
Jonathan WhaleMurdoch University · National Small Wind Turbine Test Centre
Jonathan Whale
Doctor of Philosophy
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77
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Introduction
Publications
Publications (77)
Energy storage in electrochemical hybrid capacitors involves fast faradaic reactions such as an intercalation, or redox process occurring at a solid electrode surface at an appropriate potential. Hybrid sodium‐ion electrochemical capacitors bring the advantages of both the high specific power of capacitors and the high specific energy of batteries,...
This research introduces a novel approach to improving wind energy's LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy). Specifically, this research aims to reduce the LCOE from wind turbines by investigating a novel Active Axis Wind Turbine (AAWT) design. The turbine is neither a horizontal nor vertical axis wind turbine but has an axis of operation that can activel...
The introduction of phosphorous (P), and oxygen (O) heteroatoms in the natural honeydew chemical structure is one of the most effective, and practical approaches to synthesizing activated carbon for possible high‐performance energy storage applications. The performance metrics of supercapacitors depend on surface functional groups and high‐surface‐...
With less than seven years before the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals deadline, the race is on to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services in low-income communities in developing countries. These communities are mostly distant from central grids and economically suitable for off-grid mini-grid systems. Data sug...
Off-grid hybrid power systems with renewable energy as the primary resource remain the best option to electrify rural/remote areas in developing countries to help attain universal electricity access by 2030. However, deploying these systems in West Africa faces several challenges and regularly fail to transition from pilot, donor-sponsored projects...
Renewable energy generation and increased electrification are pivotal to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Consequently, global deployment of wind turbines has soared, and the trend is expected to continue. Installed turbines have only recently started reaching the end of their design lives, and waste volumes are proj...
Knowledge of the turbulence in the wakes of wind turbines is important to improve the operation and lifetime of downstream turbines exposed to these wakes. As the investigation of a rotating turbine can be challenging, both experimentally and numerically, static actuator discs can substitute rotating turbines. To investigate the similarity of the t...
Nickel-based bimetallic oxides (BMOs) have shown significant potential in battery-type electrodes for pseudo-capacitors given their ability to facilitate redox reactions. In this work, two bimetallic oxides, NiMoO4 and NiWO4, were synthesized using a wet chemical route. The structure and electrochemical properties of the pseudo-capacitor cathode ma...
Small wind turbines (SWT) are designed according to the IEC 61400-2, which assumes the SWT experiences a set of standard wind conditions, developed through assumptions of flat terrain and normal turbulence models. In practice, other wind conditions can exist at SWT sites including winds, influenced by terrain, that feature speed and turbulence beha...
Pathways to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement long-term temperature goal and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals involve energy system transitions with strong uptake of renewables by 2050. Fossil fuels currently dominate the energy systems of the ASEAN countries, a region that has abundant untapped re...
There is an urgent need for educational institutions to produce graduates with appropriate skills to meet the growing global demand for professionals in the sustainable energy industry. For universities to stay at the forefront of meeting this global demand from industry, universities need to ensure their curricula and pedagogies stay relevant. The...
11 This paper investigates the operation and loading of a 5 kW HAWT using the aeroelastic code 12 FAST. Wind data from built environment site at Port Kennedy (PK) and from a flat terrain site in 13 Östergarnsholm (OG), are analysed and compared with IEC 61400-2. The longitudinal turbulence 14 intensity (TIu) in the PK wind field was 22%; which was...
This chapter consists of introduction, the potential of wind energy in Australia, and history of wind energy in Australia. The various wind farms and their technologies used are discussed followed by the environmental and social impact of wind energy and policies, regulations, guidelines, and rules with regard to installing wind machines in Austral...
This paper investigates the operation and loading of a 5 kW HAWT using the aeroelastic code FAST. Wind data from built environment site at Port Kennedy (PK) and from a flat terrain site in Östergarnsholm (OG), are analysed and compared with IEC 61400-2. The longitudinal turbulence intensity (TIu) in the PK wind field was 22%; which was higher than...
