Author: e43285

GSP-NCP Japan-03: Identifying Options for Re-use of Sediment Residue from Drinking Water Treatment in Greater Osaka, Japan

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GSP-NCP Japan-03: Identifying Options for Re-use of Sediment Residue from Drinking Water Treatment in Greater Osaka, Japan

NEW COLOMBO PLAN (NCP) 2020: SMART WATER SUPPLY AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE KANSAI REGION OF JAPAN

Project Background

Osaka Water Supply Authority (OWSA), a special local public entity, supplies tap water and industrial water to homes, schools, commercial enterprises and industrial customers as a bulk water supplier to 42 municipalities (excluding Osaka City) in the Osaka Prefecture.  OWSA operates Japan’s largest single drinking water treatment plant as well as other drinking water treatment plants. OWSA also operates industrial water supply service, act as an industry partner.

Tap Water Supply:

OWSA supplies about 70% of the tap water to the residents of Osaka Prefecture (other than those in Osaka City).
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 2,330,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 530 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 565㎞

Industrial Water Supply

OWSA directly supplies industrial water to about 440 companies in Osaka Prefecture for cooling, washing, and other industrial applications.
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 800,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 105 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 524㎞

More information about public water supply system in Osaka can be found here: https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsa-osaka.jp%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf62c11cb3ff940d9552808d77adfbd6e%7Cd1323671cdbe4417b4d4bdb24b51316b%7C0%7C0%7C637112973751829513&sdata=H%2Fx95HrdSSEzoo%2BpVs5sw9z3TdhxHAkOq3x6QlZaS6s%3D&reserved=0

OWSA shall engage RMIT students in a project examining local catchments and sediment residue.

Students will undertake a two-week field trip to Osaka Japan, (20 June-3 July 2020) where they will experience state of the art water treatment process from OWSA and conduct some experiments with new photocatalysis materials at Osaka University.

Project Objective

This project aims to identify options for reusing of sediment residue from drinking water treatment in Greater Osaka, Japan.

 Deliverables:

 The deliverables of this project will be staged with an initial focus on data collection.

Deliverable Description Initial Timing Estimate
Introductory Workshop ·       Introduction on the program and its projects

·       Kick-off the projects

·       Discuss on next steps

 Late February 2021
Project Plan Student project plan and return brief March 2021
Capstone part A ·       Review drinking water treatment technology, especially turbidity removal

·       Assess flocculation technologies used for rapid sediment removal Identify examples of recycling of sediment derived from drinking water treatment systems, e.g. bricks, tiles, concrete.

 April and May 2021
Field-trip Site visit and experiments in Osaka:

·       Week 1: Internship experience at a water treatment plan in Greater Osaka;

·       Week 2: Visit selected key water catchment sites in greater Osaka, including water treatment plants.

 20/06/2021 – 03/07/2021
Progress report Progress report July 2021
Capstone part B ·       Prepare a report on the project topic using literature review from semester 1, data analysis and field investigations. July to September 2020
Draft report(s) Draft report(s) End September 2021
Final report ·       A presentation on the project report.

·       Final report

 End October 2021

 

Governance:

This project will be managed through regular meetings between students, the academic supervisor and the project manager to ensure the work is undertaken in accordance with the project plan.

This project will be supervised by Associate Professor John Smith.

Assumptions and Constraints:

 Site specific data will be available and accessible to students on the project.

 Risks and Minimisation Strategies:

 Incomplete data collection resulting in inaccurate recommendations.

  • This will be minimised by collecting as much data as possible from as many sources as possible early on.
  • The highest resolution data available will be sourced to ensure accuracy.

Student attributes:

Students should have a passion for water and practical/civil/environmental engineering, a broad understanding of water storage and treatment processes and (or a willingness to learn) and a desire to work in a fast moving and dynamic team.

The pre-requisite is to have completed 3rd year engineering

 Number of students:

This project can be available to civil and/ or environmental engineering students.

Total of 8 students are required for this project.

Application process:

  • Students submit expression of interests including a CV and latest academic transcript to the Greenhouse and Sustainability Program.
  • Shortlisted students will be invited to an interview
  • Shortlisted students are subject to approval from the Japanese partner.
  • Deadline for applications: 28/02/2020

Funding:

  • Most of the travel costs will be covered by New Colombo Plan for eligible students[1].
  • Students may be required to make a small contribution (approx. 500AUD) to cover costs.

