EWBCHALLENGE2010

SolarIceatBendeeDowns

ANDREW WALKER
CHAI LEEN TING
JUN ZHOU

CHRIS BREIDAHL
YICUN LIU
THOMAS WATERMAN

TUTOR: MICHAEL CROCKER

WEDNESDAY 3PM, GROUP E

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1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Wewouldliketothankthemanypeoplewhosponsoredorassistedusthroughoutthisproject
inprovidingmaterials,expertadvice,andmoralsupport.

MidaliaSteelSteelSponsor

MichaelCrockertutorandadvisor

EricMay,UWAEnergyCentrefundingforactivatedcarbon

UWAWorkshopmaterials

Chrissfriendsweldingofstainlesssteel

AdrianGrovesadviceoncopperconnectorsandassistancecopperwelding

DaveTuplingrefrigerationexpertise.

DanLoden,EWBansweringourmanyquestions

Tracey,TowerSecurityDonatedsecuritymeshforinternalcomponent

DrMikeDennis,AustralianNationalUniversityadviceonejectortechnologyandsolar
icemaking

SigmaChemicalsdiscountedactivatedcarbonsupplies

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2. EXECUTIVESUMMARY

TheEngineersWithoutBordersChallenge2010istodevelopsolutionstoassistthe
IndigenousKoomaNationofSouthWestQueenslandtodeveloptheBendeeDowns
ShearingShed.Thisreportexaminesthepotentialimpactthatthedevelopmentoftheshed
willhaveonenergyneedsfortheKoomapeople,andinvestigatesoptionstoreducethe
financialandenvironmentalcostofthedevelopment.
Areductioninenergyconsumptionmustbeachievedthroughasolutionthatisinlinewith
thecultureandaspirationsoftheKoomapeople.Thedesigncriteriafortheprojectwere
developedthroughevaluationofthedesignbrief(EWB2010),reviewingtheKooma
TraditionalOwnersAssociationInc.(KTOAI)businessplan,researchingthetraditional
prioritiesoftheKoomapeople,andreadingorlisteningtothepubliccommentsmadeby
keystakeholdersfromtheKTOAI.Thedesigncriteriahavebeendefinedas:
1. Reductionoffutureenergyneeds.
2. Sustainabilityofdesignsocially,environmentallyandeconomically.
3. FitwiththetraditionalandmodernKoomaculture,andthelikelihoodthatthe
Koomapeoplewillrespondwelltotheproposal.
4. Practicalandactionablewiththeresourcesavailable.
5. ContributestoBendeeDownsappealasanecotourismandeducationalcentre.
Thekeychallengeindevelopingtheshearingshedintoavibrantcommunitycentreisthe
heat.Foragoodproportionoftheyear,thetemperatureinBendeeDownsisveryhigh,and
theshedwillnotbecomfortableforvisitorsinitspresentstate.Conventionalstrategiesfor
combatingheatconsumealotofenergy,withrefrigerationandcoolinglikelytomakeup
almosthalfofthetotalenergyneeds.
Theproposedsolutionistouseenergyfromthesuntocreateiceforthepurposeof
personalcoolingandrefrigerationattheshedandacrosstheproperties.Thissolutiontakes
advantageofthesitesmostabundantresource,heat,andappliesittothebiggestenergy
requirement,cooling.
Theinitialdesignwasreviewedandmodifiedduringeachphaseofanalysisandconstruction
todevelopthemostpracticaldevicepossible.

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Toensurethatthedesignwouldbesustainable,acarefulimpactanalysiswasconductedto
projecttheeffectontheKoomacommunity.Theoverallassessmentisthatsolaricemaking
isasustainableventurewithonlypositiveimpactontheKoomapeople.Ariskmanagement
planhasbeencompletedtoidentifytherisksassociatedwiththedevice,andwhatis
neededtomitigatethoserisks.
Theprojectwasanopportunityforthedesignteamtoapproachaproblemfromtheperspective
ofanIndigenousCommunity.Throughresearchintothedifferingculturalprioritiesofthe
Koomapeople,wewereabletocomeupwithasolutionthatwouldbewellreceivedand
contributemeaningfullytothecommunity,notjustsolveanenergyproblem.

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3. TEAMREFLECTION
Whensixstrangersfirstsattogetherasagroup,itwasapparentthatourbackgroundscouldnt
bemorediverse.Theonlycommonfactorwasasharedinterestinrenewableenergy.
WithmembersfromChina,Malaysia,regionalAustraliaandPerth,ourmulticulturalmakeup
wasakeychallengeaswellasapotentialstrength.Onemainadvantagewasthevarietyof
perspectivesonthesameproblem.Equally,itwasachallengetoensurethatwecommunicated
effectivelyasagrouptodevelopaworkingdynamic.Withouteffectivecommunicationopinions
cannotbeexchanged.Everymemberinthegrouphadtofeelcomfortablevoicingtheiropinion
andideas.Asagroupweagreedhowwewouldfunction,communicateandsharedocuments,
whichwasthefoundationofhowweoperatedthroughouttheproject.
Weheldgroupmeetingstwiceaweekthroughoutthemajorityoftheproject.Aproject
schedulewasdevelopedearlyandGoogleGroupswasutilisedfromthestartoftheprojectto
sharefilesandideas.Duringteammeetings,wekeptupdatedontheprogressthatwasbeing
madeandidentifiedthetaskseachteammemberwouldtacklenext.Minutesweresentaround
aftereachteammeetingtominimiseconfusion.Everymembercouldexpresstheiropinion
anytime,anywherewithoutanyhindrance.Wetriedtocreateateaminwhichanyonewho
seeksforhelpcanjustpostamessageonGoogleGroupsandhelpwillbegiven.
Andrewwastheplannerofthegroup,developingtheprojectscheduleandhelpingfollowupon
progress.Aftereachmeeting,Andrewsentoutminutesandtheweeklytasksthatwehad
agreedon.Healsofocusedoneffectivecommunicationandimplementationofourdesign.
IndigenousAustralianscomeatchallengesfromauniquecultureandhistory,andAndrewwas
responsibleforensuringweunderstoodtheirneedsandthatoursolutionwaslikelytobewell
received.
Everyprojecthasrisks,andweneededtomakesurethatweknewwhatthoserisksweregoing
tobe,andthatwerecommendedhowtheKoomapeoplecouldmitigatetheriskstomakethem
acceptable.ItwasChaiLeensresponsibilitytodocumenttherisksassociatedwithourdesigns
anddevelopariskmanagementplan.ChaiLeenalsowasresponsibleforensuringthatthekey
learningcriteriasetforthbyEWBforteamsparticipatinginthechallengewereallbeing
addressedaswedevelopedourproposal.
Chriscametothegroupwithpracticalexperienceinmanufacturinganddeveloping
manufacturingplans.Withthisexperience,Chrisdevelopedthedetaileddesignforour
prototypeandtookresponsibilityformanagingtheconstructionprocess.Hisdetailedmockups
onGoogleSketchwillassistthefabricatorsineasilyreproducingourdesign.

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ItwasJunsresponsibilitytoevaluateanddocumentthecultural,environmentalandeconomic
contextinwhichourdesignwastobeimplemented.Thisanalysiswasimportanttoour
backgroundanalysis,aswellasinevaluatinghowsuccessfulourproposalwouldbe.
Whileourmainresearchwasintothedevelopmentofasolaricemaker,Leoresearchedexactly
howthaticewastobeusedinBendeeDownstoachieveourobjective.Thisprovedtobemore
problematicthanweanticipatedastheamountoficethatittakestocoolalargebuildingwas
fargreaterthanwehadfirstthought.Leoworkedthroughthepracticalitiesofthequantityof
icewecouldproduceandhowthaticecouldbeusedeffectivelytoreduceenergyneeds.Leo
alsoinvestigatedourresponsibilitiesareundertheengineerscodeofethicsandmonitoringto
ensurethatweadheredtothatcode.Wewantedtomakesurethatasweworkedtowardsour
firstmajorproject,wewereworkingtothesameprofessionalstandardsthatwouldbeexpected
ofusthroughoutourcareers.
Thomasdevelopedafinancialanalysisofourproposal.Wewantedtomakesurethatourdesign
wastherightchoice,notjustaninterestingchoice.Incomparingtheprojectedbenefitsof
makingthesolarice,weareabletoprovideeducatedadviceregardingthevalueoftheproject.
Throughgoodteamwork,theoutputfromthegroupwasgreaterthanwhatwecouldhavedone
asindividuals.Communicationbetweenmembersflowedbetterwithtime,aseverymember
becamemoreopentoexpressingtheiropinions.
Thebiggestobstaclethatwefacedwhileweareonthisprojectwasnarrowingdownthescope
ofideasanddecidingwhattofocuson.Withsixcreativemindsatwork,eachnewidealedto
others,withmanyhavingmerit.Afterextensiveresearch,someofourideasprovedtobe
beyondourtechnicalabilitytoimplementwithinthetimeframeavailable,whileotherswouldbe
perfectiftechnicalexpertisewasavailablepermanentlyatBendeeDownsincaseofbreakdown.
Forexample,thefirstareaweresearchedindepthwasgeneratingelectricitywithsolarthermal
technologyusingparabolictroughs.Ithadhugepotentialforgeneratingelectricity,buton
investigation,ithadsomepracticalproblems.Developingsolarthermalpowergenerationofthe
typewewereconsideringhadanumberofpracticalandtechnicaldifficultiesthatwerebeyond
ourcapabilities,andbeyondtheKoomapeoplescapabilitiestomaintain.
Realizingourlimitations,butstillwantingtocapitaliseonthesolarresourcesofBendeeDowns,
wefocusedonothersolarapplications.Ouranalysishadshowedthatthebiggestissuein
BendeeDownsistheheat,andthatthiswasahindrancetocommercialactivitiesintheshearing
shedandabigpotentialcost.Weresearchedsolarcoolingtechnologiesandcontacted
researchersfromotheruniversitiestounderstandthelatesttrends.

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Afterbrainstormingtheoptionsatagroupmeeting,thesolutionwasdecided:makingicewith
solarenergy.Wehadspentagoodpartofthetimeavailableinreachingthisconclusion,butit
wastimewellspent.Throughourhardworkasateam,wehadnowuncoveredmanyofthe
difficultiesthatwouldbefacedinimplementingasuccessfulprojectinBendeeDowns.
Wenowunderstoodthatthesmallthingsarewhatmakethedifferencebetweenaprojectbeing
agreatidea,andagreatproject.Inournewdirection,wefelttheavailabilityofthematerials,
thetechnicalscopeofthedesign,theongoingmaintenanceneededandtheimpactthatitcould
haveondrivingecotourismandeducationwereallchallengesthatcouldbemet.Therewere
stillsignificantissuestoaddress,butwenowhadconfidencewecouldgettheanswers.With
supportandadvicefromourteachingstaff,universityresources,industrycontactsandalotof
research,wefoundsolutionstoeachproblemweencountered.Weareverythankfulforallthe
helpthatwereceivedincompletingtheproject.
Ifgivenachancetostartoveragain,wewouldtakeabetterlookatthelimitationsofour
resourcesandstartwithamodestproject.Smallerprojectslikethesolaradsorptionicemaker
canhaveagreatpositiveimpactfortheKoomapeople,anditssomethingthatismanageable.
Itsexcitingtoconsiderallofthepossibilitiesofrenewableenergy,butmakingadifferenceis
aboutwhatwecandeliver,notwhatwecansuggest.
ThemostenjoyablepartofEWBchallengewastheopportunitygiventoimproveotherpeoples
lifebeforegraduating.Havingnotdoneanythingsimilartothisbefore,ourgroupwasfullof
enthusiasmtotacklethischallengeandpassionateaboutgettingourideasdevelopedtothe
pointthattheywouldbeconsideredbyEWBandtheKoomapeople.Teammeetingswerelively
anddynamic,withideasthrownbackandforth.OneteammeetingintheScienceLibraryCaf
inspiredapasserbytostopandaskuswhatitwasthatweweresopassionateabout,because
hewassoimpressedwiththewaywecommunicatedwitheachother.
ThroughtheEWBchallenge,wegotatasteofhowengineersworkinreallifesituations.
Meetingthechallengesonhandwiththeresourceswehadavailable.Wehonedourresearch
andcommunicationskillsandgotprettycreativeinourproblemsolving.Workingasateam
grewourconfidencetovoiceopinionsandpresentfindingstoourpeers,andthemost
introvertedofuswerespeakingoutduringourmeetings.Theseskillsstandusingoodsteadfor
successfulengineeringcareers.
Fromthestartoftheproject,wehadavisionthatourworkcouldactuallyreachimplementation
inBendeeDowns,anditwasthepassionthatkeptusgoingdespitetheobstaclesthatwefaced
alongtheway.

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TABLEOFCONTENTS
1.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY.....................................................................................................................3

2.

TEAMREFLECTION...........................................................................................................................5

3.

TABLEOFFIGURES.........................................................................................................................11

4.

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................12
PROBLEMSCOPE...........................................................................................................................................13
PROJECTEDENERGYREQUIREMENTS..................................................................................................................14
PROJECTOBJECTIVE.......................................................................................................................................16
ETHICALCONSIDERATIONS...............................................................................................................................16

5.

BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................................18
KOOMACULTURE..........................................................................................................................................18

SocialStructure....................................................................................................................................18
Elders...................................................................................................................................................18
Laws.....................................................................................................................................................19
Education.............................................................................................................................................19
Problemsolving...................................................................................................................................20
Earth....................................................................................................................................................21
Fire.......................................................................................................................................................21
Art,musicandCelebrations.................................................................................................................21
WesternImpact...................................................................................................................................22
CLIMATE......................................................................................................................................................23
Temperature........................................................................................................................................23
Rain......................................................................................................................................................24
Wind.....................................................................................................................................................25
ExtremeWeather/Storms....................................................................................................................25
Trends..................................................................................................................................................26
ClimateSummary.................................................................................................................................26
INFRASTRUCTURE/LOCALSERVICES...................................................................................................................26
RECENTPROGRESSATBENDEEDOWNSANDMURRAMURRA...............................................................................27
6.

DESIGNCRITERIA...........................................................................................................................28

7.

ALTERNATIVEAPPROACHESTOMEETINGENERGYNEEDS.............................................................30
ELECTRICITYGENERATION................................................................................................................................30

WindPower.........................................................................................................................................30
SolarPowerPhotovoltaicCells..........................................................................................................31
SolarthermalElectricityProduction....................................................................................................31

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FlatPlate...........................................................................................................................................................32
CompoundParabolicCollectors.......................................................................................................................32
ParabolicTrough..............................................................................................................................................33
LinearFresnal...................................................................................................................................................34
DoubleAxisTrackingSystems..........................................................................................................................34

SolarThermalCollectionSummaryTable............................................................................................35
SolarThermalEnergyGeneration........................................................................................................36
Advantages.......................................................................................................................................................36
Disadvantages..................................................................................................................................................36
Recommendations...........................................................................................................................................37

ENERGYSTORAGE.........................................................................................................................................37
PumpedHydro.....................................................................................................................................37
CompressedAir....................................................................................................................................37
Flywheel...............................................................................................................................................38
Batteries...............................................................................................................................................38
ENERGYEFFICIENCY........................................................................................................................................38
WaterHeating.....................................................................................................................................38
SolarPoweredCooking........................................................................................................................39
SolarPoweredCooling.........................................................................................................................40
EVALUATIONOFOPTIONS................................................................................................................................42
EnergyReduction.................................................................................................................................42
Sustainability.......................................................................................................................................42
FitsKoomaCulture...............................................................................................................................43
PracticalandActionable......................................................................................................................43
Tourism/EducationalAppeal...............................................................................................................43
FinalSelection......................................................................................................................................43
8.

DETAILSOFDESIGNSOLARADSORPTIONICEMAKER..................................................................44
SUMMARYOFTHEDESIGN..............................................................................................................................44
DETAILEDDESCRIPTION..................................................................................................................................44
AdsorbentandRefrigerant.................................................................................................................45
Platevs.Parabolic................................................................................................................................47
MATERIALSANDCONSTRUCTION.....................................................................................................................47
BillofMaterials....................................................................................................................................48
Construction.........................................................................................................................................49
ICEAPPLICATIONS.........................................................................................................................................50
ApplicationforRefrigeration...............................................................................................................50
ApplicationforPersonalCooling..........................................................................................................51
OtherUses...........................................................................................................................................52

9.

COMMUNICATIONANDIMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................53
PotentialResistance.............................................................................................................................53
CommunicationStrategy.....................................................................................................................53

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CommunicationMessage....................................................................................................................54
CoolingComfortsattheShearingShedareVital.............................................................................................54
AttractingandKeepingEcotourists..................................................................................................................55
BuildingEducationOpportunitiesthroughRenewableEnergy........................................................................55

CommunicationForum........................................................................................................................56
ProjectedResponsefromtheKoomaPeople.......................................................................................56
Positives...........................................................................................................................................................56

NEXTSTEPSFORTHEKOOMAPEOPLE..............................................................................................................57
10.

