the components of mixtures promote industrially and environmentally important separations. However, transport of confined fluids has been poorly understood. Recently we have made progress using computer simulation, and have proposed a highly successful theory. ....Frictional and viscous effects during transport in nanopores. Gas mixtures exposed to materials containing molecular sized pores (nanopores) are adsorbed, forming states of matter not existing in the bulk. Differential forces acting on the components of mixtures promote industrially and environmentally important separations. However, transport of confined fluids has been poorly understood. Recently we have made progress using computer simulation, and have proposed a highly successful theory. These investigations have revealed the crucial role of scattering from the surface atoms of the confining solid. Theoretical investigation of single spherical species has been initiated, and extension to other species and to mixtures is now envisaged.Read moreRead less
Nanostructures of Titanium Dioxide and Titanates by Wet-chemistry. One-dimensional (1D) nanoparticulates of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanate synthesized by wet-chemistry approaches are new advanced materials of unusual properties. This project will investigate the formation and phase transition mechanism of these 1D particulates by various techniques. With such knowledge, we can effectively control the morphology on a scale of nanometers, and tailor the energy gap of these materials. This wi ....Nanostructures of Titanium Dioxide and Titanates by Wet-chemistry. One-dimensional (1D) nanoparticulates of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanate synthesized by wet-chemistry approaches are new advanced materials of unusual properties. This project will investigate the formation and phase transition mechanism of these 1D particulates by various techniques. With such knowledge, we can effectively control the morphology on a scale of nanometers, and tailor the energy gap of these materials. This will significantly influence the photosemiconductive photocatalytic and lithium ions insertion behaviours of the particles so that advanced materials for solar energy conversion, photocatalysts for decomposing organic pollutants in environment, eletrode materials of lithium batteries can be developed.Read moreRead less
Supercomputer Simulation of Multiscale Dynamic Behaviour in Multiphase Deformable Porous Media. This project will establish and consolidate links between leading groups in China and Australia to develop a new and unique multiscale computational model and algorithm for simulating multiphase nonlinear behaviours of the porous media under dynamic loading conditions, and improve technology transfer between the two groups by the mobility of the ARC International Fellow. This will aid Australian geosc ....Supercomputer Simulation of Multiscale Dynamic Behaviour in Multiphase Deformable Porous Media. This project will establish and consolidate links between leading groups in China and Australia to develop a new and unique multiscale computational model and algorithm for simulating multiphase nonlinear behaviours of the porous media under dynamic loading conditions, and improve technology transfer between the two groups by the mobility of the ARC International Fellow. This will aid Australian geoscience and mining industry, such as in HFR geothermal/UCG energy facility design, construction, risk assessment and production and could help Australia shift away from greenhouse gases and become a world leader in the emerging worldwide HFR geothermal/UCG industry.Read moreRead less