[1] Undergraduate students are to be Australian citizens who have never received any NCP short-term grants before.

GSP NCP Japan-02: Assessing River Water Turbidity and Its Impacts on Drinking Water Treatment in Greater Osaka, Japan.

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GSP NCP Japan-02: Assessing River Water Turbidity and Its Impacts on Drinking Water Treatment in Greater Osaka, Japan.

NEW COLOMBO PLAN (NCP) 2020: SMART WATER SUPPLY AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE KANSAI REGION OF JAPAN

Project Background          

Osaka Water Supply Authority (OWSA), a special local public entity, supplies tap water and industrial water to homes, schools, commercial enterprises and industrial customers as a bulk water supplier to 42 municipalities (excluding Osaka City) in the Osaka Prefecture.  OWSA operates Japan’s largest single drinking water treatment plant as well as other drinking water treatment plants. OWSA also operates industrial water supply service, act as an industry partner.

Tap Water Supply:

OWSA supplies about 70% of the tap water to the residents of Osaka Prefecture (other than those in Osaka City).
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 2,330,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 530 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 565㎞

Industrial Water Supply:

OWSA directly supplies industrial water to about 440 companies in Osaka Prefecture for cooling, washing, and other industrial applications.
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 800,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 105 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 524㎞

More information about public water supply system in Osaka can be found here: https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsa-osaka.jp%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf62c11cb3ff940d9552808d77adfbd6e%7Cd1323671cdbe4417b4d4bdb24b51316b%7C0%7C0%7C637112973751829513&sdata=H%2Fx95HrdSSEzoo%2BpVs5sw9z3TdhxHAkOq3x6QlZaS6s%3D&reserved=0

OWSA shall engage RMIT students in a project examining local catchments and water tubidity.

Students will undertake a two-week field trip to Osaka Japan, (20 June-3 July 2020) where they will experience state of the art water treatment process from OWSA and conduct some experiments with new photocatalysis materials at Osaka University.

Project Objective

Suspended solids (turbidity) in catchments varies according to soil conditions, land use, seasonal fluctuations, and river flow interventions such as dams.  This project will assess how turbidity conditions are likely to affect water treatment in Osaka into the future as climate, population and land-use changes.

 Deliverables:

 The deliverables of this project will be staged with an initial focus on data collection.

Deliverable Description Initial Timing Estimate
Introductory Workshop ·       Introduction on the program and its projects

·       Kick-off the projects

·       Discuss on next steps

 Late February 2021
Project Plan Project Plan and return brief March 2021
Capstone part A ·       Collate detailed data on the catchment and river system(s) used for water supply in the greater Osaka region.

·       Review the role of dams and other flood control measures on river water turbidity Review drinking water treatment technology, especially turbidity removal

 April and May 2021
Field-trip Site visit and experiments in Osaka:

·       Week 1: Internship experience at a water treatment plan in Greater Osaka;

·       Week 2: Visit selected key water catchment sites in greater Osaka, including a dam under construction.

 20/06/2021 – 03/07/2021
Progress report Progress report July 2021
Capstone part B ·       Prepare a report on the project topic using literature review from semester 1, data analysis and field investigations. July to September 2021
Draft report(s) Draft report(s) End September 2021
Final report ·       A presentation on the project report.

·       Final report

 End October 2021

Governance:

This project will be managed through regular meetings between students, the academic supervisor and the project manager to ensure the work is undertaken in accordance with the project plan.

This project will be supervised by Associate Professor John Smith.

Assumptions and Constraints:

Site specific data will be available and accessible to students on the project.

 Risks and Minimisation Strategies:

 Incomplete data collection resulting in inaccurate recommendations.

  • This will be minimised by collecting as much data as possible from as many sources as possible early on.
  • The highest resolution data available will be sourced to ensure accuracy.

 Student attributes:

Students should have a passion for water and practical/civil/environmental engineering, a broad understanding of water storage and treatment processes and (or a willingness to learn) and a desire to work in a fast moving and dynamic team.

The pre-requisite is to have completed 3rd year engineering

Number of students:

This project can be available to civil and/ or environmental engineering students.

Total of 8 students are required for this project.