EVALUATION.............................................................................................................................59

ENGAGEMENTWITHTHEKOOMACOMMUNITYDURINGTHEPROJECT......................................................................59

STRENGTHSANDWEAKNESSESOFDESIGN..........................................................................................................59
Strengths..............................................................................................................................................59
Weaknesses.........................................................................................................................................60
EVALUATIONAGAINSTDESIGNCRITERIA.............................................................................................................61
EvaluationPlan....................................................................................................................................61
DesignEvaluationandModificationProcess....................................................................................................61

EvaluationResultsandModifications..................................................................................................62
PracticalAndActionable...................................................................................................................................62
Reductionoffutureenergyneeds....................................................................................................................64
ContributiontoBendeeDownsappealasEcotourismdestinationandeducationcentre.............................64
DesignfitswiththetraditionalandmodernKoomapeople............................................................................65
sustainability....................................................................................................................................................65

RISKMANAGEMENT.......................................................................................................................................67
FINANCIALANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................70
Assumptions.........................................................................................................................................70
11.

CONCLUSIONANDRECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................................72

12.

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................73

APPENDIXIMANUFACTURINGPROCEDURE..............................................................................................
APPENDIXIIRISKASSESSMENTMATRICES..............................................................................................
APPENDIXIIIRISKSANDRESPONSEACTIONFORMETHANOLMISHAPS..................................................
APPENDIXIVSAMPLEREPORTTOCOMMUNICATETHEDESIGNTOTHEKTOAIAPPENDIXVFUNDING
CRITERIAFORQSEIFAPPLICATIONS...........................................................................................................
APPENDIXVFUNDINGCRITERIAFORQSEIFAPPLICATIONS....................................................................

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4. TABLEOFFIGURES
FIGURE1PROJECTEDELECTRICITYREQUIREMENTSOFTHEBENDEEDOWNSSHEARINGSHEDBASEDONAPPLIANCE
INFORMATIONFROM.................................................................................................................................14
FIGURE2BREAKDOWNOFTHETOPPROJECTEDUSESOFELECTRICITYATTHESHEARINGSHED.THISCHARTISBASEDONTHE
PROJECTEDENERGYUSEINFIGURE1............................................................................................................15
FIGURE3CHARTOFSTUDENTATTENDANCEINQUEENSLANDSHOWINGTHEDISPARITYBETWEENINDIGENOUSANDNON
INDIGENOUSSTUDENTS(CLOSINGTHEGAP2008)..........................................................................................20
FIGURE4ANEXAMPLEOFTRADITIONALKOOMASTYLEART,PAINTEDBYGEOFFMANTHEY(WWW.GEOFFMANTHEY.COM).22
FIGURE5CHARTSHOWINGMEANMAXIMUMTEMPERATUREATTHENEARESTWEATHERSTATIONTOBENDEEDOWNS,
CUNNAMULLAPOSTOFFICE.THEMEANTEMPERATUREISABOVE30FORALMOSTHALFOFTHEYEAR.......................24
FIGURE6ANEXAMPLEOFFLOODINGTHATCANHITPROPERTIESNEARBENDEEDOWNSWHENCYCLONICWEATHERHITS
QUEENSLAND...........................................................................................................................................25
FIGURE7DESIGNCRITERIAFORTHEPROJECTBASEDONTHEBACKGROUNDANALYSIS....................................................29
FIGURE8APLOTOFWINDSPEEDSAGAINSTPOTENTIALPOWER.THESTABLEWINDSOFLESSTHAN4METERSPERSECOND
MAKEWINDPOWERUNVIABLEATBENDEEDOWNS.........................................................................................31
FIGURE9THEDESIGNANDFUNCTIONOFACOMPOUNDPARABOLICCOLLECTOR(IMAGEAVAILABLEAT
WWW.PET.IE/IMAGES/CPC.JPG)..................................................................................................................32
FIGURE10PARABOLICTROUGHSARETHEMOSTWIDELYUSEDSOLARCOLLECTORFORUTILITYSCALEPOWERPLANTS.(IMAGE
FROMWWW1.EERE.ENERGY.GOV)...............................................................................................................33
FIGURE11LINEARFRESNALCOLLECTORSUSEAFIELDOFFLATREFLECTORSTOFOCUSONACENTRALCOLLECTOR.
(WWW.LARGESCALESOLAR.COM).................................................................................................................34
FIGURE12HELIOSTATFIELDSAREHIGHLYEFFICIENTFORUTILITYSCALEPOWERSTATIONS,BUTNOTPRACTICALFORBENDEE
DOWNS.(WWW.GIZMAG.COM)..................................................................................................................35
FIGURE13SUMMARYOFSOLARCOLLECTORTECHNOLOGIES....................................................................................36
FIGURE14TABLEOFREFRIGERATIONCYCLESTHATMAYBECOMBINEDWITHSOLARCOLLECTORSTOPRODUCESOLARCOOLING
SOLUTIONS..............................................................................................................................................41
FIGURE15SUMMARYTABLEOFDESIGNOPTIONSRANKINGAGAINSTDESIGNCRITERIA..................................................42
FIGURE16FRONTANDSIDEVIEWSSHOWINGTHEBASICDESIGNOFTHEPROPOSEDFLATBEDSOLARADSORPTIONICEMAKER.
.............................................................................................................................................................45
FIGURE17COMPARISONBETWEENAMMONIAANDMETHANOLASTHEWORKINGREFRIGERANT....................................46
FIGURE18DESIGNOFANATURALICEREFRIGERATOR(ALTHOUSEETAL.1992)..........................................................50
FIGURE19BASICNATURALICEAIRCONDITIONERDESIGN........................................................................................51
FIGURE20TABLEOFENVIRONMENTAL,SOCIALANDECONOMICCONTEXTAFFECTINGTHEICEMAKERATBENDEEDOWNS...67
FIGURE21IDENTIFIEDRISKSANDMITIGATINGPRECAUTIONS...................................................................................69
FIGURE22FINANCIALCOMPARISONOFTHESOLARICEMAKERWITHOTHERAIRCONDITIONINGOPTIONS..........................71

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5. INTRODUCTION
TheKoomaNationislocatedinSouthWesternQueensland.LikeallindigenousAustralian
communities,theKoomaPeoplefacestarkinequalitiescomparedtotherestoftheAustralian
population.ThemodernhistoryofAustraliasindigenouspeopleischaracterisedbypoliciesof
disempowermentandmarginalization(Bourkeetal.1998).Thislegacyhasleftagapin
opportunitiesforemploymentandeducation,andlifeexpectancy1012yearslowerwithhigher
likelihoodofhealthproblemsandhospitalizationthantheAustralianaverage(AIHW2010).
TheKoomaTraditionalOwnersAssociationInc.(KTOAI)wasformedin2000withtheformal
objectiveofprovidingenvironmental,socialandculturalbenefitstoalltheKoomapeople.Once
established,theKTOAIwasgrantedpossessionoftwolargepropertiesintraditionalKooma
countrybytheIndigenousLandCouncil(EWB2010).Theseproperties,BendeeDownsand
MurraMurra,encompass87,159hectaresthathadbeenoperationalpastorallandforthepast
century.Since2000,theKTOAIhavesetaboutbringingtheKoomapeoplebacktotheland.
ThreekeygoalswereidentifiedintheKTOAIBusinessManagementPlan(2003):
1. SeeingKoomapeopleofallageslivingandworkingatBendeeDownsandMurraMurra
2. Runningsuccessful,environmentalsensitivecommercialenterprisesonBendeeDowns
3. Runningsuccessfulcultural,socialandenvironmentalprograms.
Centraltoachievingthesegoalsistheredevelopmentofadecommissionedshearingshed
locatedatBendeeDowns.ItisthevisionoftheKTOAIthattheshedbedevelopedintoavibrant
centreinthecommunity.
TheKTOAIspartnershipwithEngineersWithoutBorders(EWB)hasledtothedevelopmentofa
wastemanagementplan,9.8kWcapacityofsolarpower,successfuleducationprogramsthrough
GreenSchoolandEmuFest,andcontinuingenergyefficiencyeffortsatMurraMurra.TheKTOAI
continuetoseekinnovativeandcreativewaystoachievetheirvision,andareagainshowing
otherpeopleinremoteareasthatwecandobusinessinadifferentway(EWB,2010),engaging
thecreativityoffirstyearUniversitystudentsthroughtheEWBChallenge2010toaddressthe
developmentalproblemsoftheshed.
Theshearingshedcurrentlyhasnoelectricity.Tobecomeacommercialcommunitycentre,the
shedwillrequirecooling,heating,lighting,cookingfacilities,refrigerationandentertainment
facilities.

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ReducingthefinancialandenvironmentalcostofenergyhaslongbeenapriorityfortheKTOAI,
andisanimportantconsiderationfortheBendeeDownsShearingShed.In2008,EWB
conductedadetailedenergyauditofMurraMurra,wherethesolepowersourcewasthemain
electricitygrid,andestimatedannualbillsof$5,000.Theassessmentfoundthattherewas
significantroomforimprovementinfinancialexpense,environmentalimpact,andreliability.
Followingtheaudit,a9.8kWphotovoltaicsolarpanelsystemwasimplementedusinga
$149,000donationfromVirginBlue,andenergyeducationalprogramswereheldtoimprove
awarenessofenergyefficiencyissuesinthecommunity.In2010,EWBareimplementingphase
twooftheenergyprojectthroughenergyefficiencyrecommendationstofurtherreducethe
Koomapeoplesenergyrequirements.
Inthemonthssincethesolarpowerwasimplemented,electricityneedhasexceeded
projections.Lastquarterthecostwas$6000forMurraMurra.Thisislikelytocontinueto
increasegiventheKTOAIsplantoattractmorepeoplebacktothelandandexpandtheuse(and
thuselectricityrequirements)oftheBendeeDownsproperty,particularlytheshearingshed.
Thepurposeofthisreportistoassesstheenergyrequirementsthatarisefromthedevelopment
oftheshed,andtoseekcreativewaystoreducethefuturecostofthatenergy,bothfinancially
andenvironmentally.
PROBLEMSCOPE
TherearethreeapproachesthatwereconsideredtoimprovetheenergyoutlookatBendee
Downs:

TheproductionofelectricityonsitetomeettheadditionalneedsoftheShearingShed.

Reductionofenergyrequirementsthroughefficientoralternativeappliances.

Energyreliabilityimprovementsthroughenergystoragetoaddressthepotential
downtimetheShearingShedmightfaceduetopoweroutages.

Anysolutionshouldbecombinedwithbehavioralchangetoreduceenergyusageonadayto
daybasisthroughcontinuededucationandcommunityinvolvement.
Inthisreport,severalapproachesarepresentedandassessedaccordingtospecificdesign
criteria.Theoptionsthatwereconsideredviablehavebeenrestrictedtothosewithinthedesign
capabilitiesofthedesignteam,butopportunitiesforfurtherinvestigationarenotedwhere
appropriate.

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PROJECTEDENERGYREQUIREMENTS
Anassessmentoffutureenergyneedswasconductedbasedontherequirementsdetailedby
EWB(2010)onbehalfoftheKTOAI.Theenergyuseofeachappliancewasbasedonaverage
householdappliances(www.energyrating.gov.au)withassumptionsmadeforthedailyuseof
eachappliance.Figure1belowtablestheprojectedenergyrequirementsoftheshearingshed.

Figure1ProjectedElectricityrequirementsoftheBendeeDownsShearingShedbasedonaverageappliances
(www.energyrating.gov.au)withestimateddailyuseofeachappliance.

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Byfarthebiggestenergyrequirementisprojectedtobecooling.Basedonthevolumeofairin
theshed,arequirementscalculatorestimatestheairconditioningpowertorequiredtocoolthe
wholeshedaskW(FairAir).Thisposessomeobviousproblems,whicharemadegraphicin
figure2.
Airconditioninghasbeenincludeddespitetheseeminglyprohibitivehighcostbecause
addressingtheheatisacriticalissueforoverallproject.TheKTOAIsgoalistoattracteco
tourism,culturalandeducationalventurestotheShearingShed.Alloftheseinvolvevisitorsto
thelandwhocomefromclimatesthatarefarmilderthanSouthWestQueensland.Aresearch
intoAmericanecotourismtrendsfoundthateveryonewantstogowherenooneelseis
(Barker,1999).However,Barkeralsoemphasisesthatthemajorityofecotouristswantto
maintaincreaturecomfortswhileontour.Comfortabletemperaturesintheshedare
thereforeanimportantsellingpoint.
Figure2breaksdowntheprojectedenergyuseintocategories.Figure3breaksdowntheenergy
requirementsifinstallingairconditioningcanbeavoided.
Ifairconditioningcanbeavoidedthroughacombinationofpassivecoolingandfanapplications,
orthroughthesolaricemakerproposedinthisreport,thebiggestenergyusesareprojectedto
beforcooking,computers,refrigerationandheating,withtheenergycostsimilarforeach.

Figure2BreakdownofthetopprojectedusesofelectricityattheShearingShedifairconditioningisusedforambientcooling.
ThischartisbasedontheprojectedenergyuseinFigure1.

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Figure3Breakdownofenergyuseswithoutinstallingairconditioning

PROJECTOBJECTIVE
TheKTOAIistryingtoaddresstheissuesfacingallindigenousAustralians,particularlyeducation
andemployment,whilstcreatinghopeandrenewedpridewithintheKoomapeople.Thekey
objectiveforthisprojectwastocomeupwithasolutionthatwouldnotonlyreducetheenergy
impactofdevelopingtheshearingshed,butcontributetotheKoomacommunity,helppromote
BendeeDownsreputationforsustainabilityandinnovationwhenseekingtoattracteco
tourists,andbeasourceofpride.
Itwasalsoimportanttousthatthedesignwasofamanageablescalethatcouldpracticallybe
implementedandmaintainedbytheKoomapeople,notagrandplanthatsoundsexcitingbut
maybeimpracticaltoimplement.
ETHICALCONSIDERATIONS
TheAustralianCodeofEthics(2010)providesguidelinesfortheprofessionalconductof
engineersinAustralia.Thefourpillarsofethicslaidoutbythe2010codeare

Demonstrateintegrity

Practicecompetently

Exerciseleadership
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Promotesustainability

Inthedesignprocess,theprojectteamwasguidedbytheseprinciplesindevelopingthe
proposedsolutionforBendeeDowns.Engagementwiththecommunity,particularlythrough
theKoomaeldersisakeyaspectethically.Thecommunitymustbemadepartofthesolution,
sothatitiseffectivenowandsustainableinthefuture.Thepotentialrisksofmanydesignsthat
wereconsideredweremadegreaterbytheprojectteamsinexperienceinthetechnology,
whichmadethosesolutionsinappropriateforustobebringingforward.Instead,thesolution
proposedisonethatiswithintheteamscapabilitiestodeveloptothepointthatthebenefitsof
thedesignarefullyunderstood,animplementationstrategycouldbecommunicatedeffectively
andacompleteriskmanagementplancouldbedocumented.

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6. BACKGROUND
KOOMACULTURE
TheAustralianAboriginalscultureisthelongestsurvivingcontinuouscultureintheworld(EWB
2010).Thisancientcultureischaracterisedbydeeprespectfortheirancestry,traditionsand
beliefs.ManyvaluesaresimilaramongindigenousAustralians,butcommonalitycannotbe
assumed.Aboriginalcultureisvastlydiverseindifferentregions,ascanbeunderstoodbythe
largenumberofindividualAboriginalnationsthatwerespreadaboutthebeforethearrivalof
settlers(AIATSIS1996).
TheKoomapeopleandsurroundingtribes(theKunja,Mardgany,BudjariandKullillatribes)
collectivelyrefertothemselvesasMurries(McKellar1984),showingastrongsenseof
communityamongallthepeopleoftheregion.
SOCIALSTRUCTURE
TheKoomasocialstructureformsaroundfamilygroups(EWB2010).Thereare16clansthat
makeuptheKoomanation,eachconsistingofseveralfamilies.Clanleadershipisformed
throughkinship,andavotefromarelativeismandatoryforleadershipeligibility.Kinshipwas
notconfinedtotribemembers,andtheKoomapeoplearesubjectedtothekinshipobligations
ofneighboringtribes(NationalNativeTitleTribunaln.d.).
Thestrengthofcommunityspiritisanimportantconsiderationindesignandcommunicationof
anyproposals.Anydesignthattapsintothatstrengthislikelytosucceed,andwithout
communitysupportevenagreatideaisunlikelytogetofftheground.
ELDERS
ThetribaleldersarethetraditionalpillarsoftheKoomanation.Asspiritualleadersandteachers
ofthecommunity,theyareresponsibleforadecisionmaking,lawformingandpassingonthe
knowledgeandtraditionsofthepeoplethroughstorytelling(McKellar1984).
ThepivotalrolethattheeldersplayinKoomaculturemeansthattheyneedtobeengagedearly
intheplanningfortheprojecttoensurethatthedesignfitswellwiththeirvisionforthefuture
oftheirpeople.

