Compact reliable fault-tolerant modular high power converters. Compact reliable fault-tolerant modular high power converters. This project aims to deliver new and advanced converter hardware and control designs with drastically smaller reactive components that are cheaper to convert, more reliable and compact. Voltage and current-sourced modular multilevel converters have delivered the required voltage/current/power ratings for utility applications such as static compensators and high-voltage di ....Compact reliable fault-tolerant modular high power converters. Compact reliable fault-tolerant modular high power converters. This project aims to deliver new and advanced converter hardware and control designs with drastically smaller reactive components that are cheaper to convert, more reliable and compact. Voltage and current-sourced modular multilevel converters have delivered the required voltage/current/power ratings for utility applications such as static compensators and high-voltage direct current transmission. However, these energy storage components, including embedded batteries, are overwhelmingly large. Anticipated outcomes are that compact, cheaper and even more efficient power electronic energy converters will enable much needed sustainable energy grids; reduce the cost of integrating renewable energy generation in the grid and achieve even more efficient electronic control of electric systems.Read moreRead less
Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resou ....Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resource management for distributed VPPs. The anticipated benefits from this institutional level collaborations are that VPPs help in enhancing national power grid operations during normal and disruptive conditions when more renewables are connected and also secure benefits of consumers, prosumers, and grid operators.Read moreRead less
Wind Tunnel Testing of a Hypersonic Plasma Engine. This project intends to evaluate an electric engine that is capable of speeds in excess of 10000 km/hr, for access to space and responsive surveillance in our region. The expertise of Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Australia, the University of Qld and DST Group are to be combined to complete experimental and theoretical evaluations of an air-breathing plasma engine that is capable of out-performing rockets and scramjets. US Air Force Research ....Wind Tunnel Testing of a Hypersonic Plasma Engine. This project intends to evaluate an electric engine that is capable of speeds in excess of 10000 km/hr, for access to space and responsive surveillance in our region. The expertise of Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Australia, the University of Qld and DST Group are to be combined to complete experimental and theoretical evaluations of an air-breathing plasma engine that is capable of out-performing rockets and scramjets. US Air Force Research Laboratory results will also be compared and shared. This project provides opportunities for young Australian researchers to be participate and lead an exciting new field of propulsion. It is anticipated that the program will be the foundations to future flight demonstrations from Woomera, Australia.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
Digitally Assisted Power Amplifier Design with Enhanced Energy Efficiency. The project aims to advance design techniques for power amplifiers operating in the recently allocated spectrum for 5G New Radio, from approximately 24 GHz to 52 GHz. The intended outcome is a compact and high efficiency transmitter using digitally assisted power amplifier design techniques in low-cost Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Such innovation will have significant impacts on our daily lif ....Digitally Assisted Power Amplifier Design with Enhanced Energy Efficiency. The project aims to advance design techniques for power amplifiers operating in the recently allocated spectrum for 5G New Radio, from approximately 24 GHz to 52 GHz. The intended outcome is a compact and high efficiency transmitter using digitally assisted power amplifier design techniques in low-cost Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Such innovation will have significant impacts on our daily life, as it will build the hardware foundation for the next generation of wireless systems. Consequently, various emerging applications such as virtual/augmented reality will be supported, maintaining national leadership in the development of wireless technology, and providing economic benefits for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Ultrashort pulse laser for ultra-hard machine tools processing. This project aims to develop an advanced high-precision ultrashort pulse laser technique for shaping and sharpening cutting tools. It expects to generate new knowledge and new technology in machine tool fabrication using an innovative approach for processing ultra-hard materials. The expected outcome is progressive machining capabilities with higher throughput, significantly reduced production time and costs, and increased tool accu ....Ultrashort pulse laser for ultra-hard machine tools processing. This project aims to develop an advanced high-precision ultrashort pulse laser technique for shaping and sharpening cutting tools. It expects to generate new knowledge and new technology in machine tool fabrication using an innovative approach for processing ultra-hard materials. The expected outcome is progressive machining capabilities with higher throughput, significantly reduced production time and costs, and increased tool accuracy and life. This should provide significant economic and safety benefits for the advanced manufacturing industry, enabling production of high-performance products across cutting-edge industries including defence, aerospace, medical tools, automotive, and clean-energy technologies.Read moreRead less
Terahertz lasers in the fight against illicit substances. This project aims to investigate the application of cutting-edge terahertz laser technology with new spectroscopic methods, for detection of illicit substances. Using a collaborative approach, the project aims to bring together expertise in laser physics, spectroscopy, law enforcement and instrumentation, and seeks to develop new sources and detection protocols which will offer new capabilities to law enforcement, aiding in detection and ....Terahertz lasers in the fight against illicit substances. This project aims to investigate the application of cutting-edge terahertz laser technology with new spectroscopic methods, for detection of illicit substances. Using a collaborative approach, the project aims to bring together expertise in laser physics, spectroscopy, law enforcement and instrumentation, and seeks to develop new sources and detection protocols which will offer new capabilities to law enforcement, aiding in detection and identification protocols for illicit substances.Read moreRead less
Removing the blur: Guidestar lasers for the space industry . The speed and quality of transferring information between earth and space can be greatly enhanced by adaptive optical systems that provide correction for atmospheric aberrations. The laser-generated guidestars that lie at the heart of these systems must be bright, preferably multi-coloured and with low background. By taking advantage of the unique optical properties of diamond, this project aims to develop lasers that produce these adv ....Removing the blur: Guidestar lasers for the space industry . The speed and quality of transferring information between earth and space can be greatly enhanced by adaptive optical systems that provide correction for atmospheric aberrations. The laser-generated guidestars that lie at the heart of these systems must be bright, preferably multi-coloured and with low background. By taking advantage of the unique optical properties of diamond, this project aims to develop lasers that produce these advanced features to fulfil the needs of the space industry sector. These outcomes are expected to create new services and products in the areas of space situational awareness, space debris management and satellite communications, and have major spin-off benefits to astronomy and defence.Read moreRead less
Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostr ....Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostructures combined with a scalable and low cost manufacturing process. Deliverables of the project include game-changing energy efficient solutions for protected cropping and marketable smart films readily integratable with existing greenhouse for dramatic energy saving and immediate economic and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Ultra-low-loss fluoride glass optical fibres for the future global network. The transmission loss of silica optical fibres limits the capacity of the global internet. Fluoride glass fibres have the potential of reducing the loss by more than 10 times. This project aims to overcome two of the technological challenges of the ultra-low-loss fluoride fibre optics network: (1) commercial-scale manufacturing of improved fibres and (2) signal amplification at 2.3μm. By generating new fundamental knowle ....Ultra-low-loss fluoride glass optical fibres for the future global network. The transmission loss of silica optical fibres limits the capacity of the global internet. Fluoride glass fibres have the potential of reducing the loss by more than 10 times. This project aims to overcome two of the technological challenges of the ultra-low-loss fluoride fibre optics network: (1) commercial-scale manufacturing of improved fibres and (2) signal amplification at 2.3μm. By generating new fundamental knowledge on rare-earth transitions and glass crystal formation, expected outcomes include innovative fibre fabrication methods optimised for space manufacturing. Benefits will include enhanced internet capacity with lower energy requirements, and opportunities for sovereign capability in fluoride fibre fabrication in Australia.Read moreRead less