Research strengths and expertise
Our mechanical engineering research focuses on thermal systems, energy storage and conversion, ship dynamics and extreme wave loads.
We collaborate widely with a variety of industries, including Hydro Tasmania, Tasmania’s largest energy company, and INCAT Tasmania, the world’s biggest producer of large high-speed aluminium catamaran ferries. We also work with international partners in China, Japan, US and Europe.
Thermal systems aims at addressing the technical challenge in the application of low-grade energy resources including geothermal energy, solar thermal, waste thermal energy and coal-seam gas through a multidisciplinary fundamental science-based approach. We investigate technical problems related to heat pump technology; desalination; low-grade energy power generation; conversion among three forms (thermal, cooling and electricity); energy storage in gas, thermal and electric forms, and energy efficiency in building, cooling and power systems.
Our fluids and energy researchers aim to optimise efficiency and overcome challenges relating to energy transfer and conversion. Research areas include turbines and turbomachinery, energy storage and energy transport in mechanical forms to provide stability and the ability to deliver base load generation to renewable generation systems.
For more than 30 years, the University engineering research team has worked with INCAT Tasmania, investigating areas like ship dynamics and extreme wave loads in large seas. Outcomes have contributed to the unique bow shape of the INCAT ships and to the ride control systems, improving the comfort of passengers and crew and the operating envelope of the ships in heavy seas.
Other research areas include biomedical engineering, which conducts multi-disciplinary research and development in respiratory medicine, medical devices, medical imaging, modelling and simulation and eHealth.