Application process:

  • Students submit expression of interests including a CV and latest academic transcript to the Greenhouse and Sustainability Program.
  • Shortlisted students will be invited to an interview
  • Shortlisted students are subject to approval from the Japanese partner.
  • Deadline for applications: 28/02/2020

Funding:

  • Most of the travel costs will be covered by New Colombo Plan for eligible students[1].
  • Students may be required to make a small contribution (approx. 500AUD) to cover costs.

[1] Undergraduate students are to be Australian citizens who have never received any NCP short-term grants before.

GSP-NCP Japan-01: Developing Novel Nano-photocatalytic Materials for Water Treatment

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GSP-NCP Japan-01: Developing Novel Nano-photocatalytic Materials for Water Treatment

NEW COLOMBO PLAN (NCP) 2020: SMART WATER SUPPLY AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE KANSAI REGION OF JAPAN

Project Background

Osaka Water Supply Authority (OWSA), a special local public entity, supplies tap water and industrial water to homes, schools, commercial enterprises and industrial customers as a bulk water supplier to 42 municipalities (excluding Osaka City) in the Osaka Prefecture.  OWSA operates Japan’s largest single drinking water treatment plant as well as other drinking water treatment plants. OWSA also operates industrial water supply service, and acts as an industry partner.

Tap Water Supply:

OWSA supplies about 70% of the tap water to the residents of Osaka Prefecture (other than those in Osaka City).
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 2,330,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 530 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 565㎞

Industrial Water Supply:

OWSA directly supplies industrial water to about 440 companies in Osaka Prefecture for cooling, washing, and other industrial applications.
– Daily Water Supply Capacity: 800,000㎥
– Annual Water Supply: Approx. 105 million ㎥
– Total Conduit Length: 524㎞

More information about public water supply system in Osaka can be found here: https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsa-osaka.jp%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf62c11cb3ff940d9552808d77adfbd6e%7Cd1323671cdbe4417b4d4bdb24b51316b%7C0%7C0%7C637112973751829513&sdata=H%2Fx95HrdSSEzoo%2BpVs5sw9z3TdhxHAkOq3x6QlZaS6s%3D&reserved=0

OWSA  shall engage RMIT students in a project to develop novel nano-photocatalytic materials for water treatment in Osaka Prefecture.

Students will undertake a two-week field trip to Osaka Japan, (20 June-3 July 2020) where they will experience state of the art water treatment process from OWSA and conduct some experiments with new photocatalysis materials at Osaka University.

Project Objective

Water purification process such as decomposition of organic substances in water is one of the most expensive and time-consuming processes required to provide drinkable water. Photocatalytic water purification has recently received considerable interest and is used in the Kansai region because it can remove organic substances in water, at low cost and with long durability.

This project aims to develop novel low-cost photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification.

 Deliverables

 The deliverables of this project will be staged with an initial focus on data collection.

Deliverable Description Initial Timing Estimate
Introductory Workshop ·       Introduction to the program and its objectives

·       Kick-off the project

·       Discuss next steps

 Late February 2021
Project Plan Student project plan and return brief March 2021
Capstone part A ·       Identify and understand the types of organic contaminants contained in water at different locations in the world.

·       Conduct experiments to synthesize novel metal oxide nanomaterials and photocatalysis experiments suitable to decompose the identified organic substrate.

 April and May 2021
Field-trip Site visit (20 June-3 July 2020) and experiments in Osaka:

·       Week 1: Internship to learn water purification process in a local water company;

·       Week 2: Conduct of photocatalysis experiments in the labs at Osaka University

 June-July 2021
Progress report Progress report July 2021
Capstone part B ·       Modifying materials structure to improve photocatalytic decomposition efficiently,

·       Prepare a report on the project topic using literature review from semester 1, data analysis and field investigations.

 July to September 2021
Draft report(s) Draft report(s) End September 2021
Final report ·       A presentation on the project report.

·       Final report

 End October 2021

 

Governance:

This project will be managed through regular meetings between students, the academic supervisor and the project manager to ensure the work is undertaken in accordance with the project plan.

This project will be supervised by Professor Yasuhiro Tachibana.

Assumptions and Constraints:

Site specific data will be available and accessible to students on the project.

Risks and Minimisation Strategies:

Incomplete data collection resulting in inaccurate recommendations.

  • This will be minimised by collecting as much data as possible from as many sources as possible early on.
  • The highest resolution data available will be sourced to ensure accuracy.

Student attributes:

Students should have a passion for water and practical/environmental/chemical engineering, a broad understanding of water storage and treatment processes and (or a willingness to learn) and a desire to work in a fast moving and dynamic team.

