ARC Discovery Project Grant 2025 - DP250100812 ($768,693)Lightweight, Low Rare-earth, Permanent Magnet Motors for Electrified Future

Defence Institute Networks Strategic Investment Initiative (SII.) Award partnered with Macquarie University, ($499.78k, 2022) 

Cooperative Research Centre Project Grants (CRC-P)(Novel and environmentally sustainable ultra-high efficiency micro HVAC system), partnered with Conrytech Pty Ltd, ($3M, 2021)

ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids, multi-institutes with the lead from University of Wollongong lead, ($5M, 2022)

 ARC Discovery Project   2017-2019                    $478.5K                                CI1

High-speed interior permanent magnet synchronous machines ( DP170102288)

The key aim is to develop a novel permanent magnet machine for high speed operation (>50,000 rpm). The research will satisfy the demands of emerging high-speed applications for electric drive systems, using permanent magnet machines with simple constructional features, reduced use of costly rare earth materials, inherent sensor-less control capability and flux-weakening. Applications for the research include many global growth sectors including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, energy generation and storage. A new highquality, multi-physics model will be realised, and guidelines for optimised design discovered. These will be verified with the help of a constructed prototype. The project is undertaken in collaboration with CSIRO and WEMPEC at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. 

ARC Discovery Project  2015-2017               $280K                               CI2

Advanced fault tolerant drives for safety critical applications (DP150102368)

The key aim is to develop an electrical drive system with enhanced tolerance to system faults. The research is significant as it will satisfy the demands of emerging high-reliability applications for electric drive systems utilising a patented concentrated-wound permanent magnet machine. Applications for the research include the automotive, aerospace and resource sectors which are global growth sectors. A new high-quality model of the machine will be realised. This new model will then inform the development of suitable control techniques for the machine driven by fault-tolerant inverter topologies. The research will be demonstrated on prototype research machines and the system performance compared with existing state-of-the-art technology.

ARC Discovery Project  2013-2015                  $380K                               CI2

Dynamic model and mechanical sensorless controller for a novel concentrated-winding interior permanent magnet machine for electric vehicles (DP130103760)

 Fractional-slot, concentrated-wound (FSCW) interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines have demonstrated higher power density and constant power speed range than other PM machines with distributed windings. Extensive current research on the FSCW IPM machine is mainly inspired by its suitability for future electric vehicles. It has been found, that conventional dq model developed based on distributed winding does not adequately represent the dynamics of FSCW machines. Without an accurate model, development of high performance controller for such a machine to utilize its full potential is not possible. This project aims to find an accurate model for an FSCW IPM machine recently developed at UNSW and its sensorless highperformance controller. The project was in collaboration with CSIRO. 

ARC Discovery Project  2009- 2011                   $320K                                CI4

Optimum rotor and concentrated stator winding structures for improving the torque, field-weakening and power density characteristics of the interior permanent-magnet machines (DP0988255 )

The Interior Permanent Magnet machine offers one of the highest efficiency and torque/volume ratios of all machines; however, its optimum design is not yet fully developed. In particular, the trade-off between a promising single-barrier (segmented) rotor developed simultaneously at UNSW and Japan (Toyota and
Honda) versus a more conventional multiple-barrier rotor, and between a concentrated versus a distributed stator winding structure need to be fully understood before an optimum design can be found. The project will use innovative analysis, design and optimization techniques developed at three universities where leading research on the above mentioned design options have recently been studied. The project was in collaboration with CSIRO, Adelaid University and University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. 

Australian Power Industry (API) supports Grant  2012                $100K                                CI3

Development of a Micro Generation Test Facility for the Assessment of Power Quality and Hybrid System.