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LAWS
TribalLawwaslargelydecidedbytribalelders(McKellar,1984).Asustainablelifestylewas
embodiedbylawsthatenforcesustainablepractices.Rulesenforcedthereturningsmallerfish
toallowthemtogrowandtheprohibitionofkillingfemaleanimalsexceptingreatneedorin
verygoodseasons(McKellar1984).Specieswerealsoconservedduringdroughttoallowthe
ecosystemtoremaininbalance(McKellar1984).
Thisancientpracticeofsustainabilityhelpsunderstandtherequirementsofsustainable
solutionstomodernproblemsassociatedwiththedevelopmentoftheshed.TheKoomapeople
areinnovativeandcreative,andproudtodothingsdifferently(EWB,2010),andthatinnovation
andprideinsustainabilitymustbeencompassedinoursolutiondesign.

EDUCATION
ThelearningandteachingtechniquesofnonindigenousandAboriginalpeoplediffergreatly.
ThishasposedamajorobstacletoIndigenousAustralianseducationinmainstreamschools
wheretheinstructionaltechniquesarebasedonEuropeanstylesandvalues.
ThemainmethodofAboriginaleducationisbasedonaninformallearningapproachthrough
tribalelders.Childrenaretaughttoworkingroupstoteachandlearnfromoneanother.Most
learningexperiencesarethroughstorytelling,observations,imitationandtrial.MostAboriginal
languagesconsistoffewnumbersordescribingwords,andAboriginalchildrenaretaughtto
communicateinotherways.
AkeyfactorinAustraliaseducationgapisattendance(ClosingtheGap2008).Indigenous
Australianshaveagreaterlikelihoodofpoorattendanceasshowninfigure4.Poorattendance
isanindicationthatEuropeanteachingmethodsthatformthebasisoftheschoolsystemoften
donotmeetthelearningneedsofAboriginals,andfailtoholdtheirenthusiasm.
Educationisanimportantconsiderationfortheprojectdesign.Thesolutionshouldpromote
educationalopportunitiesinawaythatembracestheindigenouslearningculture,specifically
providingopportunitesforgettingpeopleinvolvedandtryingnewthings.

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Figure4ChartofstudentattendanceinQueenslandshowingthedisparitybetweenindigenousandnonindigenousstudents
(ClosingtheGap2008).

PROBLEMSOLVING
ThedifferentcultureandeducationalstylesoftheAboriginalpeopleareindicativeofavery
differentapproachtoproblemsolvingfromWesterncultures.WhereasaWesternapproachis
morelikelytoinvolvereadingandanalysing,anindigenousapproachismorelikelytoinvolve
observing,imitatingandexperimenting.
WhenprojectsarebeingundertakenwithIndigenousCommunities,communityengagementis
essential.Aboriginalcommunitiesaremorelikelytobepositiveaboutprojectsthatengageina
withusnotforusapproach(Behrend,2007).Thismeansthattheproposalthatisdeveloped
throughtheprojectmustnotbeaonesizefitsallapproach,andinsteadmustbeconsidereda
startingpointforworkingwiththeKoomapeopletodeveloptheideaandmakeitworkfortheir
community.
SolutionsthataredevelopedwithIndigenousAustraliancommunitiesmustalignwithasenseof
identityanddirectionofthecommunity(Behrend,2007).Strategiesthatareagoodculturalfit
andarealignedwiththeaspirationsalreadystatedbytheKTOAIarefarmorelikelytogetthe
buyinthatiscriticaltosuccess.

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EARTH
IndigenousAustralianshaveaspecialaffinitywiththeland.Countryisimportantto
Indigenousculture,spirituality,historyand,particularlyinnonurbanareas,economic
empowerment.(DepartmentofForeignAffairsandTrade2010)
AmongIndigenousAustralians,thereisaspirituallinkbetweenthepersonandhis/herAncestor
throughthelandandanimalsontheland.Thisuniquerelationshipwiththelandisevidentin
theeffortssurroundingNativeTitleactiontoprotecttherightsofindigenousAustralianstotheir
traditionallands.ItisalsotheuniqueconnectionwiththelandthatledtotheKTOAIforming
andtakingpossessionofthepropertiesatBendeeDownsandMurraMurra,andthatdrivesthe
KTOAItobringmoreKoomapeoplebacktoKoomaCountry.
FIRE
FireplaysacrucialroleinAboriginalculture.Fireisusedforrepellingmosquitoes,cooking,
heatingandimportantceremoniessuchastheKoomaritualofsmokingfollowingadeathinthe
clan(MemmottandEckermann1999).
Theimportanceoffire,togetherwiththeconnectionwiththeland,intheKoomacultureforms
thebasisofthenamewehavegiventhisproject,Earth,Fire&Ice.Earthrepresentstheloveof
theland,theKoomapeoplethemselves,andtheactivatedcarbonusedwithinthedesign.Fireis
fromthetraditionsoftheKoomapeople,andthesunthatprovidestheenergyweharness,and
iceisthelinkthatwillusetheseresourcestoprovidecoolingfortheshearingshed.Thisimagery
willbeproposedaspartofthecommunicationdiscussionlaterinthereport.
ART,MUSICANDCELEBRATIONS
TheAboriginalpeopleloveofdanceandmusic.Manyimportantoccasionsandceremonieswere
markedbyneighbourscomingtogethertosingandfeast(Connolly2009).
ThepaintingstyleoftheKoomapeopletendstobenaturalisticandsimple.Somedescendents
oftheKoomastillpracticethisnaturalisticstyle,suchasGeoffManthey(Mantheyn.d.).His
artworkincludesfish,turtles,andsnakes,whichisindicativeoftraditionalKoomastyle(Manthey
n.d.).AnexampleofKoomastyleartisshowninfigure5.

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Figure5AnexampleoftraditionalKoomastyleart,paintedbyGeoffManthey(www.geoffmanthey.com)

Therelevanceofart,musicandcelebrationtotheprojectistheemphasisinKoomacultureon
gettinginvolvedandtheemphasisoncommunitycelebration.Ourprojectmuststrivetogetthe
communityactivelyinvolved.
WESTERNIMPACT
WhenwhitecolonialsovertookKoomaland,Koomapeoplewereusedasslavestohelprunthe
station.Despiteunwelcomeandunfamiliarconditions,theKoomapeoplewereproudand
strong,askingforlandtogrowcrops(Perkins2008).
Ratherthandemolishtheshearingshedthatembodiestheforeignusesthatoriginallydrovethe
peoplefromtheland,theKoomaeldersseektoembracetheresource,celebratethemeetingof
culturesandbuildanewbeginningforBendeeDowns.

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CLIMATE
MurraMurraandBendeeDownsarelocatedintheSouthWestQueenslandRegion(Queensland
DepartmentofInfrastructureandPlanning2010).TheSouthWestregionisoneofthemost
remoteareasinQueensland,andhasasemiaridtoaridclimatewithhotsummersandwarm,
drywinters.
TheconditionsatBendyDownsaredryanddusty,asmostmoisturefromtheseaevaporates
beforereachingsofarinland.Likemostinlandareas,itiswarmeranddryerthancoastal
climates(UnitedKingdomEnvironmentalChangeNetwork).
BendeeDownsis168metersabovesealevel,withnomountainsintheregionandlittle
topographicalreliefnearby.Thelowaltitudemeansrelativelyhighairpressureandmakesit
easierfortheatmospheretoretainheat.
Queenslandissubjecttocyclonicconditions,particularlyfromJanuarytoMarch.Whilecyclones
donotgenerallyreachasfarinlandasBendeeDowns,thesestormsystemsdoinfluencethe
weatherandtheweakenedstormsystemsbringmostoftheannualrainfallandcanbe
accompaniedbystormsandflooding.
TEMPERATURE
TheSouthWestofQueenslandisaperfectplaceforheatlovers(WorkLivePlayQueensland
2010),butthetemperatenatureoftheregionleadstoconsiderableseasonalvariation.The
mainfactorscausingthegenerallywarmtemperatureatBendeeDownsareitsproximityfrom
thecoast,latitudeandlowaltitude.Figure6showsthemonthlymeanmaximumtemperatures
forthenearestweatherstationatCunnamulla.
Thetemperaturecanbeextremelyhighduringsummerandautumn,withthemeanmaximum
temperaturestayingabove32CelsiusfromNovemberthroughtoMarch,peakingatamean
maximumof36inJanuary.Thereliabilityofhotweathercanbeseenfromthemeannumberof
daysabove30insummer;27.2daysinDecember,28.4inJanuary,and25.2inFebruary.The
eveningsduringthesemonthsarealsowarm,rarelygettingbelow10,andaveragingminimum
temperaturesofmorethan20.

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Figure6ChartshowingmeanmaximumtemperatureatthenearestweatherstationtoBendeeDowns,CunnamullaPostOffice.
Themeantemperatureisabove30foralmosthalfoftheyear.(AustralianBureauofMeteorology2010)

Duringwinterthedaytimetemperatureisstillmoderatelywarm,withmeantemperaturesclose
to20.Eveningsarecool,fallingbelow10,butusuallystayingabovezero.Thecoldestmonthis
inJuly,withameanminimumtemperatureof5.7Celsius.

RAIN
SouthWesternQueenslandisarelativelydrypartofAustralia,withanaverageofonly44rainy
daysperyear.Rainfallintheregionishighlyseasonal,withmostrainfallingduringthesummer
asheavythunderstormsorraindepressions(QueenslandDepartmentofClimateChange2010).
TheQueenslandcycloneseasonfromJanuarytoMarchproducesstormsystemsthatproduce
themajorityofrainintheregion,peakingat51.2mm,comparedtoonly2333mmaverage
rainfallforthewintermonthsofJune,JulyandAugust.

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WIND
WindspeedsatBendeeDownsarelowandstable.Windisinfluencedbyawiderangeoffactors,
fromlargescalepressurepatterns,tothetimeofdayandthenatureofthesurroundingterrain
(AustralianBureauofMeteorology2010).InBendeeDowns,thedistancefromthecoast,flat
terrainandstablepressuresystemsallcontributetostableconditions.
Thepredominantmorningwinddirectionisfromtheeastwithameanspeedof9.9km/hrwhile
theafternoonwindusuallycomesfromthesouthatanaverage10.3km/hr.Thewindsare
strongestinspring,withwindsaveraging11.711.8km/hrfromSeptembertoNovember.
EXTREMEWEATHER/STORMS
TropicalcyclonescanhitQueenslandanytimefromNovembertoApril,butaremorelikelyfrom
JanuarytoMarch.CyclonesdonotreachasfarinlandasBendeeDowns,butweakerstorm
systemsformfromcyclonesandaffectconditionsintheSouthWestRegion,causingheavyrain
andlightningstrikes.
StormsystemscanleadtoinlandfloodingsuchasthatexperiencedinMarch2010.Atthepeak
ofthestorm,Cunnamullareceived182mmofrainina24hourperiod,causinglocalriversto
bursttheirbanksandresultinginwidespreaddamagetoproperty.Figure7showstheextentof
floodingthatcanoccur.

Figure7AnexampleoffloodingthatcanhitpropertiesnearBendeeDownswhencyclonicweatherhitsQueensland.

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TRENDS
ThedepartmentofclimatechangehasdocumentedsignificantwarminganddryingoftheSouth
WestQueenslandregionoverthelastfewdecadesandforecaststhattrendtocontinue
DepartmentofClimateChange2010).Averagetemperaturehasrisen0.8overthelastdecade,
andaverageannualrainfallis16%lowerthan30yearsago.Oftheregionalclimateprojection
models,basedondifferentcarbonemissionscenarios,themoderatescenariopredictsa1.1
increaseinaveragedailytemperatureand3%dropinannualrainfallby2030.
CLIMATESUMMARY
BendeeDownsclimateisanimportantconsiderationbothintermsoftheextenttowhichheat
isanissuenow,andwillincreasinglybeinthefuture,andinidentifyingthenaturalresources
availableinassessingtheviabilityofrenewableenergystrategies.Theabundanceofsolar
energymakeitaprimecandidateforapplicationsattheshearingshed,reconfirmingthelogicin
EWBimplementingsolarpanelsinthelastKoomaEnergyproject.Thewinddataalsobringsinto
questiontheviabilityofwindasanoption,andthedrynessofthelandscape,andthe
inconsistencyofrainmakeanyhydroelectricpotentialunlikely.
INFRASTRUCTURE/LOCALSERVICES
BendeeDownsislocated630kilometresWestofBrisbane.Thesitehaslimitedfacilities,
includingtheshearingshed,shearersaccommodation,showerandtoiletblock,generatorroom
andairstripnoneofwhicharecurrentlyinuse.BendeeDownsisborderedbyseveralsmall
homesteads,withSouthGlenn,BonnaVonna,Melray,Werona,Rollo,Ryandale,Deiranand
Gamarrenallwithin25km.
Theairstriplocatedatthesitehasnotbeeninusesince1998(DesignProjects2010).Onlyroad
accessiscurrentlyavailabletothesite.ThemainaccesstoBendeeDownsisbytheMurra
MurraRoad,anorthsouthrunningroadlocatedtotheEastoftheproperty.
TheclosestmajortownisCunnamulla,120kmaway.Cunnamullahasapopulationof1400,with
facilitiesincluding:

Hospital,medicalcentre+chemist.

Airstrip

Accommodation(motels+hotels).

Foodsuppliesbutcher,bakery,groceries,etc.
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OtherShopsclothing,electrical,hardware,giftshops,newsagents,postalservices.

Library

(ParooShireCouncil2010)
ThefacilitiesatCunnamullameanmuchoftheequipmentrequiredtoproducethesolarice
makerareavailablelocally,andonlyminimalcomponentswouldrequireimportingfrom
BrisbanetostartmanufacturingatBendeeDowns.

RECENTPROGRESSATBENDEEDOWNSANDMURRAMURRA
SincetheKTOAItookpossessionofMurraMurraandBendeeDowns,theyhavebeenveryactive
inimprovingthepropertiesforKoomapeopletoreturntotheland.Throughastrong
relationshipwithEWB,awastemanagementprojectandanenergyprojecthavealreadybeen
successfullyimplemented.
Theenergyprojectattractedlocalmediaattentionforitsinnovation,andsponsorsVirgin
promotedtheprojectinitsDecember2009inflightmagazine.CherylBuchananandtheKTOAI
areclearwhenspeakingpubliclythattheywillcontinuetolookforcreativewaystodothings
differently,usingnewtechnologyandnewideastomeettraditionalKoomavalues

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7. DESIGNCRITERIA
Thedesigncriteriafortheenergysolutionweredevelopedtakingintoconsiderationthe
requirementsstatedinthedesignbrief,theculturalprioritiesoftheKoomanationandthe
KTOAI,theclimateandconditionsatBendeeDownsandthelocalresources.

Reductionoffutureenergyneedspowerisprojectedtobeasignificantrunningcost
foraredevelopedshearingshed.ThemainpurposeofassessingenergyatBendee
Downswasidentifiedinthedesignbriefastolowerthecostoftheproposed
infrastructure.

Sustainabilityofdesignthisisarelativelysubjectivecriterionbasedonseveral
findingsofthebackgroundanalysis:
o

TraditionalKoomalawenforcedsustainablepractices,andsustainability
continuestobeapointofimportanceandpridefortheKoomapeople.

BendeeDownsisisolated,andthedesignmustfunctioneffectivelywithout
breakingdowncausingfinancialorenvironmentaldifficulties.

Ifthedesignisnotsociallysustainableitwillceasetobeused,therefore
removinganyreductionsincost.

CompatibilitywithKoomaCulturethebackgroundanalysisdiscussedtheimportance
ofcommunitysupportinthesuccessoftheproject.Togetthatsupport,thedesign
shouldbeasourceofpridefortheKoomapeopleandcomplimentthenationssenseof
self.

PracticalandActionablethebackgroundanalysismadeclearthattherearesignificant
challengestobeovercomeinimplementinganydesign:
o

Limitedfinancialresourcesforcapitalinvestmentandrunningcosts.

Isolationthatmakeslargescaleconstructionexpensiveandongoingexpert
maintenancedifficulttoorganise.

Theclimateisdry,dustyandhasstrongstormsthathit.Designsmustberobust
enoughthattheseconditionsdontleadtodifficultmaintenancerequirements.

Thedesignteamhaslimitationsofexpertise,andproposeddesignsshouldbe
simpleenoughthatthefinaldesigncanbeimplementedwithoutsignificant
furtherresearch.
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ContributestoBendeeDownsappealasacentreforecotourismandeducation:The
overallgoalforthe2010EWBChallengeistocreateviableendeavoursattheBendee
DownsShearingShed.Itispreferablethatthedesignnotonlyhelpfacilitateecotourism
andeducationbyreducingcost,butalsothattheybepromotedthroughinnovativeand
interestingapplicationsoftechnology.