The pre-requisite is to have completed an undergraduate physical chemistry or materials chemistry course.

Number of students:

This project can be available to chemical, environmental engineering and environmental science/chemistry students.

Total of 8 students are required for this project.

Application process:

  • Students submit expression of interests including a CV and latest academic transcript to the Greenhouse and Sustainability Program.
  • Shortlisted students will be invited to an interview
  • Shortlisted students are subject to approval from the Japanese partner.
  • Deadline for applications: 28/02/2020

Funding:

  • Most of the travel costs will be covered by New Colombo Plan for eligible students[1].
  • Students may be required to make a small contribution (approx. 500AUD) to cover costs.

[1] Undergraduate students are to be Australian citizens who have never received any NCP short-term grants before.

GSP-MW-02: Energy Analytics and Contracting

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GSP-MW-02: Energy Analytics and Contracting

Background:

Melbourne Water (MW) is a statutory authority owned by the Victorian Government, managing and protecting the city’s major water resources for the community. Melbourne Water is responsible for reliable sewerage, healthy waterways, and drainage and flood management.

Melbourne Water’s activities include the following;

  • manage water supply catchments, supplying affordable and high-quality water
  • treat and supply drinking and recycled water
  • remove and treat most of Melbourne’s sewage, ensuring that sewerage is reliable
  • manage waterways and major drainage systems in the Port Phillip and Westernport region
  • provide integrated drainage and flood management services
  • help to create outstanding natural community spaces.

Objective

Melbourne Water would like to assess the performance of the AGL electricity contract over the first 10 year period, forecast energy pricing and emission offset performance over the next 5+5 years, and identify and explore energy procurement strategies/options at the conclusion of the contract in 2030.

Scope

The study will include assessment of:

  • Historic and forecast energy load/demand profiles;
  • Historic and forecast energy generation profiles (behind-the-meter use, export, etc.);
  • Historic and forecast scope-2 greenhouse gas emission profiles;
  • Historic and forecast energy market demand and pricing data (spot pricing on average, high power price events and triggers, negative power price events and triggers, export pricing on average, etc.);
  • The monthly savings or costs incurred to date with the long term electricity contract (in comparison with the wholesale spot market), and, future anticipated savings/costs;
  • Historic and forecast commodity prices (LGC, ACCU, etc.);
  • Historic and forecast performance of contracted and alternative renewable instruments against corporate obligations;
  • Potential energy procurement models of the future and the impact on energy, emissions and costs.

Deliverables

  • Spreadsheet model outlining historic and forecast energy, emission and financial profiles, modelled analyses and respective option comparisons;
  • A summary of input variables, assumptions and outputs (based on assumptions) and sensitivities to significant variables shall be produced;
  • A survey of the industry and market including possible energy and renewable commodity procurement models (PPA, spot market, virtual net metering, etc.); and
  • Views on price curves (wholesale spot market behind the meter, wholesale spot market in front of meter export, LGC, ACCU, etc.).

GSP-MW: Electricity Demand Management

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GSP-MW: Electricity Demand Management

Background:

Melbourne Water (MW) is a statutory authority owned by the Victorian Government, managing and protecting the city’s major water resources for the community. Melbourne Water is responsible for reliable sewerage, healthy waterways, and drainage and flood management.

Melbourne Water’s activities include the following;

  • manage water supply catchments, supplying affordable and high-quality water
  • treat and supply drinking and recycled water
  • remove and treat most of Melbourne’s sewage, ensuring that sewerage is reliable
  • manage waterways and major drainage systems in the Port Phillip and Westernport region
  • provide integrated drainage and flood management services
  • help to create outstanding natural community spaces.

Objective

Melbourne Water would like to investigate the electricity demand management opportunities possible for the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) and western sewerage transfer network.

Scope

The study will include assessment of:

  • Historic and forecast energy load/demand profiles;
  • Historic demand management opportunities implemented, and, the savings, costs and learnings from these projects;
  • Missed demand management opportunities (retrospectively), detailing the opportunity costs;
  • The various demand management programs currently available (FCAS, RERT, contract load shedding, etc.) and the applicability of these programs for WTP and western sewerage transfer network in the future;
  • Existing monitoring systems for separate load groups across the WTP and sewerage transfer system;
  • Interoperability of transfer and treatment systems with respect to delivering identified demand management opportunities; and
  • Future anticipated savings, costs and risks from the various demand management opportunities of the future (stand-alone opportunities and/or projects working in tandem).

