An innovative wind power system primarily for urban environments. The project aims to develop a novel rotor vane array wind power system that can be used as a roof fence or balcony on existing or new buildings. Traditional wind turbines cannot fully realise the potential of excellent wind speed in tall buildings because of space efficiency, visual impact, and danger or noise issues. The system to be developed in the project incorporates advanced active flow control that addresses these issues. T ....An innovative wind power system primarily for urban environments. The project aims to develop a novel rotor vane array wind power system that can be used as a roof fence or balcony on existing or new buildings. Traditional wind turbines cannot fully realise the potential of excellent wind speed in tall buildings because of space efficiency, visual impact, and danger or noise issues. The system to be developed in the project incorporates advanced active flow control that addresses these issues. The project plans to conduct a structured program of numerical and experimental studies, the intended outcomes of which will contribute to energy security, progress towards zero emissions and sustainable living, and lead to innovative architecture of the future.Read moreRead less
High Energy Density - High Delivery Rate Thermal Energy Storage. This project aims to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources using novel thermal storage media. Advanced heat transfer modelling and in situ neutron diffraction and imaging are intended to be used to optimise the microstructure of newly developed miscibility gap thermal storage systems. The new media store energy as the latent heat of fusion of one phase in a stable, high thermal conductivity inverted microstructure. ....High Energy Density - High Delivery Rate Thermal Energy Storage. This project aims to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources using novel thermal storage media. Advanced heat transfer modelling and in situ neutron diffraction and imaging are intended to be used to optimise the microstructure of newly developed miscibility gap thermal storage systems. The new media store energy as the latent heat of fusion of one phase in a stable, high thermal conductivity inverted microstructure. The high energy density of the latent heat (0.5-4.5 Mega Joules/Litre) requires storage volumes as little as five per cent of those relying upon heat capacity and the metal matrix has a hundred-fold greater thermal conductivity than current systems. It is proposed that a range of such materials will be engineered for concentrated solar thermal and space heating applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Controlled radiation facility to investigate turbulence-radiation-chemistry interactions in high-flux solar reactors. This project's facility will support the transition of Australia’s energy intensive industries, including minerals and resources, to a much lower carbon intensity. It will also underpin collaborations with internationally leading partners to develop novel solar-combustion hybrid reactors for the production of solar fuels and for minerals processing.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101300
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,446.00
Summary
Probing interfacial impedance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to investigate the mechanism behind the high impedance at the interface between electrodes and the solid electrolyte in solid-state lithium-ion batteries using advanced in-situ transmission electron microscopy. The outcomes will deepen knowledge in chemical and structural evolution at the electrode–electrolyte interface during battery operation under different conditions, and thus inform the design and fabr ....Probing interfacial impedance in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This project aims to investigate the mechanism behind the high impedance at the interface between electrodes and the solid electrolyte in solid-state lithium-ion batteries using advanced in-situ transmission electron microscopy. The outcomes will deepen knowledge in chemical and structural evolution at the electrode–electrolyte interface during battery operation under different conditions, and thus inform the design and fabrication of safe, high power, and long lasting solid-state batteries for a myriad of portable electronic devices and the emerging electric vehicles.Read moreRead less
Improved design and operational efficiency of small wind turbines in unsteady flows. The purpose of this research is to improve the design and performance of small wind turbines for energy generation. The expected outcomes are novel control strategies and mechanical designs that account for unsteady aerodynamics and its effects on structural loads and power quality. Recommendations to improve current design standards will be made.
Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and com ....Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and combustion physics is fundamental to the delivery of an efficient and reliable combustion process using this fuel. Measurements using laser based diagnostics of the atomisation flow, droplet formation and combustion process will provide the experimental data to understand this complex interrelationship.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the coupled dependence of concentrated solar radiation and combustion in a novel solar hybrid technology. The project will develop the models necessary for the optimisation of a novel solar-combustion hybrid technology and a novel heat exchanger component. It will deliver a solar thermal technology that lowers the cost of solar energy with immediate potential in off-grid sites, such as in remote mines, in Australia and throughout the world.
Investigation of Thermotransport in Liquid Metal Alloys. This project aims to improve understanding of thermotransport to support the use of liquid metal allows in manufacture and energy transfer. The coupled flow of heat and mass (thermotransport) rapidly produces segregation in liquid metal alloys in a temperature gradient. This is a major problem in optimising the solidification from melts in manufacturing and for the design of liquid alloys for transfer of heat. Thermotransport is very poorl ....Investigation of Thermotransport in Liquid Metal Alloys. This project aims to improve understanding of thermotransport to support the use of liquid metal allows in manufacture and energy transfer. The coupled flow of heat and mass (thermotransport) rapidly produces segregation in liquid metal alloys in a temperature gradient. This is a major problem in optimising the solidification from melts in manufacturing and for the design of liquid alloys for transfer of heat. Thermotransport is very poorly understood. The project aims to achieve an understanding of the process through a combination of new theory, corresponding new experiments and advanced computer simulations. This would be a major advance in the area, supporting the development of new systems to prevent segregation.Read moreRead less
Metal-free catalysts for clean production of energy and hydrogen peroxide. This project aims to create novel metal-free carbon-based catalysts to replace the scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts. Noble metal catalysts are needed for clean production of electricity by fuel cells or hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen gases. A combined theoretical and experimental approach will be developed for controlled synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon catalysts and to improve our understanding ....Metal-free catalysts for clean production of energy and hydrogen peroxide. This project aims to create novel metal-free carbon-based catalysts to replace the scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts. Noble metal catalysts are needed for clean production of electricity by fuel cells or hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen gases. A combined theoretical and experimental approach will be developed for controlled synthesis of heteroatom-doped carbon catalysts and to improve our understanding of the catalytic mechanism and structure-activity relationship for the novel carbon catalysts. The project is expected to lay fundamental groundwork for a new paradigm in carbon-based catalysts that should be of considerable significance for energy and chemical production in a clean and cost effective way.Read moreRead less
Resolving the mechanics of wind turbine noise production. This project will investigate how wind turbines produce noise. It will do this by developing the most sophisticated wind turbine noise experiment in the world, which will allow the construction of better designed wind farms, better public policy and new noise control technologies.