This research investigated the effect of dust with different morphologies on the performance degradation of various photovoltaic (PV) technologies consisting of polycrystalline silicon (pc-Si), mono-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), and amorphous silicon (a-Si). Dust collected from two different locations, Babuin, Indonesia and Perth, Australia, was coa...
Wind conditions in the built environment are complex in nature and characterized by lower wind speeds and higher turbulence due to the presence of obstructions. A growing body of literature and research/testing activities related to performance evaluation of small wind turbines (SWTs) in urban wind conditions have inferred that urban installed SWTs...
Small wind turbines are often sited in more complex environments than in open terrain. These sites include locations near buildings, trees and other obstacles, and in such situations, the wind is normally highly three-dimensional, turbulent, unstable and weak. There is a need to understand the turbulent flow conditions for a small wind turbine in t...
Small wind turbines (SWT) that are designed as per the IEC 61400-2 standard suffer structural and operational complexities when operating in the built environment, because such environments impose stochastic variations in wind speed and turbulence. The wind conditions in flat terrain of Östergarnsholm (OG) Island, Sweden and built environment of Po...
Community renewable energy projects are contributing diverse sustainability benefits in a transforming energy landscape, but in Western Australia, projects are few and far between, and the state is being left behind in national policy discussions. Drawing upon a socio-technical framework which conceptualises the context of innovation journeys accor...
Efficient operation of EVs is critical to optimise the usage of their relative small energy storage. Although each motor controller has a unique range of motor rotational speeds (rpm) and loads for optimal efficiency, EVs lack variable gearboxes that can match vehicle speed and motor rpm to efficient controller regions. EVs thus rely on the driver...
Results of the study revealed that when dust impinged on the surface of the PV modules, monthly maximum power output of a 1.5 kWp system in Perth, Australia and a 50 Wp system in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), Indonesia decreased, on average, by about 4.5% and 8%, respectively. Economic modelling showed that, the cost of production per kWh lost due to...
This research evaluates the energy gain from a regenerative braking system (RBS) in a commercial electric vehicle (EV), the OEM Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Measurements were conducted in a controlled environment on a commercial chassis dynamometer using international drive cycle standards. The energy recovery of the vehicle was modelled and the output of th...
This paper examines changes in Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) generator output due to several large wind farm power variations occurring in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) during 2012 and 2013. Using data from actual FCAS generator output fluctuations during selected storm events and reconstructed heat rate curves for...
The aim of this study is to investigate the seasonal effect of dust on the degradation of PV modules deployed in two different climate areas, Perth, Western Australia, a temperate climate region and Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), Indonesia, a tropical climate region. Results revealed that PV performance varied with season. In Perth, the performance of...
The translation of a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction policy objective to the required investment in low emissions technologies may be hindered by political contest over the policy instruments employed to achieve it. Political contest may also result in enactment of overlapping policy instruments which, from a ‘policy purist’ perspective, m...
The effect of intermittent and Gaussian inflow conditions on wind energy converters is studied experimentally. Two different flow situations were created in a wind tunnel using an active grid. Both flows exhibit nearly equal mean velocity values and turbulence intensities but strongly differ in their two point statistics, namely their distribution...
This paper investigates the applicability of the assumed wind fields in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 61400 Part 2, the design standard for small wind turbines, for a turbine operating in the built environment, and the effects these wind fields have on the predicted performance of a 5 kW Aerogenesis turbine using detailed...
Although, wind turbines have traditionally been sited in open terrain, there is a growing trend of installing turbines in non-homogeneous terrain, such as urban areas. Recorded urban turbine failures suggest that turbine design has been inadequate for the turbulence experienced at these sites and hence a better understanding of the turbine-loading...
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dust on the degradation of PV modules deployed in a temperate climate region, Perth, Western Australia. Results revealed that PV performance, quantified by normalised maximum power output, varied with season. For a one-year period of study, over which the only cleaning activities were due to win...
Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to operate emission free and thus overcome many environmental and health issues associated with cars run on fossil fuels. Recharging time and driving range are amongst the biggest hurdles for the mainstream acceptance and implementation of EV technology. Fast-DC charging significantly reduces the rechargin...