Deliverables

  • Report outlining demand management opportunities implemented to date, the various demand management programs currently available and assessment of opportunity feasibility;
  • Spreadsheet model outlining historic and forecast energy profiles;
  • Spreadsheet model outlining missed opportunities and future anticipated savings; and
  • A summary of input variables, assumptions and outputs (based on assumptions) and sensitivities to significant variables shall be produced.

GSP-AB-01: Asahi Water and Treatment Recycling

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GSP-AB-01: Asahi Water and Treatment Recycling

Background

Asahi Beverages is one of the leading beverage companies in Australia and New Zealand. Asahi produces high quality, great tasting beverages, and strong performing brands. The Asahi Group Holdings made its first acquisition in Australia in 2009, and as various companies have joined the group, they have brought a wealth of history and experience, great ingenuity and entrepreneurship, as well as success and achievements and are now part of Asahi Beverages. Today, Asahi Beverages is the corporate regional hub for business divisions across Australia and New Zealand, with a strong Japanese heritage.

Across Australia and New Zealand Asahi employ about 2,300 people, in functions such as manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, science and innovation, finance and HR and export many of its products to 28 countries, including Cambodia, Vietnam, Canada, USA and Fiji Many of our iconic brands are household names, and well loved by consumers in Australia and New Zealand.

Scope of Work

Recycling water in the beverage manufacturing sector is critical in a time of diminishing natural resources and ensuring sustainability of the resource. The sector is both water and chemical intensive in its usage of various clarification process. Undertaking recycling processes more efficiently by reducing the size of the clarifiers and improving the quality of the beverage and removing various organic compounds and increase production is paramount. The extensive use of water in the process of manufacturing beverage, the use of evaporators, and clean water removal is key to efficient processes. The work will examine closely the water treatment processes at the Laverton and Tullamarine plants with a view to improving overall efficiency of water treatment and recycling.

The use of sugars in the beverage industry could also hold the key to alleviating shortages of fresh water, given the enormous amount of waste product. The waste, which would otherwise be flushed, can now be processed into pure, clean drinking water, and/or also be used. The Scope of the Work may include the following;

  1. Review water treatment and recycling processes in the Tullamarine and Laverton plants
  2. Review of effectiveness of membrane, RO or nano-technologies in water reclamation processes
  3. Review effectiveness of FO membrane filtration on Beveridge production, and determine degree of membrane fouling and what measures may be used to reduce this fouling?
  4. How much energy is saved during above process, verification and extent of energy savings? Are these processes energy efficient? Which process (RO or FO or a hybrid process), would be efficient from an energy point of view?

Deliverables

The deliverables of the project are structured under a staged approach. The deliverables of the project include:

Deliverable Description Initial Timing Estimate
Project plan ·       Initial Workshop with Asahi – articulation of the problem(s) (Australia ?)

·       Site visits and detailed student return brief and project plan

 

 TBA
Milestone 1 ·       Literature and data review about water purification and energy efficiency amongst beverage manufacturers TBA
Milestone 2 ·       Water purification best practise FO and could RO  in Beverage sector? TBA
Milestone 3

 

 

 

 ·       How much energy is saved during above process, verification and extent of energy savings? Are these processes energy efficient? TBA
Milestone 4 ·       Review of effectiveness of membranes, RO, FO or nano-technologies in water reclamation?

·       Review other technologies for water reclamation in food sector

·       Review effectiveness of FO membrane filtration on bevrages  and determine the degree of membrane fouling and what measures may be used to reduce this fouling?

 

 TBA
Draft project report Draft project report, process diagrams, schematics and presentation, TBA
Stakeholder engagement ·       Feedback from Asahi TBA
Final Report ·       Project report with accompanying presentation materials (eg. Modelling, analysis of data, verification of results in designated sites and feasibility of various new technologies )

The project report shall be written up as a scientific report, but not limited to, the following sections:

  • Background
  • Assumptions
  • modelling
  • Scientific findings
  • Conclusions
  • Recommendations
  • Next steps

The project deliverables shall be written for a wide audience. It should be assumed the majority do not have an in-depth understanding of evaporative processes and micro filtration.

