Coronary artery disease usually presents with chest pain resulting from cardiac muscle being starved of blood and oxygen due to narrowings in the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle (myocardial ischaemia). The common test to detect this state is the electrocardiogram or ECG which often shows changes known as ST segment shifts. This project follows earlier work and will explain why the ST changes occur and also will determine how to maximize the information from the ECG so that clinician ....Coronary artery disease usually presents with chest pain resulting from cardiac muscle being starved of blood and oxygen due to narrowings in the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle (myocardial ischaemia). The common test to detect this state is the electrocardiogram or ECG which often shows changes known as ST segment shifts. This project follows earlier work and will explain why the ST changes occur and also will determine how to maximize the information from the ECG so that clinicians are better able to predict the site, size and timing of the ischaemia from the ECG. The proposal will use detailed measurement of the electric field around the ischaemic region to build up the three dimensional electric field from which the explanation as to why the body surface patterns occur will be gleaned by computer modelling. This project will extend the field measurement back into the myocardium using intramyocardial electrodes with a spacing of 2 mm. This project will result in better analysis of the ECG in patients with chest pain, better practice in selecting patients for admission or early treatment and could result in substantial savings to the health system from reduced admissions, more appropriate investigation and treatment. A better diagnosis on one patient daily in Austarlia alone would be expected to save one million dollars in the year.Read moreRead less
Predictive cost and maintenance models for bidding and short term scheduling strategies in hydro power plants. The aim of this project is to develop knowledge based models that can be used to estimate the costs implicit in operating hydro-electric power generation systems in intermittent and off-design modes. These costs manifest in increased maintenance, loss of water supply and opportunity costs or values. A model of the Tasmanian system would be unique, and the application of knowledge based ....Predictive cost and maintenance models for bidding and short term scheduling strategies in hydro power plants. The aim of this project is to develop knowledge based models that can be used to estimate the costs implicit in operating hydro-electric power generation systems in intermittent and off-design modes. These costs manifest in increased maintenance, loss of water supply and opportunity costs or values. A model of the Tasmanian system would be unique, and the application of knowledge based systems to cost and decision making in this situation is novel. Opportunities exist to collaborate with Norwegian researchers. The success of the project will lead to better utilization of the Tasmanian renewable energy resource.Read moreRead less
Precipitation Events over Tasmania and their Response to Weather Modification. The ongoing cloud-seeding work undertaken by Hydro Tasmania will be investigated through a combination of fieldwork and numerical simulations. New instrumentation and advanced numerical models will allow this research to provide a new understanding of the precipitation events over Tasmania and their response to cloud seeding. This research will also explore the interaction between the background aerosol/pollution leve ....Precipitation Events over Tasmania and their Response to Weather Modification. The ongoing cloud-seeding work undertaken by Hydro Tasmania will be investigated through a combination of fieldwork and numerical simulations. New instrumentation and advanced numerical models will allow this research to provide a new understanding of the precipitation events over Tasmania and their response to cloud seeding. This research will also explore the interaction between the background aerosol/pollution level and the precipitation. Given the relatively pure nature of the air over Tasmania, this research will be of international interest. This research will also be of direct interest to Hydro Tasmania as insight gained into the precipitation events will allow us to optimise their cloud-seeding operation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989858
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,230.00
Summary
Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new ....Fabrication Facilities of Atomic-Scale and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Novel Devices, Sensors, and Biomedical Components. Australia's energy, mining, metallurgical, defence, biomedical industries are spearheading the advancement of technologies in the global competitive market. They are the engines of Australian economy's strength. Future progress of these industries will be largely driven by advances in materials. The installation of the proposed facilities will add a new dimension to high-level research performance and significantly enhance the capability for the development of advanced materials and biomedical components in Australia. The continual development of advanced material and biomedical components will potentially provide a sustainable means for meeting the increasing global challenge for the industries.Read moreRead less
Skin friction control using engineering and biological surface coatings. The development of techniques to reduce skin friction in water conveying assets will increase renewable energy production from existing hydro-electric plant and improve the energy efficiency of water conveying utilities. There is also potential for application to marine biofouling problems and reducing fuel usage by shipping. Passive (non-chemical) and biological control methods to reduce fouling and friction will be sought ....Skin friction control using engineering and biological surface coatings. The development of techniques to reduce skin friction in water conveying assets will increase renewable energy production from existing hydro-electric plant and improve the energy efficiency of water conveying utilities. There is also potential for application to marine biofouling problems and reducing fuel usage by shipping. Passive (non-chemical) and biological control methods to reduce fouling and friction will be sought to minimise environmental impact and maintain potable water quality. This multidisciplinary project combining engineering, photogrammetry and biological sciences will provide valuable training for the project team members and develop a pool of skilled personnel available to Australian industries.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concent ....ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems. The National Centre of Excellence for Solar Energy Systems will be an international leader in research, commercialisation and education in the area of solar energy conversion. Research will be conducted into solar cell and solar thermal technologies, including thin crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells that use far less silicon than conventional cells; systems that concentrate sunlight by 50-500 times; and very efficient solar cells for use in concentrator systems. Expected outcomes include long-term research, commercial research, publications, education, community outreach and commercialisation of solar energy technologies to benefit Australia's economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101751
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,000.00
Summary
Nanofiller reinforced concrete for high performance thermal energy storage. Harnessing the abundance of solar energy has been one of the most attractive energy alternatives. This project aims to investigate the mechanical properties, thermal energy storage capacity, thermal conductivity, long-term durability and nano/microstructural changes in nanofiller reinforced concrete composites using modern characterisation and modelling techniques. The newly developed concrete will be accessed as a therm ....Nanofiller reinforced concrete for high performance thermal energy storage. Harnessing the abundance of solar energy has been one of the most attractive energy alternatives. This project aims to investigate the mechanical properties, thermal energy storage capacity, thermal conductivity, long-term durability and nano/microstructural changes in nanofiller reinforced concrete composites using modern characterisation and modelling techniques. The newly developed concrete will be accessed as a thermal energy storage medium for concentrated solar energy plants. The project aims to create the next generation of construction materials to reduce the cost of the storage medium for solar energy harvesting.Read moreRead less
Improvement of water conveying efficiency in hydroelectric power generation systems by optimising pipe friction losses. The growth of bacterial and algal slimes on the surface of water conveying system significantly reduces the net electricity generation from Tasmania's hydroelectric system.
The aim of this project is to develop an optimal maintenance strategy to control this growth which will balance maintenance downtime against the potential increase in electricity production. The growth resp ....Improvement of water conveying efficiency in hydroelectric power generation systems by optimising pipe friction losses. The growth of bacterial and algal slimes on the surface of water conveying system significantly reduces the net electricity generation from Tasmania's hydroelectric system.
The aim of this project is to develop an optimal maintenance strategy to control this growth which will balance maintenance downtime against the potential increase in electricity production. The growth response to cleaning techniques and surface coatings will be investigated.
The potential for increased power production from this renewable energy source will have considerable economic benefit for Tasmania.Read moreRead less