Asummaryofthefinaldesigncriteriaareprovidedinfigure8.

Figure8Designcriteriafortheprojectbasedonthebackgroundanalysis.

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8. ALTERNATIVEAPPROACHESTOMEETINGENERGYNEEDS
Thissectionprovidesanoverviewandanalysisoftheoptionsforaddressingtheissuesraisedin
theintroduction:electricitygeneration,efficientoralternativeappliancesandenergyreliability
throughstorage.
ELECTRICITYGENERATION
WINDPOWER
Windenergyisconvertedintoausefulformbyharnessingitskineticenergytodrivewind
turbines,windmillsorwindpumps.Theadvantagesofwindpowerarethelowcostforsmall
systems,zeroemissionsandeaseofmaintenance.Thedisadvantageofwindenergyisthe
intermittentnatureoftheresource.
AsdescribedinthebackgroundintoclimateatBendeeDowns,thelocalwindspeedisstable
andlow.Thepotentialpowerofwind,givenbyequation1below.
Powerwind=1/2.P.V3.A.

Equation1

Thecriticalfactortonotefromthisformulaisthatpotentialpowerisproportionaltothe
velocityofthewindcubed(Webb2007).ThisrelationshipisshowninFigure9.Theaverage
windspeedsatBendeeDownsbetween1.93.3m/smeanthatthepotentialforelectrical
generationislessthan50wattspersquaremeterforanidealwindturbine.AccordingtoBetz
law,themaximumefficiencytheoreticallypossibleis59.3%,andpracticaldesignsachievefar
lowerthanthat.Thismeansthatachievingthesameenergyproductionasproducedbythe
existingsolarpanelswouldrequirearound1000squaremetersofbladearea(.Thesefactors
combinedmeanwindisnotapracticaloptionformeetingBendeeDownsenergyneeds.

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Figure9Aplotofwindspeedsagainstpotentialpower.Thestablewindsoflessthan4meterspersecondmakewindpower
unviableatBendeeDowns.

SOLARPOWERPHOTOVOLTAICCELLS
AstheKoomapeopleandEWBnowhavecontactsandexperienceforimplementing
photovoltaiccellsatMurraMurra,anobviousoptionistoinstallfurthercellstoincreasethe
productioncapacity.Adetailedanalysisoftheperformanceandmaintenanceofthecells
alreadyinstalledhasnotyetbeenconducted,anditisrecommendedthatanonsiteevaluation
beconductedandcomparedtothesolutionsbelow.
SOLARTHERMALELECTRICITYPRODUCTION
Asolarcollectorabsorbsradiationfromthesunandconvertsittothermalheat.Theheatisthen
transferredtoamediumsuchasairorwaterandtransportedforuse.Heatcanbeuseddirectly
forheating,cookingorwashing,orthroughaheattransfersystemtoproducesteamanddrivea
turbinethatproduceselectricity.Inthissectionthepurposeistoevaluatethepotentialfor
electricitygeneration,butthesolarabsorptiontechnologiesareequallyappropriatefor
efficiencyapplicationssuchassteamcooking,waterheatingandsolarcooling.Anevaluationfor
eachofthesealternativesisexploredinthefollowingsection.
Collectorsarecategorisedasstationaryortracking.Stationarydesignsacceptsunfromthe
widestpossibleangleswithnomovingparts,whichmakesthemcheapandsimpletoconstruct.

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Trackingsystemsincorporatesensorsanddrivesystemstofollowthesunsmovement
throughoutthedaytomaximisetheenergycollected.
FLATPLATE
Flatplatecollectorspresentaflatabsorbersurfacetiltedtowardstheequatortomaximisesolar
exposure.Thedesignincorporatesaglassfrontsurfacethatallowsenergythroughtoan
absorbentblacksurfacebehind.Glasstransmits90%ofincomingshortwavesolarradiationbut
trapsalmostalllongwaveradiationemittedbytheabsorberplate(Kalogirou2004).Theenergy
istransferredintowaterorair,runningthroughtubeswithintheplatewhichistransportedout
tostoragetanks.Thissystemisthebasisformanyhotwatersystems
Theadvantagesofflatplatecollectorsaresimplicityandlowcost.Thesimpleshapeiseasierto
manufacturethanotherdesignsandcanbemadefromlowcostmaterials.Ofalldesigns,flat
platesaretheeasiesttomaintainandleastlikelytobreakdown.
Thedisadvantageofflatbedcollectorsisthelackofconcentrationofenergy,meaninglower
operationalheat.Thisoptionisappropriatefordirectapplications,butlessthanidealforpower
generation.

COMPOUNDPARABOLICCOLLECTORS
Acompoundparaboliccollector(CPC)consistsoftwoparaboliccurvesthatdeflectsunlightonto
aheatcollectionpipeflowingbetweenthem.CPCsaredesignedtoacceptincomingradiation
overawiderangeofangles(Kalogirou2004).Thiswideangleiscreatedbyreflectingraysontoa
largecentralpiperatherthanreflectingthesunontoaveryfocusedasinthetrackingsystems
describedbelow.Figure10showshowdifferentanglesoflightarecollectedbyCPCsystems.

Figure10Thedesignandfunctionofacompoundparaboliccollector(Imageavailableatwww.pet.ie/images/cpc.jpg)

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Withaconcentrationratioofupto15:1,CPCsoperateattemperaturesof60240Celsius
(Kalogirou2004).ThewiderheatcollectionpipesmakeCPCsasimpleroptiontoimplementthan
trackingsystems.CPCsteamgeneratorshavebeencitedasidealopportunitiesforpowerand
cookingapplicationsinremoteareasanddevelopingcountriesbyOommanandJayaraman
(2000).
ThedisadvantageofCPCsistheshapeofthereflectors.Parabolicmirrorsaremuchmore
difficulttoconstructthanflatbedsandmoredifficulttoclean.Thisincreasesthecostand
difficulty.
PARABOLICTROUGH
Parabolictroughs(Figure11)areahighlyreflectivematerialreflectingthesunontoavery
narrowfocuspoint,creatingimmenseheat.Ablackmetaltubeencasedbyalowpressureglass
tubeislocatedattheexactfocalpoint.Longlinesoftroughsareusedsothatonlyasingleaxis
ofrotationneedbeengaged.

Figure11Parabolictroughsarethemostwidelyusedsolarcollectorforutilityscalepowerplants.(Imagefrom
www1.eere.energy.gov)

Solartroughisthemostmatureandwidelyimplementedsolartechnology,usedinutilitysized
fieldssuchasa354megawattplantinCaliforniasMojaveDesert.However,whileparabolic
troughsystemsarecosteffectiveforutilityscalepowerplants,theyaredifficulttoscaledown.
Constructingpreciseparabolicmirrorsandaccuratetrackingarebothsignificantchallenges.
Strongframesmustbeconstructedtosupportthetroughs,whichmustwithstandstorm
conditionswithoutaffectingtheprecisionofthesystem.
Solartroughsareoneofthemostefficientcollectionsystems,butitisnotpracticaltoscalethis
systemdownforimplementationatBendeeDowns.

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LINEARFRESNAL
Fresnalsystemsuseasingletowertocollectheatfromanumbercollectors(Mills2004).Linear
Fresnalusesmanyparallelmirrorstripsthatfocusthesunontoahorizontalreceivertube
positionedonatowerabove,andparallelto,thefieldasshowninfigure12.Itcanbethoughtof
asmanysmallsectionsofparabolicreflectors.
TheconcentratingpowerofLinearFresnalsystemhassimilaradvantagestoparabolictroughs,
thoughatalowerefficiencyduetotheflatreflectivesurfaces.Theflatpanelsarealsothe
advantageofLinearFresnalsystemsoverparabolicshapes.Flatreflectorsarefareasierand
cheapertoconstruct,andcanbemountedmuchclosertotheground,loweringthematerial
costofstructure,andaremucheasiertoclean.

Figure12LinearFresnalcollectorsuseafieldofflatreflectorstofocusonacentralcollector.(www.largescalesolar.com)

LinearFresnaldesignsarethemostsuitableforBendeeDownsofthetrackingsystems
reviewed,astheyarethecheapestandeasiesttobuild,andtheeasiesttomaintain.Theyare
muchmoreefficientthanCompoundParabolicCollectors,butaremoreexpensivetoconstruct,
andrequireadditionalmaintenance.
DOUBLEAXISTRACKINGSYSTEMS
Doubleaxissystemshavethenarrowestfocalpointofalldesigns.Eachreflectortracksthesun
acrosstwoplanesandensurestoconcentratetheraysontoasmallabsorberinasinglelocation.
Thiscreatesaveryhighefficiency,andthesedesignsareobservedbyKalogirou(2004)as
perhapsthefastestgrowingdesign.Thestrengthofthesesystemsisefficiency,whichcanonly
bemaintainedthroughcontinuedprecision.Thisrequirescapitalexpenditurefor
implementation,andsignificantcosttomaintain,makingthesetechnologiesunlikelycandidates
forBendeeDowns.

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PARABOLICDISH
Parabolicdishesfocusanareaoflightontoonesinglefocuspointwithveryhighconcentration
ratios.Forasmallscaleproject,theyareverydifficulttoconstruct,andevenmoredifficultto
provideadequatestructuralsupporttowithstandstorms.
HELIOSTATFIELDCOLLECTORS
Inthisdesign,afieldofreflectorsislocatedinfrontofasinglereceivertower.Eachheliostatis
ideallycurved,andtracksthesunindependently.
Theimpracticalityofthedesignisthescaleofthecentraltower,suchasshowninfigure13,
whichcreatessignificantcapitalinvestmentupfront,andonlybenefitsfromtheeconomiesof
scaleatcapacitiesofaround10megawatts(Kalogirou2004),whichis1000timestheproposed
BendeeDownsgenerator.

Figure13HeliostatFieldsarehighlyefficientforutilityscalepowerstations,butnotpracticalforBendeeDownsunlessitis
decidedtopursuealargescalepartnershipwithasolarenergycompany.(www.gizmag.com)

SOLARTHERMALCOLLECTIONSUMMARYTABLE
ThedesignsthatstandoutasbeingthemostviableoptionsaretheFlatBed,Compound
ParabolicCollectorandtheLinearFresnalCollector.Ofthese,theflatbedistheeasiestand
cheapest,buttheleastefficient.CPChastheadvantagesofstabilityandsimplicityofdesign,
whilestillcollectingsufficientheatforavarietyofapplications,butrequiresmorecomplex
shapestoconstructandsupportinroughweather.TheLinearFresnalsystemislesscomplexto
buildthanothertrackingsystems,butthetrackingrequirementintroducesapotentialfor
maintenancethatmakeitunworkable.
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Efficiencyisnotasimportanttoourdesignascostandeaseofmaintenance,soflatbed
collectionisthemostappropriatetechnologyfortheproject.
Asummaryofthecollectortypesdiscussedaboveissetoutinfigure14.
Tracking

CollectorType

AbsorberType

Efficiency

Cost&Construction Durability&Maint.

FlatPlateCollector

Flat

Poor

Cheapestoption

Excellent

CompoundParabolic
Tubular
Collector

LowModerate

Low/MediumCost

LowMaintenance

LinearFresnal
Collector

Tubular

Moderatehigh

Medium
cost/difficulty

Moderatedifficulty

ParabolicTrough

Tubular

Excellent

Expensive/difficult
Difficult/impractical
toimplement

ParabolicDish

Point

Excellent

Impractical

Impractical

HeliostatField

Point

Excellent

Impractical

Impractical

Stationary

SingleAxis

TwoAxis

Figure14Summaryofsolarcollectortechnologies

SOLARTHERMALENERGYGENERATION
Tousetheenergycollectedusingthesolarcollectorsdescribedabove,theheatmustbe
convertedintomechanicalenergytoturnaturbine.Thisisusuallydoneusingaheatengine,but
canalsobedoneusingafanconverterorthermoelectricpile(Mills).
Thistechnologyisamaturesolartechnology,andsteamturbinesareindustrystandardincoal
andoilpowerplantsaswell.
ADVANTAGES
Theadvantagesofthissystemarethatitismaturetechnologysothereisalotofexpertisein
thefieldavailabletoproduceaneffectivedesign.Theuseofsolarpowerinanothermanner
increasestheappealofBendeeDownsforeducationalpurposes,asamultitudeofsolar
technologiesarebeingshown.TheconditionsatBendeeDownsareidealforlargesolarthermal
systems,andevenutilityscalesetups,whicharealongtermoptionfortheKTOAItopursue.
DISADVANTAGES
Thelevelofmaintenancerequiredforsolarthermalelectricitysystemsissignificant.Thehigh
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pressures,hightemperatures,largenumberofmovingpartsinthegeneratorandotherissues
meanthatexpertisemustbeavailableonsiteatalltimes.Thisposessignificantdifficultiesin
implementingasystematBendeeDowns.
Thescaleofprojecttodevelopapractical,workabledesignwasconsideredbeyondthecurrent
capabilitiesofourdesignteam.Whileitwassimpleenoughtoresearchthecomponentsthat
wouldberequired,itwouldbeasignificantsteptodescribethedetailedcomponents,
constructionandmaintenanceprocedurethatwouldfunctionadequatelyinBendeeDowns.
Giventheethicalrequirementtopracticewithinourlevelofexpertise,itwasconsidered
unlikelythatwewouldbeabletoproduceafinaldesignthatcouldbetakenandimplemented
byEWBwithoutsignificantadditionalinputfromexpertsinthistypeofsystem.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Whilesolarthermalelectricitygenerationhasbeenruledoutforthisproject,itisstilla
promisingopportunityforthefuture.Thescaleofthesystemcouldbesignificant,whichcould
beasourceoflargescaleinvestmentinthearea.TheAustralianGovernmenthasacommitment
tohave20%renewableby2020,andtherecentelectionhascreatedopportunityforregional
Australiatogetsignificantfundingforlargescaleprojects.Attractingalargesolarenergy
companyasapartnertodevelopautilityscaleprojectcouldbeconsideredasonepotential
longtermstrategyfordevelopingcommerceontheproperty.

ENERGYSTORAGE
ThelogicininstallingenergystoragesystemsatBendeeDownsistominimisethedowntime
thatcomesfromdisruptionstothesource.Astheshedmaybeusedforprogramswithmany
guests,alongdisruptionwouldbeproblematic.Energystoragesystemscaneitherbechemical,
suchasbatterytechnologies,orphysicalsolutionswheremechanicalenergyisusedtocreate
potentialenergythatcanbesaveduntilneeded.Eachofthetechnologiesinvestigatedwasruled
outasanoptionbeforedetailedresearchwascarriedoutduetofailingtomeetbasicdesign
criteriaasexplainedbelow.
PUMPEDHYDRO
Thisisthemostwidelyimplementedenergystorage.However,itrequiresareadilyavailable
watersourceandelevatedpositiontopumpwaterto,neitherofwhichBendeeDownshas.
COMPRESSEDAIR
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Inthismethod,energyisusedtopumpairintocaves,undergroundaquifersorabandoned
mines.Theairremainsunderpressureuntilelectricityisrequired,atwhichpointitisusedto
turnaturbine.Thissolutionisrelativelynewandinnovative,withpotentialforbroad
application.Itisrelativelyinexpensivecomparedtootherenergystoragemethodswhichmakes
itattractive.Thedifficultieswithsettingupacompressedairsystemarethatasuitablecavern
mustbeestablished.Giventheflat,sandynatureoftheBendeeDownsregion,alogicalsiteis
notimmediatelyevident.Thesystemrequiresexpertiseavailabletomonitorandmaintain
pressuresystemsandinstruments.Thesefactors,combinedwithpotentialculturalissuesof
renderinglargeareasoflandasunusablewereassessedtobesufficienttorulethisoptionout.
FLYWHEEL
Aflywheelusesphysicalmomentumtostoreenergyinrotation.Largeflywheelscanhold
severalkWhoursofelectricityandareinuseinmanypartsoftheworld.Themajordetraction
fromthistechnologyisthecost.Flywheelsdonotscaledownverywell,whichmakesasmall
projectlikeBendeeDownsfinanciallyunviable.
BATTERIES
Batterytechnologyisimprovingallthetime,andbatteriesarebecomingsmallerandcheaper.At
thisstage,batteriescapableofsupportingBendeeDownsforhoursatatimearecost
prohibitive.Batteriesarealsonotparticularlyneworexcitingandareunlikelytogeneratemuch
enthusiasm.