Work Method

It is expected that data shall be collected from multiple sites in Australia and New Zealand. Commencing mid-January 2020, data collection in from Tullamarine and Laverton sites, analysis of processes and facilitating ongoing discussion with the lead contacts, data collection as well as necessary meetings with stakeholders.  To assess and verify the water purification processes, the student(s) will be required to visit the sites and surroundings (accompanied by Asahi Technology Staff).

The key stakeholders are:

  • Asahi Technologies staff
  • Chemical Engineers, Plant Managers, Water Businesses

Governance:

This project will be managed through bi monthly meetings with the students whom will seek draft approval from the Project Managers (& Prof.) and through frequent contact with the Project Sponsor (Asahi ) to ensure work is satisfactory.

Reporting Requirements:

There will be draft approval and/or progress reporting bi monthly to the project managers.

Assumptions and Constraints:

Site specific data will be available and accessible to students on the project

Risks and Minimisation Strategies:

Incomplete data collection resulting in inaccurate recommendations.

  • This will be minimised by collecting as much data as possible from as many sources as possible early on

Low data resolution.

  • The highest resolution data available will be sourced to ensure accuracy.

Key Attributes

Attributes required include:

  • Knowledge of chemical engineering processes and effectiveness of membrane distillation and nano-technologies in water reclamation?
  • Knowledge of membrane filtration in food and beverage sector, nano-filtration of water
  • Energy consumption modelling in the beverage sector
  • Self-motivated
  • Data analysis, modelling and Intermediate spreadsheet skills
  • Good report writing skills

Student Selection

Asahi shall be an active participant in selection of a suitable students for this Industry Engagement project. Participation should include Asahi reviewing the proposed students, based upon RMIT recommendation and maybe involved in interviewing the students.  Asahi reserves the right to refuse any or all students applying to this Industry Engagement project.

GSP-AHC-03: Improving the Efficiency of Energy Use at Access Health and Community

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GSP-AHC-03: Improving the Efficiency of Energy Use at Access Health and Community

BACKGROUND:

 Access Health and Community (AccessHC) provides high quality health and community services for its local community, focussing its efforts on those who have reduced access or increased complexity due to their health, social or personal determinants. It is Australia’s oldest community health service and is now a major player in health and community services in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

The organization has 15 sites across the cities of Yarra, Boroondara, Manningham and Whitehorse with more than 350 staff and more than 250 Volunteers. The sites range from large three storey mixed clinical and office buildings of 50-80 staff to small residential houses converted into community houses, or bases for outreach staff. Three properties are owned by AccessHC, some is collocated with other services, and the remainder are rented from councils. This means there is a mix of energy and waste streams and contracts and a mixed ability to create change due to constraints of the tenancy or property type.

AccessHC is desperately committed to be a greener workplace. They would like to engage RMIT students in a project to assess its environmental performance and then develop an environmental management plan for the whole organisation.

The environmental performance assessment focuses on 3 main areas:

  • Energy Consumption
  • Water Consumption
  • Waste Generation

Students will work in groups focusing on each of the main areas.

The focus of this sub-project is on energy consumption. Students are required to conduct an audit of current energy use and provide recommendations for improving energy efficiency at AccessHC’s sites. These will contribute to the overall environmental management plan of AccessHC.

 

KEY PROJECT TASKS:

  • Baselining and benchmarking study on energy consumption at AccessHC’s sites;
  • Making site by site recommendations on what changes AccessHC could implement on the short, medium and long term for improving the efficiency of energy use;
  • Setting up a monitoring and reporting system for sustainable energy management.

DELIVERABLES:

No. Description Initial Timing Estimate
1 Background research and literature review March 2020
2 Baselining and benchmarking study April-May 2020
3 Environmental targets (recommendations) July 2020
4 Action Plan and Communication Plan August-September 2020
5 Environmental Management Plan October-November 2020
6 Final presentation and report November 2020

The project report shall be written up as an environmental management plan. A suggested template includes:

  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction:
  • Background
  • About the organization
  • Prior actions and achievements
  • Environmental Policy
  • Baseline Environmental Performance
  • Overview
  • Energy Consumption
  • Water Consumption
  • Waste Generation
  • Environmental Targets:
  • Overview
  • Energy consumption
  • Water consumption
  • Waste Generation
  • Action Plan
  • Communication Plan (optional)
  • Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

 

The project deliverables shall be written for a wide audience. It should be assumed the majority do not have an in-depth understanding of energy efficiency audits.

