Active QSEIF projects
The following QSEIF projects are ongoing.
- Aquatec-Maxcon
- Aquatrip
- Bilexys
- Biodry Pty Ltd
- Deep Green Research
- Delafield
- DuraCyc Power Pty Ltd
- EDR Australia Pty Ltd
- Energy Answers Pty Ltd
- HydroGen Power Industries Pty Ltd
- Kaon Holdings Pty Ltd
- Leslie Consulting Pty Ltd
- Maco Lighting Pty Ltd
- Mathers Hydraulics
- Microelectronic Systems Pty Ltd
- Proteus Wave Power Pty Ltd
- Solar Sells Pty Ltd
- Technobake Research Pty Ltd
- Tritium
- Vac-U-Digga Pty Ltd
Aquatec-Maxcon
Forward osmosis for water desalination in gas mining
QSEIF funding: $180,000
Project date: 2008
Aquatec-Maxcon is developing a prototype "forward osmosis" process to purify water produced as a by-product of natural gas and Coal Bed Methane production. Most of the energy for the "forward osmosis" process would be derived from waste heat from microturbines producing electricity from the fuel gas.
The enormous potential to utilise brackish water produced from coal seam gasfields is now widely recognised. Gasfields in the Surat Basin are expected to produce 100–125 megalitres per day of saline wastewater when gas production reaches full output. Removal of the salt content could yield a source of clean water equivalent to about one-quarter of current water demand in South-East Queensland.
This project could provide a very energy-efficient technology to convert the saline wastewater to fresh potable water for urban or agricultural use in South-East Queensland.
Aquatrip
QSEIF funding: $173,000
Project date: 2007
Aquatrip is developing a device that is able to disconnect water to a residence or rural facility when a leak is detected.
Bilexys
Biochemical production of caustic soda from pulp and paper wastewater
QSEIF funding: $171,000
Project date: 2010
Building on the expertise in Microbial Fuel Cells gained in an earlier QSEIF project, Bilexys is developing bioelectrical systems to produce caustic soda (widely used in paper plants).
The company aims to design a prototype reactor which uses energy from wastewater of pulp and paper plants to produce caustic soda at 4-5% concentration.
Biodry Pty Ltd
Bio-oil and biochar from sugar cane trash
QSEIF funding: $150,000
Project date: 2011
Biodry is developing a pilot plant which will convert sugar cane trash (leaves and foliage removed from the cane plant during harvesting) and other biomass into bio-oil and bio-char. The oil could be more readily stored and used as fuel than bagasse, and would displace consumption of coal in sugar mill boilers.
The use of char is attracting interest as a method of improving soil fertility, while permanently sequestering carbon.
Deep Green Research
A combustion engine to Electric Vehicle conversion package
QSEIF funding: $135,000
Project date: 2008
Deep Green Research aims to develop a standardised electric motor and transaxle with universal mounting system that can be retrofitted to a wide range of conventional vehicles.
If successful the project will enable the conversion of conventional vehicles to electric operation. This approach avoids the high costs of developing purpose-built electric vehicles that need to be compliant with Australian design rules.
Solving range and recharge for small electric vehicles
QSEIF funding: $159,420
Project date: 2008
This project aims to develop a light weight niche-market electric vehicle for the hire market to supply the transport needs for tourists in north Queensland coastal centres. This project will meet the challenge of achieving sufficient driving range by developing a chassis configuration which provides sufficient battery storage and allows rapid exchange of batteries.
Delafield
Pulse detonation steam generation
QSEIF funding: $200,000
Project date: 2011
Delafield has developed a commercial steam generator (boiler) which uses high-frequency pulse detonation to create steam. This boiler is able to achieve much higher fuel-to-steam energy efficiency than conventional boilers, as well as lower NOx exhaust emissions.
The ‘pulse detonation steam generation’ technology works by burning the fuel in short pulses, thousands of times per second. Turbulence created by the resulting pressure waves transfers heat much more quickly to the surrounding steam tubes than in a conventional boiler, where typically 20% of the heat energy is lost as wasted heat retained in the exhaust gases.
DuraCyc Power Pty Ltd
Lithium-sulfur battery
QSEIF funding: $170,800
Project date: 2012
DuraCyc Power's project aims to develop a new type of battery technology, the lithium-sulfur battery, which will offer much higher energy storage density than other battery systems now available (including other lithium batteries). The project is based on a new electrode material developed by University of Queensland researchers, which appears to perform well in preliminary experiments.
EDR Australia Pty Ltd
Nursery irrigation scheduling using weight-based technology
QSEIF funding: $67,000
Project date: 2008
EDR Australia is developing a system to control watering of plants in nurseries which is based on measuring the weight of plant containers. The weighing device will communicate via radio link to a base station. Solenoids will then be activated which control water delivery to plants. This is intended to be a more cost-effective way to prevent over-watering than systems using soil moisture sensors.
Energy Answers Pty Ltd
Grid electric precision irrigation and farming platform
QSEIF funding: $200,000
Project date: 2008
Energy Answers aims to develop a grid powered lateral move irrigator with on-board transformer. Lateral move irrigators are usually powered by diesel motors. This project will adapt electric motors and transmission lines (similar to those used in the mining industry) to large-scale irrigation equipment to reduce water use and liquid fuels in large-scale sugar-cane farming.
HydroGen Power Industries Pty Ltd
Tidal desalination for remote communities
QSEIF funding: $200,000
Project date: 2008
HydroGen's project aims to develop a modular system which will allow a reverse osmosis desalination process to be coupled directly to a tidal turbine to produce fresh water as well as electricity. This application could have particular application in remote coastal communities.