ENERGYEFFICIENCY
Anumberofstrategieswereconsideredtoreduceenergyrequirementsratherthanproducing
energy.
WATERHEATING
TheavailabilityofgovernmentrebatesforhotwatersystemsinQueenslandandtheabundance
ofsunmakesolarhotwateranattractiveoption.Itisanticipatedthattherewillbearound100
guestsaweekinBendeeDowns,andassumingaround20visitorspresentatanytime,taking3
minuteshowersdaily,thedailyrequirementofwaterisapproximately1200litres.
Theenergyforheating1200literswaterfrom30to50isabout1200x20x4.2=100800KJ

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OnedisadvantageofthisstrategyisthatinBendeeDownsthewatercomingoutoftheground
isquitehottobeginwiththroughouttheyear.Itmaynotbenecessarytoheatthewateratall
foracomfortableshower.Ifitisdeterminedthathotwaterisessential,unsophisticated
techniquessuchasusingabarrelpaintedblackarelikelytobesufficienttoattainthedesired
temperature.

SOLARPOWEREDCOOKING
Therearethreemajortypesofsolarpoweredcookingthatarewidelyinuse:thosethatuse
reflectivesolarconcentratorstoconcentratethesunspowerdirectlyontoacookingpotorpan,
insulatedboxes,andlargerscalesystemsthatcaptureheatfromafieldofcollectorsand
transferittothekitchen(Tucker1999).Therearecommerciallyavailableversionsofindirect
solarcookingsystemscomprisingflatbed,evacuatedtubeandparabolicconcentrators
(Muthusivagamietal.2010).Thelargestsolarsteamcookingsystemintheworldisinstalledin
IndiaatTirupathiDevasthanam(Muthusivagamietal.2010).Itismadeupof106parabolic
dishesthatgeneratesufficientsteamtocook30,000mealsaday.
Directsolarcookingtechnologiesaresimplebuteffective.TheKerr/Coledesignismadeofonly
glass,cardboardandaluminiumfoil.AccordingtoTucker(1999),thisdesigncanreach105
celciusevenonpartiallycloudydaysinhotregions.Therehasbeenagreatdealofresearchinto
solarcookingacrossIndiaandotherdevelopingnations,showingmixedacceptanceofthe
technology.
ProsandCons
Thelowertemperaturesthatsolarovensreachthanconventionalovens(120comparedto400
500)meanthatlessattentioncanbegiventothemealwithouttheriskofburning(Ahmad).The
disadvantagewithregardstotimeistheprepreparation,withcookingtimesthatare34times
longerthanconventionalsystems(Ahmad).
Asthesourceofheatisthesun,directsolarcookershavelittleprospectofeffectivelyregulating
heat,andthemaximumheatisfarlowerthanaconventionaloven.Theimpactofthisisthatin
ordertocookameal,familieswillstilluseconventionalmeansforsomefoods,decreasingthe
benefitofusingthesolaroven,andincreasingthepracticaldifficultiesoftimingmeals(Ahmad).
SolarcookingscanpotentiallysavesignificantenergyatBendeeDowns.Designscanbeverycost
effective,interactive,andeducational.However,tryingtoproduce150lunchesforasinglelunch
sitting,usingfieldsofsolarcookerssittingoutsidewouldprovequitecumbersome.Itisforthis

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reasonthatlargerscalesystemsareusedincommercialcontexts,andwouldincreasethecost
ofasystematBendeeDowns.
Overtime,Ahmadfoundthatotherthanobjectivereasons,themajorfactorinwhetherornot
solarcookingwasusedsustainablyasthemainstyleofcookingwasdrivenbyapracticalinterest
inusingthecooker,andthefamilystastepreferenceforthefood.AstheKoomapeopleare
motivatedtobeinnovativeandsustainable,theymaybemorelikelythanothercommunitiesto
takeitupeffectively,butthemethodofcookingisfarfromthetraditionalstyle,sotastetesting
wouldhavetobedonetoseeifitwasavalidoption.

SOLARPOWEREDCOOLING
Itisestimatedthatofallelectricityconsumedintheworld,approximately15%isusedfor
coolingandrefrigeration(Pridasawas2006).Itisalsoaperfectfitthatanincreaseinsunis
correlatedwithanincreasedcoolingload.Withsuchasignificantpartofthefutureenergy
requirementforBendeeDownslikelytobecoolingtheshed,wefeltthatanalternativeair
conditioningtechnologywasacoolidea.
Solarcoolingiscomprisedofthreecomponents:solarenergyconversion,therefrigeration
systemandthecoolingload(Pridasawas2006).Thesolarenergyconversioncaneitherbe
throughsolarthermalcollectors,asdiscussedabove,orthroughphotovoltaiccellssimilarto
whathasalreadybeeninstalledatMurraMurra.
Thereisalargenumberofexistingrefrigerationcyclesthatcanbeusedinconjunctionwithsolar
power.Thesearetabledinfigure15.

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Figure15Tableofrefrigerationcyclesthatmaybecombinedwithsolarcollectorstoproducesolarcoolingsolutions.

Understandingtheavailabletechnologiesforsolarrefrigerationandairconditioningisa
significantchallenge.TheDoctoralresearchofPridawas,andresearchatAustralianNational
Universitysuggeststhatthemostpromisingtechnologyforwideapplicationinambientcooling
isejectortechnology.ToassessthepracticalitiesofdesigninganejectorsystemforBendee
Downs,DrMikeDennisfromAustralianNationalUniversitysSolarThermalGroupwas
approachedforadvice.DrDennisisresearchingsolarejectorsystemsforwideruse,butadvised
usthatthecurrenttechnologicalprogressofsolarejectorsystemsisnotyetdevelopedenough
forimplementationinaprojectlikethis,andadvisedthatweconcentrateoureffortson
IntermittentAdsorbtionRefrigerationsystems.
Mostoftherefrigerationsystemsusingadsorptionworldwideareintermittentsystemsusing
activatedcarbon/methanol,andtheusualpurposeisforiceproduction.Adsorption
Refrigerationisrelativelysimple,maintenanceandriskfree.Thismakesitlikelytobea
sustainableoptionforBendeeDowns,andmadeitapracticalscopeofprojectforthedesign
teamsexperience.
Theadvantagesofsolarcoolingapplicationsarethattheyaddressthekeyproblemthatfaces
theKTOAIindeliveringcommercialventuresatBendeeDowns,whilebeinganinnovativeand
interestingtechnologythatcandriveinterestinthesite.

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EVALUATIONOFOPTIONS
Toevaluateeachoftheoptionsthatwereinvestigated,werankedeachideaaccordingtoeach
ofourdesigncriteria,with8pointsgiventothemostappropriatedesign,and1totheleast.
Figure16showsasummaryofresults.

Figure16SummaryTableofdesignoptionsrankingagainstdesigncriteria.

ENERGYREDUCTION
Itsclearthatthebiggestpotentialenergydifferencecouldbemadebyinstallingalargecapacity
ofsolarpower,thoughdoingsowouldcomeatconsiderableexpense.Photovoltaiccellswere
chosenforthepreviousenergyprojectbyEWBforthecapacitytoreducecost.Icemakingand
solarsteamcookingwerealsoassessedtobeeffectiveastheyaddressthetwobiggestfuture
energycostsfortheshed.
SUSTAINABILITY
InasmallcommunitylikeBendeeDowns,thekeyfeatureofsustainabilityisthatthedesign
needstofunctionalmostindefinitelywithlittletonomaintenance.Simpledesignsforhot
water,andfloorheatingwouldnotneedanyattentionafterinstallation.Interactiveoptionslike
solaricemakingandsolarcookingmaynotrequiretechnicalmaintenance,buthave
sustainabilityissuesaroundtheirsocialacceptance.Iftheyaretobesustainabledesigns,they

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wouldhavetobeembracedinthecharacterofBendeeDownsandbecomeroutineindayto
daylife.
FITSKOOMACULTURE
TheinnovativewaythattheKTOAIlookatreducingenergyneedsmeansthatitwaseasyto
comeupwithmanyideasthatwouldnotbeoffensivetotheKoomapeople.Therankingofthis
criteriawasthereforeassessedonthebasisofwhatdesignswereconsideredwouldhavethe
biggestappealtotheKoomaCommunity.Theicemakingaddsalevelofinteractivityandfun
thatmadeitthetopchoicebasedonthiscriterion.
PRACTICALANDACTIONABLE
ThisdecisionwasbasedonhoweasyitwouldbetoimplementthedesignifEWBdecidedto
moveforward.Theicemakertoppedthiscategoryduetotheverylowcostandthelowcostof
expansion.Thetechnicalexpertiserequiredtobuildicemakersisrelativelylow.
TOURISM/EDUCATIONALAPPEAL
Webasedthiscriteriaonwhichofourdesignsincreasedthecomfortofvisitors,andoradded
somethinguniquetothesite.Solaricemakingachievesbothofthese.Innovativedesignslike
energystorageandsolarthermalwouldalsopotentiallybeattractive,butlessinteractive.
FINALSELECTION
Afterassessingeachdesignbythedesigncriteria,thedecisiontofurtherdevelopsolarice
makingwasclear.Theadvantagesoftheicemakeraretheeaseofconstructionand
implementation,lowmaintenanceandrisk,combinedwiththepotentialtoaddresstheheatin
theshedinanovelwaytoattracttheattentionoftouristsandthemedia,andinspireasenseof
funandprideintheKoomapeople.

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9. DETAILSOFDESIGNSOLARADSORPTIONICEMAKER
SUMMARYOFTHEDESIGN
Thesolaradsorptionicemakerisdesignedtousepowerfromthesuntoproduceicefor
applicationinrefrigerationandcooling.
Thedesignworksinasimilarwaytotypicalrefrigerationmethodsbutinsteadofusing
conventionalcompressioncyclethedesignusesheatfromthesuntodrivetherefrigerant.
Adsorption,nottobeconfusedwithabsorption,canbeclassifiedasthebindingofparticlestoa
surface(whereasabsorptionisthefillingofporeswithinasolid).Adsorptionrefrigerationrelies
ontheadsorptionofarefrigerantgasintoanadsorbentatlowpressureandthendesorptionby
heating.Theadsorbentactsasachemicalcompressordrivenbyheat.Initsmostsimpleform
anadsorptionrefrigeratorconsistsoftwolinkedvesselsbothcontainingrefrigerantandone
containinganadsorbentmaterial(Critoph1996).
Duringtheday,heatfromthesunvaporisestherefrigerantandittravelstoasecondvessel
whereitiscondensedviaacondenser.Atnight,whenthetemperatureoftheadsorptionbed
cools,therefrigerantbeginstoreadsorbintotheadsorptionbedduetoachemicalreaction,
reducingthepressure.Thereducedpressureabovetheliquidinthesecondvesselcausesitto
boil,absorbinglargeamountsofheatandproducingtherefrigerationeffect(Dr.RobertE.
Critoph).

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION
TherearetwosolarreadsorptionicemakersthatwillbemosteffectiveatBendeeDowns.These
twodesignshavebeenchosenbyconsideringthefollowing;cost,size,amountoficeproduced
inonecycle,maintenanceandpotentialenvironmentalhazards.
Thisdesignconsistsofaboxshapedadsorbentbedmadeofstainlesssteelwithasurfaceareaof
roughly1m2.Thefaceoftheadsorbentbeddirectedatthesunwillbesealedwithatransparent
sheettocontaintheadsorbentandrefrigerant,maintainpressureinthesystemwhilestill
allowinglighttopermeateitssurface.UVstabilisedPolycarbonatecouldbeusedasitiseasily
obtainedandhasapermeabilityof88%withregardtolightinthe400nm800nmwavelength
region.Alternatively,temperedglasscanbeusedasacheaperoptionwithminimallossof
efficiency.Stainlesssteelfinsareplacedatintervalsthroughouttheadsorbenttoallowbetter
heattransferbetweenthefacesidewherelightisincidentandtheinternaladsorbentmaterial.
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Thecondenserismadefrom18mmdiametercopperpipewithaluminiumfins.Thiscreatesa
largesurfaceareaformaximumheatdissipation.Theevaporatorisawellinsulatedcontainer
wheresealedbagsofwatercanbeplacedinthedaycycletobefrozenduringthenightcycle.
Theoveralldimensionsareapproximately1.5mtall,1mwideand0.5mdeep.Figure17shows
thebasicdesignlayout.

Figure17Frontandsideviewsshowingthebasicdesignoftheproposedflatbedsolaradsorptionicemaker.

ADSORBENTANDREFRIGERANT
RefrigerantAdsorbentpairsusedinsolaradsorptionapplicationstendtobepolar,oflow
molecularweightandhaveahighlatentheatofvaporisation.Thisissothatthemaximum
possibleamountoftheheatincidentontheapparatusisusedfordesorptionandonlysmall
amountsofenergyarewasted(Critoph1996).Somecommonadsorbent/refrigerantpairs
includeammoniacarbon,ammoniasalts,methanolcarbonandzeolitewater(Critoph1996).
Ammoniahasahighlatentheatofvaporisation,3/5thatofwater.Thismakesitagood
candidateforourrefrigerantasitcantransferlargeamountsofheatoutofthewaterweare
tryingtofreeze,whenitboilsintheevaporationchamber.Ammoniaisalsoverycheapand
easilyobtainedfrommostgassuppliers.Thedownsideisthatammoniacanbedangerousif
propersafetyprecautionsarenottaken.Ifexposedinhighenoughconcentrations,ammonia
cancauseirritationoftheeyes,noseandthroatandpossiblyblindnessifexposedtolarge
enoughquantities.Ammoniahasaverypungentodorsoaleakcanbeeasilydetectedandis
alsoextremelymiscibleinwatersoareliablewatersourceshouldbeavailableincloseproximity
tothesystemintheeventofalargeleak.Ammoniawillreadilycombinewithwaterinthe
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naturalenvironmentsosmallleaksareofnorealdangertohumansbutmayaffectsurrounding
ecosystems(JaroslavVanek1996).
Flatplatesystemsusuallyuseamethanolcarbonpairastherefrigerantandadsorbentmaterial.
Thecarbonusediscalledactivatedcarbon.Itisaformofcarbonthathasbeenprocessedto
greatlyincreaseitsurfaceareaandporosity.Itisproducedbycarbonizingandpyrolisingorganic
materialsorsyntheticfibresattemperaturesbetween700800Candcomesinmanyforms
includingpowders,granularorcarbonfibers(L.W.Wang2003).Thedesignshowntakes
powderedactivatedcarbonandpressesitintotheadsorptionbedmouldtoproducea
monolithiccarbonstructure.Theadvantageofusingactivatedcarbon,insteadofasaltsuchas
calciumchloride,isthatitcanbeproducedfrommaterialsfoundonBendeeDowns.An
incineratorcouldbedesignedtotakeorganicmattercollectedfromthepropertyandturnitinto
aproductthatcouldbeusedinthemanufactureofasolaradsorptionicemaker.Thiswouldbe
verybeneficialfinanciallyandmeansthatifasourcesustainablesourceoforganicmattercanbe
foundonoraroundtheproperty,solaricemakerscouldcontinuetobeproducedasdemand
increaseswithouthavingtobuyinmorerawmaterials.
Methanolisanalternativerefrigerantusedinsomesolaricemakersandistherefrigerant
chosenfortheflatplatedesign.Methanolhassomekeyadvantagesoverammonia.Itisless
toxic,meaningitissafertohandleandifthereisleaksinthesystemitposeslessofathreatto
thesurroundingenvironment.Onthedownsideitdoeshavealowerlatentheatofvaporisation
ataround80percentthatofammonia.Thismeanslessthermalenergycanbetakenoutofthe
waterwearetryingtofreezeasthemethanolboilsoutoftheevaporationchambertherefore
lessiceisproduced.
Figure18showsacomparisonbetweentheammoniaandmethanolinregardstokey
parametersforasolaradsorptionicemaker.

Figure18ComparisonbetweenAmmoniaandMethanolastheworkingrefrigerant.

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PLATEVS.PARABOLIC
Thecostofboththeflatplateandparabolicdesignsisrelativelylowat$400and$800(AUD)
respectively(JaroslavVanek1996,M.Li2004).
Asdescribedinthesolarthermalcollectionevaluationabove,thereisatradeoffbetween
practicalityandefficiencybetweenplateandparaboliccollectors.
Whentestedunderlabconditionsaprototypeoftheflatplatedesign,developedbystudentsat
theuniversityofKunmingandShanghai,produced67kgoficepercyclewhenradiationincident
ontheadsorptionbedwasbetween1720MJ/m^2(M.Li2004).Table4.5oftheAustralianSolar
RadiationDataHandbook(ASRDH)showsthatBrisbanereceivesandailyirradiation(MJ/m2.)on
anorthfacingplaneinclinedatlatitudeangle,ofbetweenapproximately1622MJ/m2perday
(Pridasawas2006).Thisiscomparabletotheamountofheatincidentontheflatplatesolar
icemakerduringtestingsowecanusetheirresultswithconfidencetocontinueourdesign.If
suchadesignwasimplementedformaximumsunabsorptiontheinclineoftheadsorptionbed
shouldbeatlatitudeangle.
Twoseparateinstallationsofaparabolicdesignhavebeeninstalledfordairyfarmersinrural
Kenyaandhaveshowndailyiceproductionofbetween1729kgoficeperdayperunit.Thisisa
lothigherthantheiceproductionoftheflatplatedesignbutfarmersrecordedthatice
productionsignificantlydecreasedafterafewmonthsofoperation,notduetocloudydays,but
toadecreaseinmirrorreflectivity(Erickson).Thisshowsthattokeeptheparabolicicemakers
runningatfullcapacity,constantmaintenanceisrequiredwhiletheflatplatedesignrequires
littletonomaintenance.Theflatbeddesignisalsocompactandportable,twocharacteristics
theparabolicdesignlacks.
Theflatplatedesignismodular,scalableandportable.Unitsarecheap,easytoconstructand
littletonomaintenanceisneeded.Iftheactivatedcarbonusedastheadsorbentinthesystem
canbesourcedsustainablyfromorganicmaterialfoundonthepropertythenproductioncosts
willdecreasedramatically.Methanolisalsolesstoxicthantheammoniausedintheparabolic
design,whichisbetterforthesurroundingenvironmentshouldaleakoccur.Themoduleis100
percentrecyclableorbiodegradablesoafteritslifespan,itcanbetakenapartanditsindividual
componentsrecycledorreturnedtotheland.
MATERIALSANDCONSTRUCTION
Thissectionprovidesabillofmaterials(figure19)andrecommendationsonobtainingmaterials
andconstruction.DetailedconstructionplansandprocedurecanbefoundinAppendixII.