The effect of intermittent and Gaussian inflow conditions on wind energy converters is studied experimentally. Two different flow situations were created in a wind tunnel using an active grid. Both flows exhibit nearly equal mean velocity values and turbulence intensities, but strongly differ in their two point statistics, namely their distribution...
Electric vehicle (EV) range, recharge opportunities and time to recharge are major barriers to mainstream acceptance. Fast-DC charging has the potential to overcome these barriers. This research investigates the impact of fast-DC charging on battery cell balance, charge capacity and range for an EV travelling long distances on an 'electric-highway'...
This research investigates the contribution of dust to the long-term performance degradation of various photovoltaic (PV) modules that have been operating for almost eighteen years without any cleaning procedures at the Renewable Energy Outdoor Testing Area (ROTA), Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. A solar module analyser was used to assess the...
A decision support framework has been provided to assist investors with long-term decision-making for investment choices in power generation assets under uncertain climate policy. The model combines real options analysis and modern portfolio optimization theory. A long-term correlation between carbon and renewable portfolio standard certificate pri...
A decision support framework has been provided to assist investors with long-term decision-making for investment choices in power generation assets under uncertain climate policy. The model combines real options analysis and modern portfolio optimization theory. A long-term correlation between carbon and renewable portfolio standard certificate pri...
Small wind turbines are often sited in more complex environments than the open terrain sites assumed in relevant installation guidelines or in the international small wind turbine design standard IEC61400-2. The built environment is an example of such a complex environment and installation of small wind turbines on the rooftops of high buildings ha...
The use of small grid-connected wind turbines is increasing within the built environment, yet atmospheric turbulence in this environment is more complex than the open terrain sites on which the turbine design standards are based. The current IEC61400-2 design standard uses stochastic turbulence models adapted from the von Karman and Kaimal power sp...
A substantial number of wind energy projects have been stalled or abandoned in the United States of America (US) due to concerns over the effects of wind turbines on radar installations. Between 2008 and 2010, military, airspace, or meteorological radar concerns in the US contributed to the delay or abandonment of an estimated 20,000 MW of wind ene...
Political uncertainty over global greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation policy is likely to defer investment in cleaner technologies. It may also incentivise short-lived, high-cost interim investments while businesses wait for the uncertainty to subside. The range of possible policy responses to the issue has created uncertainty over the future of nation...
The use of small grid-connected wind turbines in the built environment is increasing. The international wind turbine design standard is based on open terrain sites, but in the built environment, the turbulence intensity is much higher than in open terrain and can lead to premature fatigue of turbines This paper compares the turbulence power spectra...
Greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive fuels are currently a major input into the Australian electricity sector. Accordingly, climate change mitigation policies represent a systematic risk to investment in electricity generation assets. Although the Australian government introduced carbon pricing in 2012 and announced a commitment to the continuation of th...
There is an increasing interest in, and concern over, the impact that the growing number of utility-scale wind farms are having on air supremacy and early warning missile detection in relation to radar clutter and shadow, seismic noise, and flight obstructions. This work focuses on US defence industry concerns in relation to wind developments and c...
This research investigates energy efficiency improvements by synchronising auxiliary air-conditioning (AC) with the vehicle drive train on a real road driving cycle pattern. The research findings are applicable to electric vehicles (EVs), internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and hybrids. An EV-converted Ford Focus was configured to operate th...
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest province in Canada measuring about 5700 km2 in area with a population of around 130,000 people. Small family farm operation is part of the Island’s way of life. However, the dairy industry in North America is undergoing significant structural change. Statistics show a significant decline in the small dairy...
Rural electrification to help rural communities improve their quality of life needs to be designed in a sustainable manner with the intention of keeping village culture and environment from eroding. Micro-hydropower systems (MHS), especially run-of river schemes, are examples of renewable energy projects that, if managed well, can be socially and e...
Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to be operated using a clean, renewable energy source. However, a major limitation is their relatively short vehicle driving range and the associated driver ‘range anxiety’. This research investigates the effect of gearing on energy consumption and driving range efficiency on an EV-converted Ford Focus usi...
Rural electrification to help rural communities improve their quality of life needs to be designed in a sustainable manner with the intention of keeping village culture and environment from eroding. Micro-hydropower systems (MHS), especially run-of river schemes, are examples of renewable energy projects that, if managed well, can be socially and e...