Kaon Holdings Pty Ltd
SF6-free switch disconnector for overhead electricity networks
QSEIF funding: $196,000
Project date: 2011
Kaon is designing, producing and testing a switch disconnector for overhead electricity distribution networks which are free of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6, an extremely potent greenhouse gas contained in existing electrical switchgear).
The switch disconnector would provide an alternative to existing switches containing SF6, which may leak during their service life. It would meet industry and international standards to safely switch live current and provide electrical isolation.
Leslie Consulting Pty Ltd
Advanced fuel processing technology
QSEIF funding: $178,800
Project date: 2009
Leslie Consulting aims to develop a compact “micro-channel reactor” unit which converts a variety of fuels into hydrogen for direct use in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This is an enabling technology that overcomes a major barrier to the widespread use of fuel cells and facilitates their wider application for vehicles or electricity generation.
Maco Lighting Pty Ltd
Compact fluorescent ballast/emergency inverter
QSEIF funding: $160,000
Project date: 2008
Maco Lighting is integrating their "smart battery charging" technology (that saves energy by avoiding continuous trickle charging to maintain batteries at full charge) into a combination battery charger/inverter/ballast for emergency lighting.
Although only small amounts of power would be saved by each emergency lighting unit, the very large numbers of such systems and the continuous "trickle-charge" operation of existing technology in stand-by mode mean that total reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions could be very substantial.
If successful, the project will lead to commercialisation of new emergency light fittings which consume significantly less energy, and thus cause less greenhouse gas emissions, than existing emergency lighting. The project could enable Maco Lighting, a small Queensland company, to establish a position of leadership in the global market for sustainable lighting technology.
Mathers Hydraulics
Energy-saving hydraulic power steering pump
QSEIF funding: $166,800
Project date: 2006
Mathers Hydraulics in Banyo is producing a revolutionary two-stage hydraulic pump for power steering that could save the trucking and construction industry millions of dollars a year. The pump is expected to reduce the load on the engine by about 1% and reduce fuel consumption by about 0.5 litre/hour. This translates into huge fuel and cost savings while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Microelectronic Systems Pty Ltd
Smart water consumption monitor
QSEIF funding: $95,280
Project date: 2008
Microelectronic Systems is producing and trialling a very sophisticated water meter to provide detailed feedback to householders on current and previous water consumption from their water tank and mains supply. The system will include sensors on each water tank and the mains water meter that wirelessly communicate (radio) with an Indoor Display Unit. The unit will compute and display information about water tank capacity, daily household water consumption, rain inflows, leaks and remaining days of tank water supply with no further rain.
Proteus Wave Power Pty Ltd
Proteus Wave Power System
QSEIF funding: $200,000
Project date: 2011
This project is designing, constructing and testing a 1/8-scale wave power machine which incorporates a series of articulated pontoons that would bend (and produce hydraulic power) as it floats in the waves. The applicant has previously tested the concept in 1/20 scale models and computer analysis.
The Proteus system is similar in concept to other pontoon wave systems currently being commercialised, and incorporates a number of design features intended to enhance its robustness and energy production.
Solar Sells Pty Ltd
Dye-sensitised solar cell with flow/recirculation of electrolyte
QSEIF funding: $80,000
Project date: 2012
Dye-sensitised solar cells have been under development for many years as a potentially cheaper type of solar power module. To date, these have achieved only limited application due to technical problems.
Solar Sells, a start-up company emerging from research at the University of Queensland, aims to develop a very novel design for dye-sensitised solar cells, providing an entirely different approach to how the cells would be constructed and operated.
Technobake Research Pty Ltd
Convection oven for high-efficiency chicken roasting
QSEIF funding: $98,000
Project date: 2012
Technobake's project aims to develop a new oven design for roasting chickens, to be used by commercial outlets and supermarkets, that would:
- reduce electricity consumption by 24-30% (from about 115 to 80 kilowatt-hours per daily output of 300 chickens)
- reduce water use by 80% (from 760 to 130 litres per daily bake)
- provide more even roasting of chickens for better quality
- collect the chicken fat for conversion to biodiesel fuel.
Tritium
Universal bidirectional electronic power controller
QSEIF funding: $158,620
Project date: 2009
Tritium is extending the WaveSculptor technology (developed in a previous QSEIF project - see the fact sheet (PDF, 206K)* for more information) into a universal power controller suitable for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and renewable energy system.
The universal power controller will provide battery charging functions or feed power back into the grid to meet peak demand loads, and seamlessly transfers power between a renewable energy system or electric vehicle batteries, the grid and electric motors.
Vac-U-Digga Pty Ltd
Pipe jetting/sluicing technologies
QSEIF funding: $200,000
Project date: 2009
Vac-U-Digga is assembling and testing a mobile plant that will recycle water used to excavate earth by “pipe jetting”.
Conventional pipe jetting equipment uses water at very high pressure to dislodge and carry away soil. Pumping water at such high pressure requires pumps with close tolerances using high-quality potable water. Vac-U-Digga propose to use larger volumes of water at much lower pressure, allowing simple and robust impeller pumps, allowing the use of lower-quality recycled water.
Vac-U-Digga will recycle the water-soil slurry from pipe jetting by filtering, storing and re-using the water on-site. This would avoid the consumption of 24 kilolitres per day of potable water used by a typical pipe-jetting unit, and is expected to reduce the pumping energy by half (saving 17 litres per day of diesel fuel).
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 6 February 2012