WORK METHOD:

 TBD

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

Attributes required include:

  • Research skills
  • Intermediate understanding about environmental management and sustainable development
  • Self-motivated.

 

APPLICATIONS:

Students being interested in this projects should send their CV and an expression of interest to Nina Nguyen at nina.nguyen@rmit.edu.au before 15 January 2020.

GSP-IWMI: Developing a Solar Suitability Framework for Irrigation Activities in Myanmar and Laos

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GSP-IWMI: Developing a Solar Suitability Framework for Irrigation Activities in Myanmar and Laos

BACKGROUND:

Solar photovoltaic technologies have been identified as high potential solutions for water abstraction in relation to multi-purpose use. In Myanmar and across the Greater Mekong subregion, there is a demand by both the governmental and private sectors on how to guide investments of solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) to areas and for modalities that are suitable, economically viable and sustainable.

IWMI is a non-profit scientific research organization focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries. IWMI would like to engage two or potentially more students in a set of feasibility studies on SPIS potential in Myanmar and Lao PDR.

As it is impossible to travel overseas at this moment, students will conduct the research from Australia. However, they will be assisted by IWMI’s local staff in collecting data and organizing project activities.

AIM:

In this project, students would undertake desktop research to evaluate available spatial data and solar irrigation needs in the country. They are expected to deliver the following outcomes:

No. Main Deliverable Description Estimated Timing
1 Project Plan Students discuss with IWMI and RMIT academic supervisors about ideas that would lead to detailed and implementable project plans. February 2021
2 Literature Review Current situation and practices in either of the two countries, particular to their specific topic of study. March – May 2021
3 Data Collection and Analysis – Topic 1 could focus on mapping the suitability of solar irrigation pumping systems for small-scale off-grid and for larger-scale on-grid applications. (2 students: 1 student/country)

– Topic 2 could carry out a rapid multicase-study analysis of the performance of existing SPSI schemes in place in Myanmar and potentially also in Laos. (2 students: 1 student/country)

Data collection will be assisted by local staff/students in Myanmar and Laos.

 May – August 2021
4 Draft reports Drafting reports September 2021
5 Presentation Presentation on research findings October 2021
6 Final reports Final Research Theses* End October 2021

* ideally, the theses would provide scope for one or more peer-review publications

WORK METHOD:

  • Students enroll in a relevant course and will be supervised and assessed by an academic at RMIT.
  • Students will work remotely to implement this project. IWMI staff will be remote co-supervisor during the project.
  • Students will have remote check-ins with RMIT and IWMI co-supervisors on a bi-weekly basis.
  • Data collection will be assisted by IWMI staff.

 

FUNDING:

The project is fully funded by the New Colombo Plan, which will cover all project-related costs.

Only Australian undergraduate students are eligible for this project.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  • Students submit EOI together with their latest CVs and academic records to Dr. Nina Nguyen at nina.nguyen@rmit.edu.au
  • Students are selected subject to approval from IWMI.

 

GSP-WW: Toxicity of Influent

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GSP-WW: Toxicity of Influent

Background

Western Water (WW) provides water, sewerage and recycled water services to 61,000 properties with a population of 162,000 across a region of 3,000 square kilometres to the north-west of Melbourne. Since the authority’s establishment 20 years ago, Western Water has seen its service population more than double. This strong growth rate is projected to continue as suburbs around Melton and Sunbury develop over the coming decade. Nearly all towns in the service area now have a secure water supply through provision of alternate supplies to local water. These include interconnection to adjoining supply systems as well as access to Melbourne water.

Aim:

To develop a method to model the risk of potential toxins (with a focus on tree root foam) into Western Water’s Recycled Water Plants (RWPs). These toxins may add stress to the biomass of the activated sludge, which would decrease the effectiveness of the treatment process. ATP is used as a stress indicator of the biomass.

Objectives:

  • Assess the feasibility of ATP as a test method to determine the toxicity of influent. If successful, implement testing across Western Water’s RWPs to minimise the loss of biomass, and protect the plant operations, quality of recycled water and biosolids.
  • Verify a threshold value for root foaming chemicals in the influent to assist the field operation team in the planning of root foaming activities in the sewer.

