Projects

Design of overpressure systems for CCS plants (22.RP1.0116)

This research project will investigate design of relief valves (RVs) and associated piping for CO2 rich streams in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) facilities. Correctly sized RV systems mitigate severe safety consequences such as high-pressure loss of containment and ensure the CO2 sequestration system meets industry standards for pressure-relief.  Pressure-relief for CCS facilities involves CO2…

Evaluating fugitive emissions sensing technologies (22.RP1.0146)

Methane emission is the second largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions. During natural gas production and processing, of which methane is the main component, fugitive emissions, venting and incomplete combustion have been issues. Various measurement techniques have been tested on-site to monitor this problem, however, those results were deviating from each other. Therefore, it is…

Pilot demonstration and field development design of non-cryogenic low-cost helium production (22.RP1.0135)

Global demand for helium has been growing for over a decade due to its importance in many applications central to modern economies such as medical imaging, heat transfer at extreme temperatures, and compositional analysis. Helium is produced from certain natural gas reserves even though, when present, it typically occurs at concentrations of 0.1 % or…

A technical, economic and environmental assessment of clean marine fuel options and industries for Australia (22.RP4.0126)

There are several prospective alternative marine fuels, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. These different fuels can come from fossil or renewable resources and can be used in different propulsion systems. Each potential fuel supply and use chain, from the primary resource to the provision of marine propulsion, therefore performs quite differently…

Simulation and testing of cryogenic ortho-para conversion in hydrogen liquefaction processes (22.RP2.0125)

Hydrogen liquefaction is a highly energy intensive process. Therefore, efficient hydrogen liquefaction processes are a priority for establishing future energy markets. When compared with established energy commodities, such as LNG, there are significant gaps in knowledge related to the properties of hydrogen relevant to the liquefaction process, which in turn introduces relatively large uncertainty in…

Requirements, specifications and piloting of interoperable ecosystem cluster management (22.RP3.0120)

This project will contribute to the development of effective digitalisation data ecosystems by developing and implementing standards-based interoperable interfaces at cross-organisational level, i.e., across value chains or clusters of organisations. A use-case driven methodology will lead to a demonstratable pilot implementation which expands upon existing digital ecosystem architectures and information standards, in particular from the…

Green hydrogen for road transport in Western Australia (21.RP2.0094)

Road transport emits about 15% of the total greenhouse gases (GHGs) in Australia, making this sector the third highest contributor to GHG emissions after electricity and stationary energy production [1]. Heavy vehicles such as rigid and articulated trucks, currently fuelled by diesel, have a disproportionate impact on such emissions. Statistical data from 2018-19 shows that…

Asset Reliability and Risk Interoperability to Optimise Maintenance Execution and Improve Risk Management of Energy Producers (21.RP3.0106)

Data and analytics silos existing in industrial organisations, such as energy producers, hamper the ability to combine analytics models to derive further benefits over their original purpose. In particular, the ability to incorporate operational reliability model outputs—which have the primary purpose of informing operators of asset health and probable failures—as the inputs to risk models…

Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub (KETH)

The only cryogenic gas and green hydrogen testing facility in the southern hemisphere Previously known as the LNG Futures Facility, the KETH will consist of: 2 MW PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) hydrogen electrolyser producing up to 800 kg/day of hydrogen Fully instrumented 10 tonnes per day (tpd) small-scale LNG plant. Broad range of testing facilities…

Avoiding and remediating heavy hydrocarbon freeze-out in liquefied natural gas production (22.RP1.0124)

Despite the ubiquity of heavy hydrocarbons in natural gas process streams, there are few studies of freeze-out in industrial natural gas mixtures that contain multiple heavy hydrocarbon species. This leads to uncertainties around the optimal methods for blockage avoidance and remediation. This project will generate new freeze-out and melting data for heavy hydrocarbons in industrial…

Using big data and strategic communication to support the hydrogen industry’s evolution in Australia (21.RP4.0104)

Hydrogen has been identified as an essential component of Australia’s energy future, with the potential to significantly reduce emissions, create Australian jobs, and build a valuable export industry. The National Hydrogen Strategy (NHS) identifies a collaborative roadmap for regulation, export, and safety, which form part of the hydrogen energy narrative. However, within this context, there…

Avoiding sulphur compound freeze-out in liquefied natural gas production (22.RP1.0115)

During the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG), impurities within the gas stream can freeze-out and block the cryogenic heat exchangers that are critical to liquefaction. Although sulphur compounds are ubiquitous contaminants of natural gas, there is very little existing experimental data that can be used to accurately characterise the freeze-out of these compounds. This…

Thermophysical Properties of Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (21.RP2.0093)

Thermophysical property data for pure hydrogen and its related mixtures are essential to design the process equipment required for production, liquefaction, storage and transport. However, there is a notable lack of accurate data at industrially relevant conditions, especially for hydrogen mixtures above 100 K (transport and utilisation) and for hydrogen with impurities at cryogenic temperatures…