The installation of small and medium-size wind turbines on the rooftops of high buildings has been often suggested by architects and project developers as a potential solution for achieving sustainable energy in building design. In such locations, however, because of the presence of buildings and other adjacent obstructions, wind is normally turbul...
Like communities all over the world, the people of the Bawan Valley in the East Kalimantan Province of
Indonesian Borneo want the benefits of electricity. The Bawan Valley, however, is geographically
isolated from the rest of East Kalimantan, making access to electricity via the national electricity grid
impossible. Hydro resources are abundant...
The global growth in small wind turbine (SWT) markets and in the number of SWT manufacturers has brought about an urgent need for more rigorous testing of SWTs in order to ensure safety, reliability and performance. This work presents modelling of the wind resource at the Australian National Small Wind Turbine Centre (NSWTC) test site to give insig...
Until recently, Australian federal renewable energy tradable quota policy support mechanisms were modest and failed to differentiate between technologies at different stages of industry development. Subsequent changes to federal tradable quota schemes and the development of a number of state-based feed-in tariffs (FiTs) have attempted to overcome r...
Like communities all over the world, the people of the Bawan Valley in the East Kalimantan Province of Indonesian Borneo want the benefits of electricity. The Bawan Valley, however, is geographically isolated from the rest of East Kalimantan, making access to electricity via the national electricity grid impossible. Hydro resources are abundant in...
For small wind turbines to be reliable they must have in place good mechanisms to protect themselves against very high winds or sudden removal of load. One common protection method in small wind turbines is that of blade feathering. It is important that the blade feathering mechanism of a small wind turbine is tested before the turbine is installed...
In order to provide accurate blade element data for wind turbine design codes, measured three-dimensional (3D) field data must be corrected in terms of the (sectional) angle of attack. A 3D Lifting-Surface Inflow Correction Method (LSIM) has been developed with the aid Of a vortex-panel code in order to calculate the relationship between measured l...
An experimental investigation into the properties of the vortex wake behind a wind turbine rotor has been carried out at model scale, using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The two-blade model was operated at tip speed ratios in the range λ=3–8, and chord Reynolds numbers Re=6400–16 000. The blades were untwisted, with flat-plate aerofoil profile....
Wake flow measurements have been performed using the technique of particle image velocimetry (PIV) at stations downstream from a model wind turbine rotor, and evaluated against experimental data from two full-scale machines. Comparisons include both mean velocity and turbulent intensity cross-wake profiles at a range of tip speed ratios. The applic...
This paper is concerned with the injection moulding process, in which hot molten plastic is injected under high pressure into a thin cold mould. Assuming that the velocity and temperature profiles across the mould maintain their shape, a simple steady state model to describe the behaviour of a Newtonian fluid during the filling stage is developed....
Wind turbine performance is critically dependent on the geometry of the rotor wake. Acquisition of detailed wake data is of major importance for further development of wind turbine studies. This paper presents the results of a preliminary experimental study of the flow past a model turbine using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), a whole field veloc...
In July 2007 Murdoch University was awarded a grant to conduct research into 'Initiating Best Practice Guidelines for Rooftop Wind Systems.' The current focus of the project involves two primary initiatives: a computer simulated modeling exercise and an onsite rooftop wind monitoring station. This paper focuses on the methodology and justification...
This paper outlines the facilities and capabilities of the ResLab Field Test Site, based at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. The Field Test Site has a number of stations dedicated to monitoring the performance of small wind turbines of different sizes in various power configurations. Researchers at the Field Test Site work in close c...
This paper presents the results of a pilot project on rooftop wind in Perth, Western Australia, that aims to gain insight into best practice for placement of rooftop wind systems. Measurements of the air flow over a local Council building in Perth are captured using an ultrasonic anemometer installed on a 6.1 m mast on the top of the building. Data...
This study estimates the long-term wind resource at a site on the north-western coast of Western Australia by means of the Wind Atlas and Measure-Correlate-Predict (MCP) methodologies, in order to determine its suitability as a site for a wind farm.