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BILLOFMATERIALS

Figure19BillofMaterials

Whileitwouldbeidealtouselocallyavailablematerialsforconstructiontominimisecostand
environmentalimpactofproducingthesolaricemakers,mostofthematerialsusedtoconstruct
thedeviceareimpracticaltoproduceatBendeeDowns.Glass,stainlesssteel,coppertubingand
fittingswouldallrequirepurchasingandtransportingtothesite.

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Longerterm,itmaybepossibletoproduceactivatedcarbonatBendeeDowns.Activatedcarbon
ismadebypyrolisingandcarbonisingorganicmaterialsattemperaturesbetween600900
degreesCelsius.Thisproducesaproductthathasanextremelylargesurfaceareaandcanis
usedinmanyapplicationsbecauseofitshighadsorbentproperties.
AsustainablecropoforganicmaterialcouldbeproducedinBendeeDownsifasuitable
plantationfortheregioncouldbedeveloped.Thelocalmaterialcombinedwithasmallfurnace
andsimplemanufacturingprocedurecouldbedevelopedtoproduceactivatedcarbonwhich
couldbeusedintheproductionofthesolaricemaker.IthasbeenshowninNarrogin,Western
Australia,thatMalleetreesgrowninplantationcanbeusedtoproduceenergyandactivated
carboninanintegratedpowerstation.Methanolcouldbemadefromlocalorganicmaterialsas
wellbuttheprocessismoredifficultanddangeroussothisisnotadvised.
CONSTRUCTION
Itispossible,andrecommended,toconstructtheicemakersonsiteatBendeeDowns.The
constructionoficemakerscouldbecomearegularactivityforvisitorsandstudents,andthe
numberoftasksthatmustbecompletedoffsitebeforetransportingtoBendeeDownscouldbe
reducedovertimeasappropriateskillsandtoolsbecameavailablelocally.Thenecessary
specialisedskillsandtoolsrequiredforthecompleteconstructionare:

stainlesssteelweldingforabsorptionbedandevaporator

adrillwithfittingtodrillinchholesineachvessel

flaringdeviceforcopperpiping

vacuumpump

Allotherelementsofconstructionarestraightforwardandjustrequireexperienceand
instruction.Fortheconstructionoftheprototype,weldingwasarrangedthroughexperienced
tradesmen,andtheremainingconstructionwasdonebythedesignteam.
Thoughthecompletedicemakertakesupaboutonecubicmeter,thecomponentscanbe
transportedflat,andmaterialsforseveralicemakerscouldbetransportedonasinglepickup
truckfromBrisbane.

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ICEAPPLICATIONS
Therearetwomainwaysthattheiceproducedbytheadsorptioncyclecanbeusedtoreduce
energyconsumption:refrigerationandcooling.
Accordingthewholesystem,theiceweneedtocoolandkeepthefoodfreshisabout350dm3
perdayandweneed6airconditions,2fridges.Asweknowthissystem,foreachaircondition
thecostisabout$150includesfan($50),pipes($20),pump($30)andothermaterials($50).The
costforfridgeishardtocalculate,becausewedontknowhowmuchwecangetanoldchest
freezer.Wecanassumeeachfridgeis150$,soforcoolingsystemthetotalcostisabout
1000$AUS.Ifweinstallthecoolingsystembyourselves,itshouldcostus1week.
APPLICATIONFORREFRIGERATION
Priortotheinventionofthemodernmechanicalrefrigerator,naturalicerefrigerationwas
widelyused(Althouseetal.1992).Anicefridgeconsistsofaninsulatedcabinetequippedwitha
trayforholdingiceatthetopandshelvesforholdingfoodanddrinksbelow.Thedesignand
functionofanaturalicerefrigeratorareshowninfigure20.Coldairflowsdownwardsfromthe
iceandcoolsthecontentsofthefridge.Astheairwarmsitrisestothetopwhereitiscooledby
theiceagaintorepeatthecycle.Icerefrigerationhastheadvantageofretaininghighhumidity
inside,keepingfoodsfromdryingoutforlongerthanmodernrefrigerators(Althouseetal.
1992).

Figure20Designofanaturalicerefrigerator(Althouseetal.1992).

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Toreducethecostoficefridgesitisproposedtomanufacturethembyrecyclingoldchest
freezersastheinsulatedboxfortherefrigerationdesign.Notonlydoesthisreducethecost,but
italsopromotesrecyclingandisinkeepingwiththesustainabilityoftheproject.Toconverta
recycledicechest,anoutletpipemustbeaddedtodrainthemeltediceintoacontainerforthe
nexticemakingcycle.
Itisestimatedthatperpersonperweekconsumptionofdailystaplesis2.25poundsof
potatoes,2.23poundsofbeefand1.92poundsoffreshvegetableand1.53poundsoffreshfruit
and0.23poundsofcerealand6eggs.Becausethereare20peoplelivingthere,thetotalfood
forthemis45poundspotatoes,44.6poundsbeef,38.4poundsfreshvegetable,30.6pounds
freshfruit,4.6poundscerealand120eggs.
Tomeetthisrequirement,twofridgeswouldberequired.Thevolumeofeachinsulationbox
wouldbe300dm3eachandtheiceshouldbe100dm3,becausewedontwanttoaddtheice
manytimes.

APPLICATIONFORPERSONALCOOLING
Theprincipleoftheaircoolerisusingtheicetocooltheairandusethefanblowthecoldair
directlyontopeopleintheshedtoalleviatetheheat.Figure21showsasimpleexampledesign.

Figure21Basicnaturaliceairconditionerdesign

Thesystemincludesafan,atinypumpandaboxtodeposittheice.
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Coldwaterisheldinaninsulatedcontainercontainingasmallpump.Thewaterispumped
throughacopperpipethatiswoundbackandforthinfrontofthefan.Theaircoolsasitpasses
overthepipeandblowscoldontotheuser.Thedeviceiseasytomanufacture,cheap,uses
minimalpoweranddoesntwasteanywater
OTHERUSES

Theicemakercanbeusedtoconductfunactivitieswithgroupsofyoung(oryoungat
heart)visitors.Theguestscanplaceunfrozenicypolesintotheevaporatoroftheice
makeranditisplacedinthesun.Whentheregenerationcycleiscomplete,theice
makercanbecoveredtoinducerefrigeration,andtheguestscancollecttheirsun
frozentreat.

EcotourismatBendeeDownsmayincludehunting.Onlongerhuntingtrips,icecanbe
takenininsulatedcontainerstokeepthecatchfreshuntilitcanbereturnedtothe
campwiththesuccessfulhunters.

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10. COMMUNICATIONANDIMPLEMENTATION
Communicationiscriticaltodeliveringaneffectiveproject.BuyinfromtheKoomapeoplewill
makesolaricebasedcoolingandrefrigerationpartofthecharacterofBendeeDowns,anda
driverofecotourism,educationandemployment.
POTENTIALRESISTANCE
Asdiscussedinthebackgroundanalysis,theKoomapeopledonotapproachproblemsinthe
samewayasWesterncultures.Ifthedesigniscommunicatedasafinalsolutionthathasbeen
developedwithoutinputfromtheKoomacommunity,itisnotlikelytobereceivedwell.
IndigenousAustralianswanttobeengagedandconsultedinworkingthroughissues.
Additionally,themediumforcommunicatingthedesignandhowitbenefitsthecommunityis
important.IndigenousAustralianstraditionallylearnthroughstorytelling,imitatingandtrying.
Atechnicalreportontheprinciplesofsolaradsorptionisunlikelytogeneratemuchenthusiasm,
whilefacetofaceconsultation,engagingthewidercommunitythroughEmuFest,showinghow
thedesignworksthroughdemonstrationandgivingpeopletheopportunitytotryoutand
interactwiththedesignismuchmorelikelytogetcommunityinterest.
COMMUNICATIONSTRATEGY
AboriginaleldersplayacriticalroleinleadershipanddecisionmakinginAboriginalcommunities
(McKellar1984),andthefocusofcommunicationfortheprojectwillbehighlightingthe
alignmentbetweentheproposedsolutionandtheKTOAIsvisionforBendeeDowns.
IntheKTOAIBusinessManagementPlan(2003),thekeygoalsarelistedas:

SeeingKoomapeopleofallageslivingandworkingatBendeeDownsandMurraMurra
Runningsuccessful,environmentalsensitivecommercialenterprisesonBendeeDowns
Runningsuccessfulcultural,socialandenvironmentalprograms.

CherylBuchananisthechairpersonoftheKTOAI.MsBuchananhasbeenadrivingforcebehind
gettingpeoplebacktotheland,andanoutspokenadvocateofinnovationandcreativitytodo
so.A2009articleinVirginsinflightmagazinequotesMsBuchanansperspectiveonthe
installationofsolarpowerinKoomacountry;Theprojectisaboutshowingotherpeoplein
remoteareasthatwecandobusinessinadifferentway(EWB,2010).
Outlinedbelowarethekeywaysinwhichsolariceapplicationscontributetoadvancingthe
objectivesoftheKTOAI.

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THECOMMUNICATIONMESSAGE
COOLINGCOMFORTSATTHESHEARINGSHEDAREVITAL
TogetmoreKoomapeoplebacktotheland,thereneedstobemoreopportunityfor
employmentandeducation.TheKTOAIsgoalistoachievethisthroughecotourism,cultureand
educationattheBendeeDownsShearingShed.
Atthe2009EWBChallengeawardspresentationCherylBuchanangaveashortpresentationto
introducethe2010ChallengeandtheaspirationsoftheKoomapeoplefortheproject.Among
MsBuchanansfirstwordswerethechallengeoutthereistheheat(EWB,2010).Theclimate
ishotanddry,andacoolingstrategyisneededtomaketheshedcomfortableforthe
communityandpracticalforvisitingresearchersandecotourists.Thereareafewoptionsto
achievethis:
Buildingdesignalterationsaspursuedbyotherprojectteams
o Insulationcanmakehomes7coolerinsummer(Greensolutions,2010)andas
theshedismadeoftinthepotentialimprovementisevengreater.
o Insulationisaprerequisitetocooling,aswithoutitcoolairwillquicklybelost.
o Completerebuildingoftheshedisundesirableduetotheculturalandhistorical
valueofthebuilding.
o Passivesolarmeasuresalonewillnotpreventtheshedfrombeing
uncomfortableonmostsummerdays.
Refrigeratedairconditioners
o Thequickestwaytocoolclosedspaces.
o Energyintensive.
o Therunningcostofcoolinganareathesizeoftheshearingshedusing
refrigeratedcoolingisprohibitive.
Evaporativeairconditioners
o Slightlylesseffectivethanrefrigeratedairconditioners,butuse80%less
electricity.
o WaterisscarceinBendeeDowns,soevaporativecoolingusinglargevolumesof
waterposesdifficulties.
ElectricFans
o Mosteconomicalandenvironmentallyfriendlyoptionusinglessthan5%ofthe
energyofrefrigeratedairconditioners.
o Donthaveappreciableimpactonthetemperature,butimprovecomfortlevels
bycirculatingtheair.
Solaricebasedcoolingusesonlytheenergyrequirementsoffans,bututilisesthecoolnessof
icetoprovideafarhigherlevelofcomfort.
Afterinitialsetup,energyiscapturedandstoredasiceeverydaywithnopowerinput,
nomovingpartsornoiseandnoenvironmentalimpact.
Littleornowaterislostasitaclosedsystem.
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ATTRACTINGANDKEEPINGECOTOURISTS
TheisolationanduniquewildlifeforBendeeDownsmakeitanattractivedestinationforeco
tourists.AresearchintoAmericanecotourismtrendsfoundthateveryonewantstogowhere
nooneelseis(Barker,1999).However,Barkeralsoemphasisesthatthemajorityofecotourists
wanttomaintaincreaturecomfortswhileontour.Comfortabletemperaturesintheshedare
thereforeanimportantsellingpoint.
Acoolingsystembasedonsolaricewillalsobeauniquesellingpointtoenvironmentally
conscioustravelers,formingpartoftheexperienceaswellasmakingtheirstaycomfortable.
GuestscouldbegivenaportableicedrivenairconditionerwhenarrivingatBendeeDowns,and
bebriefedonthesustainabletechnologybehindthesystem.Theguestwouldthenneedto
exchangetheirspenticepackforfreshicewhentheycameoutforbreakfast.Thiswouldbea
dailyreminderoftheenvironmentalsustainabilityoftheirholiday.
BendeeDownshasalreadydevelopedareputationforenergyefficiencybothlocallyandinthe
localmedia(EWB2010).Afurtherinnovationlikesolaricebasedcoolingwillenhancethat
brandandmakeBendeeDownsastandoutdestination.
BUILDINGEDUCATIONOPPORTUNITIESTHROUGHRENEWABLEENERGY
Duringtheimplementationofsolarpanels,neighbouringpropertyownersbecameinterested
andtheKoomapeoplebecameknownasenergyinnovatorsintheregion(EWB,2010).
AwarenessprogramscalledGreenschoolandEmufestweresetupandverywellreceivedby
thecommunity.TheseprogramscontinuetobesupportedbyEWBanddemonstratethe
potentialforeducationbasedonenergyefficiencyandenvironmentalsustainability.
Solaricemakingtechnologytakesthesolarconnectionfurther,andcreatesanotheravenueof
handsoneducation.Solariceandicepoweredcoolingismoreinteractivethansolarpanels,
andactivitieslikemakingsolarpoweredicypolescanmakethelessonmemorable.
RenewableenergyeducationandtheuniquewayitisappliedatBendeeDownscanleadto
partnerprogramswithsecondaryschoolsandfurthereducationinstitutions.TheQueensland
DepartmentforEducationandTraininghasa$60millionprogramtoputsolarpanelsand
efficiencymeasuresineveryStateschool(QueenslandDepartmentofEducationandTraining,
2010),andthereisacurriculumfocusonsustainability,with2010namedYESYearof
EnvironmentalSustainability.VisitingBendeeDownscouldbeaninteractivelearningexperience
forotherschools,toseetheapplicationofsolarpanelsandsolaricemaking,andtopromote
culturalunderstanding.
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TAFEQueenslandoffersCertificateIIinSustainableEnergyinQueensland(TAFEQueensland,
2010).ForgingapartnershipwithTAFEQueenslandwouldcreateanopportunityfor
metropolitanstudentsspendtimeontheproperty,andprovidesapathwayforaspiringKooma
students.
Buildingsuccessfuleducationalpartnershipscouldseeregularvisitors,andisapreludetoformal
educationopportunitiesforKoomapeopleontheland.

COMMUNICATIONFORUM
ThefirststageofcommunicatingthedesignisthroughtheKTOAI.Asdiscussedabove,the
Koomaeldersarethekeytogettingcommunitysupport,andfurthercommunicationshouldbe
brainstormedwithKoomaelders,anddeliveredalongsideKoomaelders.
OnewayforustoworkwiththeKTOAItogetcommunityexcitementaboutthedesignis
throughaninteractivesessionatEmuFest.EmuFestisanannualfestivaltopromote
Indigenoushealthandwellbeing,cultures,unityandselfdetermination,intergenerational
learningandhealthylifestyles(QueenslandGovernment,2008).
In2009,EWBvolunteersheldsessionsthatguidedlocalsonhowtomeettheirenergyneedsin
asustainableway(EmuFestNewsletter,2009).Youngstersweretaughtthebasicsofrenewable
versusnonrenewableenergy,andengagedindiscussiononthepracticeandimportanceof
energyconservation.
Thiseventcontinuestobeverywellreceived(EWB2010),andEWBplantocontinue
contributingtoEmuFestandGreenSchool.
PROJECTEDRESPONSEFROMTHEKOOMAPEOPLE
ItisimportanttoconsiderhowtheKoomapeoplemayrespondtotheproposal,andwhat
communicationchallengesmayneedtobeovercome.
POSITIVES
BasedonthetraditionsandaspirationsoftheKoomapeopleandtheKTOAI,severalaspectsof
thesolaricemakerarelikelytobemetwithenthusiasm:

Education:

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mosttraditionallearningexperiencesarethroughstorytelling,observations,
imitationandtrial.Theicemakerisasimple,handsonexperience.Wateris
placedintotheicemachineandafterarefrigerationcycle,theicecanbetaken
outandusedforcooling.