Toxcity of influent is a critical issue to Western Water business for the following reasons;

  1. The current tree root foam we use is no longer available requiring us to adopt the use of a different foam.
  2. We are experiencing some blockages in our network due to tree roots and are therefore going to commence a program of using tree root foam in our network.
  3. We wish create a model to determine whether the tree root foam program will increase the toxicity of our influent and adversely affect the performance of our recycled water plant.

 

GSP-VCM-01: Clean Energy Source for Production of Voyager Craft Malt

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GSP-VCM-01: Clean Energy Source for Production of Voyager Craft Malt

Background:

Voyager Craft Malt is an artisan malt business located in Whitton, NSW. In 2014, Voyager Craft Malt, began as a start-up venture by two local entrepreneurs, and has quickly established a name for producing high quality small batch, single origin, malts from locally grown and regionally sourced grains. The malts Voyager produce are highly sort after by both craft beer and whisky producers across Australia. The success of the business has presented a significant challenge, as current demand for their product is outstripping production capacity. Voyager takes great pride in sourcing the considerable heat used in the malting process sustainably and maintaining a sustainable focus for their entire business. It is also something demanded of them by their customers. Currently, this is done by utilising waste heat from a bio-char business which is co-located with Voyager. However, the expansion of the business necessitates a move to a green field site and a re-evaluation of how they can supply sustainably sourced heat.

Objectives:

This project aims to investigate the techno-cost-effective business strategy for the integration of energy and heat in a small batch malting plant at the end of an electrical network and to undertake a   Feasibility Assessment and Process Implementation of a Clean Energy Heat Source for Voyager Craft Malt.

Specifically, this project seeks to address the requirement for additional process heat to meet the projected increase in production capacity. It will involve conducting a techno-economic feasibility of a range of different renewable heat sources, such as biomass fired boilers, solar thermal, solar PV driven heat pumps, electric driven heat pumps powered by green grid sourced electricity (power purchase agreement) and cogeneration of heat and power. The students selected for this project will be required to travel to Voyager Malt and conduct a site assessment identifying the key requirements of the business, the available area for mechanical plant, available rooftop space, process requirements, electrical grid limitations and more. Following the feasibility assessment, an implementation plan and accurate costing of the recommended technology will be undertaken. This may involve engineering design of any additional plant or infrastructure required.

Key research questions:

  • Using pinch analysis, what is the minimum requirement for process heating and cooling in a batch malting process?
  • What is the lowest cost energy solution for an ‘end of grid’ manufacturing process located in regional NSW?
  • What is the most effective heat exchange network design to maximise process heat recovery?

Deliverables:

The deliverables of this project will be staged with an initial focus on data collection.

Deliverable Description Initial Timing Estimate
Commencement Workshop Collect data from Voyager:

·       Historical energy prices

·       Historical energy use by Voyager including peak usage.

·       Production volumes

·       Existing process heat requirements and parameters (eg. Temperature, flow rates etc.)

·       Proposed production volumes

 Feb
Milestone 1 Project Plan March
Milestone 2 Some preliminary analysis of data

·       Establish energy performance indicators (e.g. MJ/tonne of malt)

·       Minimum utility requirements from pinch analysis.

·       What is the lowest cost clean energy solution to meet demand.

·       Preliminary heat exchange network to most effectively recover process heat?

 

 May
Milestone 3 Progress report. Early June
Milestone 4 Draft Project Report. Early September
Milestone 5 Project Report. End September
A presentation on the project report. End October

 

Governance:

This project will be managed through weekly meetings with students, whom will seek draft approval from the Project Managers (Marcos Anastassiou and Dr Cameron Stanley) and through frequent contact with the Project Sponsor (Brad Woolner) to ensure work is satisfactory.

Reporting Requirements:

There will be draft approval and/or progress reporting fortnightly to the project managers.

Assumptions and Constraints:

Power usage data by Voyager is expected to be available, as well as data on costs associated with the plant and heat recovery data.

Risks and Minimisation Strategies:

Incomplete data collection resulting in inaccurate recommendations.

  • This will be minimised by collecting as much data as possible from as many sources as possible early on

Low data resolution.

  • The highest resolution data available will be sourced to ensure accuracy.

Student attributes:

Students should have a passion for sustainability and practical engineering, a broad understanding of various renewable energy sources available for process heating (or a willingness to learn) and a desire to work in a fast moving and dynamic team.

Number of students sought:

2 Master of Engineering Students

4 Undergraduate Students- (2 Mechanical & 2 Sustainable Systems)

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