Enabling Large-Scale Hydrogen Underground Storage in Porous Media (21.RP2.0091)

Hydrogen will play an important role in the energy transition as an energy carrier for Australia and globally. Moreover, Australia also has great opportunities to export hydrogen given its geographical and natural resources’ strengths. Australia could export over three million tons hydrogen to meet the global hydrogen demand by 2040, worth up to $10 billion…

Bridging Blue and Green Hydrogen (21.RP2.0085)

Despite reducing costs associated with the production of green hydrogen, the production of blue hydrogen remains cheaper and is frequently considered as a transitional hydrogen production option as part of establishing a hydrogen economy. Blue hydrogen production is conventionally executed via steam methane reforming (SMR) coupled with CO2 sequestration. SMR is however an endothermic reaction,…

Paths to a sustainable hydrogen supply chain (21.RP2.0065)

Hydrogen production, storage and transport are seen as key enabling technologies to allow the transition to a hydrogen economy. However, there remains multiple challenges facing such supply chain development. Technology readiness, technology scale-up and access to low-cost renewable electricity remain significant hurdles; overcoming these will be pivotal in unlocking such a hydrogen economy. This project…

Hydrogen 4:0 Design and Development of Cyber-Physical Systems for an Interoperable Renewable Hydrogen Plant (21.RP2.0062)

Hydrogen is expected to be the energy of the future. The hydrogen market opens up a great opportunity for Australia to become one of the significant exporters of hydrogen to the world by having great access to the coastal transport ports, infrastructure and resource for hydrogen production, and cutting‐edge research institutes to improve hydrogen production…

Fully DC Microgrid for Green Hydrogen Production (21.RP2.0061)

This project aims to fill a research gap in the production of hydrogen from renewable energy (RE) sources, by focusing on the transition from AC to fully DC microgrids for green hydrogen production. The existing limitations with the current RE AC microgrids such as low efficiency, high cost and size as well as the current…

Direct Ammonia Reduction of Iron Ore (21.RP2.0060)

Ammonia (NH3) is an excellent hydrogen (H2) carrier and a practically effective means of exporting Australia’s rich renewable energy resources. Ammonia (NH3) may also be used as a carbon-free reductant of iron ore for the production of iron. This project seeks to research and develop the use of ammonia (NH3) as a reliable renewable reductant…

Fluidised-bed combustion of ammonia (NH3) for stationary combined heat and power generation (21.RP2.0059)

Challenge – Ammonia is an excellent hydrogen carrier and a practical means to export carbon-free fuel.  It can be made at scale from entirely renewable resources and its combustion emits no carbon oxides, sulfur oxides or particulate matter.  However, its combustion characteristics are very different to conventional hydrocarbon fuels. To use ammonia directly as a…

Net Zero Australia (20.RP4.0052)

A two-year collaboration has begun to analyse how Australia can achieve a net zero economy by 2050. The Net Zero Australia (NZAu) project is a collaborative partnership between the University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, Princeton University and management consultancy Nous Group. It is based on Princeton University’s Net-Zero America study, which has attracted…

Open Specification for Analytics Interoperability (20.RP3.0048)

Challenge – Many companies are investing in advanced analytical capabilities to remain competitive.  But data about processes often exists in organisational silos, and a lack of interoperability across both data and analytical systems has caused extensive challenges in all sectors, including the energy sector.  These challenges severely hamper the sector’s ability to gain from the…

Digital Twin ​Feasibility Study (20.RP3.0042)

Challenge – Digital twins are virtual representations that serve as a real-time digital counterpart of a physical object or process.  They can be continuously updated using real-time data and use simulation to enrich information about the process modelled.  Digital twins can be used to support decision making, increase efficiency, identify trends, raise alerts about process…

Developing a Digital Competencies Framework (20.RP4.0041)

Challenge – Digital innovations are becoming widespread in almost every industry, and the energy sector has not been immune to this.  The sector generates data at an astounding rate, and these datasets represent critical assets that can enable transformations from improved efficiency, effectiveness and safety of operations to reduced environmental footprint and even business model…

Future Energy Exports CRC Foundation Fellows

The FEnEx CRC Foundation Fellows are the academic glue behind the four integrated programs. These post-doctoral staff define, implement and support various projects across programs and institutions. They: allow the rapid start of CRC Projects, and   ensure timely delivery of Commonwealth milestones.  This framework enables:   the recruitment and retention of the best available…

Theme 1 PhD Projects – Efficient LNG Value Chains

Theme 2 PhD Projects – Hydrogen Export and Value Chains

Theme 3 PhD Projects – Digital Technologies and Interoperability

Theme 4 PhD Projects – Market and Sector Development