Boththeicemakeritselfandthecoolersaresimpleandeasytounderstand.
Theyarevisualtools,whichwillbeeasytoacceptandinterestingeducational
experiences.

Thecoolerscanbemadeverysmall.Asmallversioncanbeconstructedandgiventothe
KTOAItotakeawayanddemonstratetoothersinthecommunity.Theeaseoftheelders
takingownershipofcommunicatingthepositiveaspectsmakesitagoodfitwiththe
Koomaculture.

NEXTSTEPSFORTHEKOOMAPEOPLE

Reviewthedesignoftheicemaker,refrigeratorandcoolerandproduceaprototypeof
eachatBendeeDowns.

KTOAIandEWBtomeettodiscussanimplementationandcommunicationplan

PlantointroducetheideaatEmuFestoranothercommunityeventwheretheideacan
bediscussedandideasshared

SubmitfundingproposaltotheQueenslandSustainableEnergyInnovationFund(QSEIF)

Reviewanysuggestionsforamendmentstothedesignanddecideontheinitialnumber
ofcoolersandrefrigeratorsrequired.

Usethespecificationsprovidedtobulkorderthematerialsforproduction

Finaliseaplanforthepurposesthattheicewillbeusedfor,andarosterforloadingand
distributingice.

Holdtrainingsessionsforhowtocollecttheice,andhowtoworkanicefridge.

Haveanofficiallaunchoftheicemakers
o

InviteEWB,neighbours,Koomapeoplefromonandofftheproperty

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Sendamediarelease

InviteVirginrepresentativestoseethenextstepofwhattheyhelpedtostart.

InvitepoliticalfiguresPeterGarret,JuliaGillard,Staterepresentatives

Writelettersofintroductionandinvitationtolocalandregionalschoolstoinvitegroups
ofstudentstovisitBendeeDowns.

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11. EVALUATION
ENGAGEMENTWITHTHEKOOMACOMMUNITYDURINGTHEPROJECT
Asdirectcommunicationwasimpracticalduringtheproject,thevisionoftheelderswas
investigatedbyalternativemeansduringtheproject.VideosofCherylBuchanantalkingatthe
2009EWBChallengeawardspresentation,andpresentingtoaQueenslandprimaryschoolgive
agoodimpressionofthelevelofinnovationandenergythattheKoomaeldershave.
TheKTOAIManagementPlanwasalsoreviewed,andanyunansweredquestionswerepursued
throughtheEWBdiscussionpagewherewesoughtclarificationofwhatisimportant,whereour
questionhadnotaskedbyotherparticipantsandalreadyanswered.DanLodenwasableto
providetimelyfeedbackontheissuesthatwerefaced,andtoensurethatouranalysisofthe
backgroundandcultureoftheKoomapeoplewasaccurate.
Thissituationwasworkable,andwefeltthatwehadagoodunderstandingoftheaspirationsof
thepeople.However,infutureprojectsourteamfeltitwouldbeevenbetterifwecouldgoto
thelocationandspendtimeseeingthesiteandexperiencingthelandandthecommunitythat
weweredesigningwithandfor.
Aswellasgettingaclearunderstandingofthephysicalsituationandlayout,theAboriginal
culturehasagreatrespectfortheirland,andwefeelthatthepeoplewouldbemorelikelyto
engagewithourideasiftheyknewwehadseenandfelttheenergyintheirlandtoo.Itwould
alsobebeneficialtosharesomeofourideasdirectlywiththeeldersandseetheirimmediate
reactions.Ifwecouldknowwhatideasexcitethem,thenanevenbettersolutioncanbe
reachedmorequickly.
STRENGTHSANDWEAKNESSESOFDESIGN
STRENGTHS
Thedesignissimple,scalableandpractical.Apilotversionofthesystemandprocesscanbeput
inplaceatBendeeDownsforlessthan$1000,withonlyamodestinputofexpertise.
Thepersonalcoolingsystemhasthepotentialtoavoidorreducetheneedforambientcooling
intheshed.Thiswouldmakesignificantreductionsinfutureenergyuse.
Thesystemcanprotectourenvironment

Lowerpowerusereducesthegreenhousegasemissionstheshedisresponsiblefor
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Nonevaporativecoolingreduceswaterwastage.

Oncethebasicsofthesolutionareunderstood,thetechnologyisunsophisticatedandextremely
easytomaintain.Thisincreasesthechancethatthedesignwillbeusedsustainablyandbe
effectivelongterm.
Thesystemhasalotofnoveltyandappeal,whichcanassistinpromotingeducationandattract
peopletoBendeeDownsasanecotourismlocation.
WEAKNESSES
Theadsorbtionmethodthatisbeingproposeddoesnotseemtobetheidealoptionforlarge
scaleambientcooling.Onemeasureofairconditioningandrefrigerationpoweristhetonof
refrigerationeffect,whichequatesthecoolingenergyprovidedtotheequivalentnumberof
tonsoficeovera24hourperiod(Althouseetal.1992).However,toeffectivelyreducethe
coolingneedsoftheshed,anovelmethodfordirectcoolingusingiceandfansisproposedto
offercomforttoguestswithouttryingtocoolsuchalargevolumeofair.
Thisapproachtocooling,andtheuseoficeforrefrigeration,hasthepotentialtogreatlyreduce
theenergyneedsoftheshearingshed,andhasalotofnovelappealtopromotetovisitorsand
themedia.
Thoughthenoveltyappealwillattractinterestfromthelocalcommunityandpotentially
attentionfromthemediaandsurroundingneighbours,thenatureofintermittenticemaking
requiresongoingdisciplinetoloadtheevaporatorandmakeuseoftheice.Theinteractive
natureofthedesignisthereforeapotentialdisadvantageaswellasastrength.
Therewillbeinconsistencyinhowmuchiceisneededatanyonetimeasitvarieswiththe
numberofguests,theheatandthewaythefridgeandcoolersareoperated.

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EVALUATIONAGAINSTDESIGNCRITERIA
EVALUATIONPLAN
Oncetheinitialdesignforthesolaradsorptionicemakerwasdeveloped,aprocessofevaluation
andimprovementwasconductedtodevelopaprototype.Figure22showsthekeyelementsof
thisprocess.Theobjectiveofthissectionistodiscusstherationaleforthedesignchoicesthat
weremade,andtoevaluatethefinaldesignagainstthedesigncriteria.

Figure22Thedesignprocessusedtodevelopthesolaricemaker(Mohanetal.2007)

DESIGNEVALUATIONANDMODIFICATIONPROCESS
ThefirstdraftwasdraftedbasedonadesignthatwasoutlinedinAppliedThermalEngineering
Developmentofanovalvesolaricemaker(M.Li2004).Thisdesignwassimple,andenabled
ustodevelopaconceptfromwhichtowork.Thedesignwasreevaluatedaftereach
amendmentbasedonthedesigncriteria.Thefollowingquestionswereconsidered:

Practicalandactionable
o

Canwegetthiscomponent?

Isthereacheaperoptionavailable?

Isthereasimplerwaytoachievethesameresult?

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Reductionoffutureenergyneeds
o

Howmuchicecanbeproduced?

Cantheefficiencybeimproved?

SustainabilityofDesign
o

Willtherebeanymaintenanceissueswithanycomponent?

Howdifficultisthedevicetooperatedaytoday?Canthisbeimproved?

Cananycomponentsbemadelocally,sourcedlocally,orconstructedlocally?

DesignfitswiththetraditionalandmodernKoomaCulture
o

IsthereanycomponentthatisobjectionabletotheKoomaCulture?

Canthedevicebemademoreinteractiveandeducational?

ContributestoBendeeDownsappealasanecotourismandeducationalcentre
o

Canthedevicebemademoreattractive?

Cananyadditionalinnovationmakethedevicemoreinteresting?

EVALUATIONRESULTSANDMODIFICATIONS
PRACTICALANDACTIONABLE

ChoiceofspecificformofActivatedCarbon
o

Activatedcarbonwasinitiallythemostexpensivecomponentofthedevicewith
quotedpricesof$300.

Thesizeofgranuleswasaproblem,asthefalsebottomhadtobemadeofa
meshtosupportthesubstance,andthefinepowdercouldpassthrougheven
thefinestsecuritymeshwehadseen.

Thefinalsolutionwastousequitebiggranules,whichwerefarcheaper($103
for20kg)andwereabletobesupportedbyreadilyavailablematerials.

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Connectingcoppertubingtostainlesssteelcomponents
o

Ourinitialdesignswereunclearastothepracticalitiesofattachingallofthe
componentstogether.Closeinspectionandadvicerevealedthatwedidntyet
haveamodelthatwouldfunction.

ThefinalsolutionwasdevelopedinconsultationwithAPGPlumbingtocreatea
seamlesspathfromabsorptionbedtocondenser.

FrontPanel
o

Theinitialdesignusedasynthetictransparentcovertothesolarabsorptionbed.
Thiswasintendedtoprovidebetterenergytransferthanglass.

Itwasdiscoveredthattheclearacrylicthathadbeenearmarkedwas
susceptibletocorrodinginmethanol.Itwasatthispointthatallcomponents
hadtobeevaluatedforcorrodibilityandthiswasdiscoveredtobeanissuefor
sealantaswell.

Thefinalprototypehasbeenconstructedusingatoughenedglassfrontwhichis
allowsaround85%ofradiationthroughandispricedat$65persquaremeter
aroundhalftheretailpriceofappropriatesyntheticmaterials.

AccessValve
o

Akeychallengeintheearlydesignswashowtocreateavacuuminthevessel
andhowtochargethemethanolinside.

Theoriginalconceptwastoaccessthevesselusingsingleusecopperpipesthat
wouldbecrimpedtosealthemoncethemethanolwascharged.

Thismethodwascheapandcouldpotentiallywork,butishardertocontrolthan
othermethods.Therecommendeddesignistoinstallapermanentservice
valve,towhichtestingmanifolds,vacuumpumpsandchargingvesselscanbe
attached.Thisallowsmorecontroltobekeptovertheoperatingconditionsof
thevessel,andmeasurementscanbetakentoensurethedeviceisingood
workingorder.

Wheels
o

Itwasinitiallyintendedtoattachcastorwheelstothemodel.

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ThegroundconditionsatBendeeDownsmeanthatcheap,simplewheelsare
likelytobecomeboggedquitequickly,sothewheelswereremovedfromthe
design.

REDUCTIONOFFUTUREENERGYNEEDS
TheProjectedEnergyRequirementsectionnotedthat46%oftheelectricityrequirementislikely
tobecoolingandrefrigerationintheshed.Thetwokeyquestionstobeassessedarewhether
theutilisationoftheiceremovesthatcostandwhetherthedesignproducessufficienticetouse
inthoseapplications.
Thedesignuponwhichtheinitialprototypewasbasedwassubjectedtosignificanttestingin
conditionsverysimilartotheclimateatBendeeDowns.Theamountoficeproducedundertest
conditionsistabledinfigure23.Thetestsshowedthat47kgcouldbeproducedbytheice
makereachcycle.Itiswiththesefiguresthatthefinancialanalysisisdocumentedinthis
section.

Figure23Experimentalvolumeoficeproducedbysolaricemaker(M.Li2004)

Duetothesimilaritiesofthetestconditions,thesefigureswereassessedtoberelevanttothe
proposedprototype,andtheiceproductionwasprojectedtobesufficientfortheproposed
applications.
CONTRIBUTIONTOBENDEEDOWNSAPPEALASECOTOURISMDESTINATIONAND
EDUCATIONCENTRE
Theimportanceofmakingvisitorscomfortableintheshearingshedcannotbeoveremphasised.
Ourresearchaboveshowedthatecotouristsasagrouptendtorequirethatthedestination
haveadegreeofcomfort,andthatmeansthatextremehightemperaturesintheshedmustbe
dealtwith.Thedirectcoolingfromicecooledfansprovidesthatcooling.
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Thesolaricemakingconceptcanbepromotedasasellingpointtoecotourists.BendeeDowns
alreadyhasgainedmediaattentionforbeinginnovativeandthesolaricemakercancapitalise
on,andenhance,thatpublicimage.ForguestsatBendeeDowns,thedailytaskofloadingice
makersandtransferringicetocoolersandrefrigeratorswouldbeadailyreminderoftheeco
friendlynatureoftheirvisit.

Asthesolaricemakerandtheapplicationsoficearehandsontechnologies,theyare
complimentarywitheducation.Forguestsatthecentre,itwillbeaninterestinglearning
experienceinsustainability,andthenovelapproachcanbeusedtoattractvisitsfromregional
schoolstoseehowBendeeDownsisdoingthingsdifferently.

DESIGNFITSWITHTHETRADITIONALANDMODERNKOOMAPEOPLE
ThesolaricemakingconceptfitswiththetraditionalandmodernKoomavaluesinseveralkey
ways:

Ithasasymbolicconnectionwiththelandandwithfire.

Theicemakeris100%solardriven,whichishighlyenvironmentallyfriendly.

Itsanactivitythatcanbringpeopletogether.

ThemodernvaluesthathavebeenstatedanddisplayedbytheKoomapeopleareequallywell
metbythesolaricemaker:

Reducedelectricityrequirementsbringinglowercostandlesspollution.

Aninnovativeandinterestingsolutiontotheproblem.

Anentertainingeducationaltool.

SUSTAINABILITY
Theobjectiveofdevelopingtheshearingshedistodevelopcommercialandeducational
opportunities,buttodosowithinabalanced,sustainableframework.

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BendeeDownsisisolatedfromtechnicalassistance.Maintenanceworkshouldbekepttoa
minimumsinceoftenitrequirespersonnelwithqualifications.Theoptimumdesignshouldbe
abletoenduretheharshclimateatBendeeDownsandrequirelittletonoexpertisetomaintain.
Thepotentialenvironmentalimpactoftheicemakeristheaccidentalreleaseofmethanol.As
thesystemisweldedclosed,thisisunlikely,andwillbeaddressedintheriskmanagementplan
below.WaterisascarceresourceinSouthWesternQueensland,sousingiceinaclosedsystem
forcoolinghasadistinctenvironmentaladvantageoverevaporativesystems.
Inthesocialcontext,thesolaricemakerisexpectedtohaveapositiveimpact.Thecooling
systemenablesactivitiestobemorecomfortableintheshedandwillbeasourceofprideand
aninterestingtalkingpoint.Theonlysocialconcernistherequirementofcontinuingto
manuallyutilisetheicemaker,whichisanongoingcommitment.Thisisprojectedtobe
manageableandwellacceptedbytheKoomapeoplegiventhebenefitsthatstemfromthe
effort.
Tobeeconomicallysustainable,adesignmusthavepracticalupfrontcosts,andeffectively
reducetheshedsongoingexpenses.Thesolaricemakermeetsbothofthesecriteriaasthe
initialcostislowandtherunningcostandmaintenancearenegligible.
Figure24tablestheimpactofthesolaricemakerontheenvironmental,socialandeconomic
environmentatBendeeDowns.

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Figure24Tableofenvironmental,socialandeconomiccontextaffectingtheicemakeratBendeeDowns

RISKMANAGEMENT
Thesolaradsorptionisarobust,sturdyandsafedevice.However,aswithanyuseofchemicals
andglasstherearepotentialrisks.Themajorriskcomesfromtheuseofmethanolasthe
refrigerantinthedevice.Theothermostlikelyriskisdamagetotheicemakerduringtransport
oraftercompletion.Thismaybethroughaccident,extremeweatherorvandalism,withthe
mostlikelyconsequencebeingminorfinanciallossforrepairoraminorspilltocleanuptoavoid

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healthirritationsorsmall,localisedenvironmentalimpact.Amorelikelyscenarioisthechance
thattheicemakerisnotusedcorrectlyonagivenday,andanicebasedrefrigeratorfails.This
wouldatworstcauselossesoffood,whichismoreofanirritationthanagenuinerisk.Summary
ofpotentialrisksandtheirseverityisgiveninfigure25.Allriskshavebeenassessedaslow.
Methanolisanodorless,colorlessandpoisonousgas.Potentialrisksassociatedwithmethanol
areexposure,consumption,environmentaldamageandexplosion.Thoughratedasflammable,
itismorestablethanpetrolandthuslesslikelytoignite(AdamsonandPearson2000).The
probabilityofmethanolleakingisunlikelyiftheproperprecautionsaretaken.Methanolhasthe
potentialforcatastrophicrisksinsufficientquantity,butinsuchlowvolumesasislikelyin
BendeeDowns,therisksarefarsmaller.
Inprinciple,thesolaradsorptionicemakerisastable,maintenancefreedevicewithveryfew
risksassociated.Thiswasoneofthemajorattractionsoftheicemakerastheproposeddesign
forBendeeDowns.Thoserisksthatdoexistcanbeminimisedthroughadequatecommunication
onhowtousethedevice,sensibleprecautionwhenhandlingchemicals,andadequate
supervisionwhenchildrenusetheicemaker.TheKoomapeopleshouldbeinformedofthefirst
aidactionthatshouldbetakenintheunlikelyeventthatsomeoneisaffected.

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Figure25Identifiedrisksandmitigatingprecautions

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FINANCIALANALYSIS
Asstatedintheprojectedenergyrequirements,themajorenergycostfortheshearingshedis
projectedtobeairconditioning.Tomeetthepowerrequirementspreviouslystated,aunit
appropriatelylargefortheshedcostsaround$4500topurchase(compare.com2010),withfour
suchunitsrequired.
ASSUMPTIONS

Thepriceofelectricityisassumedtobe$0.18843/kWh,asstatedintheKoomaEnergy
Projectbackground,forthepurposeofforecastingcosts.

Oneicepowereddirectcoolerprovidescomfortfor3people,using3kgice/hour.

20peopleatthesettlementatanyonetime,andifeachpersonwantedtobecooledfor
4hoursadaywewillneedtomake120kgoficeperdayand7icepoweredacunits.

Oursolaricemakeriscapableofmaking7kgoficepercycle,andeachunitshouldbe
capableofcompleting3cyclesperday.Wewillneed6solaricemakers

Theprojectedcostpericemakeris$615andanicepoweredcoolercanbeproducedforunder
$100.Totalcostofinstallationofthissystemwouldbe$4200.Astheonlypowerweneedisto
runthefans,ourtotalyearlyrunningcostwillbeonly$153.30.
Alternativelyyoucoulduseacommerciallyavailableunitforspotairconditioninglikethe
WhynterARC12SD12000btuEcoFriendlyDualHosePortableAirConditioner
(http://www.imarketcity.com/whar12btuecp1.html)for$379sosettingupwith7oftheseunits
willcostonly$2673.However,eachoftheseunitsoperatesat1.1kWsooperatingfor6hoursa
daythepowerbillattheendoftheyearwouldbe$2360.82.
Usingfreestandingfansonlyisthecheapestoptioniftheycouldprovidesufficientcooling,
thoughthefiguresquoteddonotaccountforanylostopportunityinlowervisitornumbers.

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Figure26Financialcomparisonofthesolaricemakerwithotherairconditioningoptions

Fromfigure26,itisclearthatthecheapestoptionisfans.However,ashasbeenstatedinthis
report,addressingtheheatintheshedisamongthemostcriticalfactorsinconductingviable
initiativesatthesite.Relyingonfansalonemaysaveonelectricitybills,butitmaybeatthe
expenseofsuccessfulecotourismandreducethenumberofeducationalvisitors.
TheQueenlandGovernmentprovidesgrantsofupto$200,000(maximumof80%ofproject
costs)throughtheQueenslandSustainableEnergyInnovationFund(QSEIF).Thenextroundof
fundingapplicationsisduetocommenceinthefirsthalfof2011.Theprojectteamhasspoken
directlywithDrMartinGellender,PrincipalProjectOfficerfortheSustainableIndustriesBranch
oftheQueenslandOfficeofClimateChange,whorunstheQSEIFapplications,andheexpressed
interestinthesolaricemakerandencouragedthesubmissionofanapplicationforfunding.The
criteriaforfundingselectionisattachedasAppendixIV.
Basedonthefinancialanalysis,solariceisprojectedoveralltobebyfarthebestoptionif
fundingisattained,andstillarelativelycheapoptionotherwise.Despitebeinglesseffectivein
ambientcoolingthanairconditioning,thecomfortprovidedbytheicecooledairmayprovide
sufficientrelieftoavoidthehugecostspotentialcosts.

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12. CONCLUSIONANDRECOMMENDATIONS
ThepurposeofthisprojectwastodevelopstrategiestoassisttheKoomapeopletoreducethe
energyimpactofdevelopingtheBendeeDownsshearingshedusingrenewableresourcessuch
aswind,solar,waterandbiomass,orthroughimprovedenergyefficiency.
Inassessingthebackgroundtotheproject,theKoomaculture,economy,educationand
environmentandeducation,thekeycriteriaofenergyreduction,culturalacceptance,
sustainability,practicalityandappealtovisitorsweredevelopedforthedesign.
Theissuethatwasaddressedwastheneedtocombattheheatintheshed.Theanalysisofthe
weatherintheregionshowedthatwhileheatwasaproblem,italsoheldthepotentialtosolve
thatproblem,sincesolarradiationisabundantforapplicationsinsolarpowergenerationor
directsolarapplications.
Theproposedfinaldesignistoproduceiceusingasolaradsorptionicemaker,andtousethat
icetoavoidtheneedtoinstallexpensiveairconditioning,andtofurtherdevelopthecapacityto
avoidtheneedforelectricrefrigerators.
Theoveralldesignmeetsallofthedesigncriteria,asit:

Reducestheneedforairconditioning,whichwasprojectedasthetopenergyuse.

FitswiththetraditionalcultureoftheKoomapeopleandwiththenewaspirationsof
theKTOAI,intermsoffunction,sustainabilityandinnovation.

Isasimple,cheapdesignthatcanbeconstructedonsitewithminimalexpertise.

Haslittletonomaintenance,lowenvironmentalimpact,andlowriskof
implementation.

MaybeeligibleforinnovationfundingbytheQueenslandGovernmentiftheconceptis
tobedevelopedasasolutionthatcouldberolledoutacrossotherregionalcentres.

Therecommendedcourseofactionistobuildapiloticemakingsystemtobedemonstratedat
EmuFesttotheKoomapeopleandlocalcommunity.Atthesameevent,thecoolerscouldbe
madeanddemonstratedtoascertainthelevelofenthusiasmforthedesignamongthepeople.
Ifthedesignisacceptedanddeveloped,thenextstepsaretodevelopthecapacitytodomore
oftheconstructionatBendeeDowns,buildrelationshipswithschoolsandecotourismvendors
anddevelopaspecificplanforimplementingmorecoolersattheSheeringShed.

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L.W.WANG,J.Y.W.,R.Z.WANG,Y.X.XU,S.G.WANG,X.R.LI2003.StudyofthePerformanceof
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CustodialFacilities[Online].Available:
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2010]

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I.

APPENDIXIMANUFACTURINGPROCEDURE

SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

SolarAdsorptionIceMakerConstructionPlans
Key:
ConstructionLine=CL
RedConstructionLine=Weld
BlueConstructionLine=Bend
FRAME
COMPONENT1:
1. Cutallsectionsof20mmRHStolength.Buttjoinandweldsectionsintoasquareshape
frameofinsidedimensions1000x1000mm.grindallweldssotheyareflushwiththeRHS.

Figure1RHSsteelweldedsquare

2. Welduprightsintoeachcornerofoneofthesquareshapesmakingsuretheyare
perpendiculartothesquareframe.

Figure2Uprightsweldedtothesquare

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

3. Weldsectionsbetweeneachoftheuprights,100mmfromthebottommakingsuretheyrun
paralleltothesquareframeabove.Grindallwelds
4. Weld100x100mmsteelplateontobottomofeachlegmakingsureplateiscentralonthe
bottomoftheleg.Grindallwelds

Figure3Component1complete

COMPONENT2:
1. Cutallsectionsof20mmRHStolength.Buttjoinandweldsectionsintotwoseparate
squaresthatwillmakethetopandbottomoftheboxshapeframe.Grindallwelds

Figure4Component2squarepiece

2. Takeoneofthesesquareframepiecesandweldintwosectionsfittingintheinsideofthe
frame300mmfromeachinteriorcorner.

Figure5Squarecomponentwithinteriorsupports

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

3. Welduprightsintoeachcornerofoneofthesquareshapesmakingsuretheyare
perpendiculartothesquareframe.Weldotherendofuprightsintoeachcorneroftheother
squareframetomakeaboxshapeframe.
ASSEMBLINGFRAME:

1. Sitcomponent2ontopofcomponent1.

2. Securehinges150mmfromeachendbyfirstmarkingpositionforpilotholes.Predrillholes
thenattachhingeswithpoprivetsmakingsurehingesaresquaretotheframe.

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

ADSORPTIONBED
COMPONENT3:
1. Markoutnetofadsorptionboxon2mmstainlesssteelsheet.

Figure6Component3Net

2. Bendup15mmlip90alongconstructionlines1and2.Bendupsides90alongconstruction
lines3and4

Figure7Component3CL

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

COMPONENT4AND5:
1. Markoutnetofadsorptionboxon2mmstainlesssteelsheet.Bendup15mmlipalong
constructionlines5and6.Repeatsothatyouhavetwoidenticalcomponents.

Figure8Component4,5Net

Figure9Component4,5CL

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

ASSEMBLING:
1. Weldalongconstructionlines712toconnectcomponents4and5toeachsideof
component3tomakeafullopentopboxwith15mmlipprotrudingbackintothebox.Welds
needbeairtight.
2. Weldpieceof15mmstainlesssteelanglealongconstructionlines1316,ontheinsideofthe
box15mmfromthebottom.
3. ButtweldinchstainlesssteelBSPsocketincentrebottomofcomponent3andcutahole
incomponent3throughthesocket.
4. ConnectastainlesssteelinchBSPTjunctionfittingtotheBSPsocket
5. ConnectainchBSPballvalvetothesidesocketoftheTjunction
6. Connectbrassflaredunionfittingtostainlesssocket

Figure10Component3,4,5CL1

Figure11Component3,4,5Assembly1

Figure121/2InchBSPStainlesssocket,connectedtoTjunctionwithflaredunionand1/4inchballvalveconnected

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

EVAPORATOR
COMPONENTS6AND7:
1. Markoutnetonstainlesssteelforcomponents6and7andcut.

Figure13Component7Net

Figure14Component6Net

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

2. Bendupsidesofcomponent6through90alongconstructionlines1720tocreateanopen
topbox.

Figure15Component6CL

3. Weldalongconstructionlines2124makingsureweldsareairtight.Placecomponent7on
topofcomponent6andweldalongconstructionlines2528.

Figure16Component7CL

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

Figure17Component6,7

4. ButtweldinchstainlesssteelBSPsocketincentreofcomponent7andcutaholein
component7throughthesocket.
5. Usingthreadtape,connectbrassflaredunionfittingtostainlesssocket.

Figure18Brassflared
unionfitting

Figure19 1/2InchStainlessBSPSocket

Figure20CompletedEvaporater

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

CONDENSER
1. Take5mofcoilannealedcopperandbenditintoaspiralshape.
2. Benda100mmsectionstraightateachend.

Figure21AnnealedCopper Pipe
3. UseliquidsealanttoattachahalfinchBSPconnectingnutateachendforattachingtoflared
unionfitting.

Figure22Fittingforcopperpipetoattachtoflaredunion

Figure23CompletedCondenser

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SolarAdsorptionIceMaker
ConstructionInstructions

INSULATEDCONTAINER
1. Cutainchwideslotinthelidofthepolystyreneboxtothemiddle,toallowthelidtobe
closedaroundthecoppercondenser.

Figure24Insulatedcontainer

MASTERASSEMBLY
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Sitadsorptionbedintopofframe
Fixeskytoframe
Placetheevaporatorinsidetheinsulatedbox.
Sealtheflaredunionwiththefittingsonthecoppercondenserateitherend.
Dropinprecutfalsebottomintoadsorptionbedsothatitsitsonledge15mmofthebottom
Filladsorptionbedallthewaytothetopwithgranularactivatedcarbonmakingsuretopack
downfirmly
7) Runbeadofsealantaroundlipofadsorptionbed
8) Placeglasscentredontopofadsorptionbedandpressdownfirmlytoensuregoodsealwith
sealanttotheadsorptionbed
9) Allow24hoursforsealanttoset
EVACUATINGANDCHARGING
1. Beforeyoubegincharging,checksafetyconditions:
a. Ensurethattheicemakerisinawellventilatedarea.
b. Ensurethatallbystandersareawarethatthereisnosmokingallowed.
c. Chargetheicemakerwellawayfromelectricalequipment.
2. AttachvacuumpumptotheinchBSPballvalveandrununtilpressureisaslowaspossible.
3. Attachpressuregaugetotheballvalve,andallowtheicemakertostandfor24hourstotest
integrityofthevacuum.Ifthereisariseinpressureafter24hours,applysealanttoany
leaksandretest,otherwisecontinuetostep3.
4. UseainchBSPconnectortube,purgethevesselusingaverysmallamountofmethanolto
removeasmuchairandmoistureaspossible.
5. Evacuatewithvacuumpumpandrepeatstep3.
6. Evacuateagainwithvacuumpump
7. Chargetheicemakerwithmethanol,50mLatatimeuntilatotalof500mLiswithinthe
vessel.
8. Attachthepressuregaugeandmonitorfor24hourstoensurethereisnosignificantchange.
9. Youricemakerisreadytoloadwithwater.
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II.

A PPENDIXIIRISKASSESSMENTMATRICES

Probability
Consequences

Rare

Unlikely

Possible

Likely

A
Almost

Medium

Medium

High

Extreme

Extreme

4Major

Low

Medium

High

High

Extreme

3Moderate

Low

Low

Medium

Medium

Medium

2Minor

Low

Low

Low

Low

Medium

1Insignificant

Low

Low

Low

Low

Medium

5Catastrophic

EARTH,FIRE&ICE
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EARTH,FIRE&ICE
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A PPENDIXIIIRISKSANDRESPONSEACTIONFORMETHANOLMISHAPS

EARTH,FIRE&ICE
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APPENDIXIVSAMPLEREPORTTOCOMMUNICATETHEDESIGNTOTHEKTOAI

EARTH,FIRE&ICE:USINGBENDEE
DOWNS
INTRODUCTION
WeareagroupofengineeringstudentsfromtheUniversityofWesternAustraliawhohave
enteredintheEWBchallenge2010.Ourgoalwastoreducethefutureenergyneedsofthe
Bendeedownsshearingshedasitisdevelopedintoacentreforecotourism,educationand
culture.Iftheshedisgoingtobecomeavibranthubofactivities,oneofthebiggestchallengesis
keepingitcool!
THEPROBLEM
Iftheshedistoattractvisitorsandcommunitymembers,itneedstobecomfortable.Theshed
reachesover50Conahotsummersdayandnoonewillwanttousetheshearingshedifthey
aregoingtobecookedalive.Unfortunately,conventionalreversecycleairconditioningis
expensivetoinstall,operateandmaintain.Thecostofanairconditioningsystemsufficiently
powerfultocooltheentireshedisaround$18,000toinstallandanadditional$2350peryearto
operate,nottomentiontheenvironmentalimpactofusingsomuchenergy.Soanalternative
solutionneedstobefound!
Thegraphbelowshowsjusthowmuchtherunningcostsofairconditioningwouldbecompared
toalltheotherenergyusesintheshed!
Computers
Printer
ElectricOvens
Fridge
Fans
AirConditioning

EARTH,FIRE&ICE
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AVISIONFORCOOLINGUSINGTHEPOWEROFTHESUN
Wesetaboutfindingasystemthatwascheaptoimplementandcheaptorun.Thesizeofthe
shearingshedmeansthereisamassivevolumeofair.Tocoolallthatairrequiresavery
powerfulairconditioningsystemwhichiswhatmakesconventionalsystemssoexpensive.
Insteadofcoolingtheentirespacewithapowerfulairconditionerweconsideredsmallerand
morelocalizedairconditioners,whicharecheapertorun.Occupantsoftheshearingshedare
comfortedbycoolairblowingdirectlyontothem.
Thedesignwerecommendusesthepowerofthesuntomakeice!Theiceisusedtogetherwith
fanstoblowaconstantstreamofverycoolair.WecallthesolutionEarth,Fire&Ice.
Combiningcarbonfromtheearth,firefromthesunandusingthemodernthermodynamicsto
createicewhichisthenusedtocoolthevisitorsofthenewculturalcentrewithminimaleffect
onourpreciousenvironment.

HOWDOESITWORK?
Asthesunheatsthesolarbeditforcesrefrigeranttoflowdownapipetoaholdingtank.When
thebedistakenoutofthesun,therefrigerantevaporatesbackupthepipetothebedof
activatedcarbonwhereitismorestable.Asitdoesthis,anamazingreactiontakesplacethat
producesarefrigeratingeffect,whichweusetomakeice.

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EARTH,FIRE&ICE
SOLARICEATBENDEEDOWNS

KEEPINGCOOL

Icecanbeusedeffectivelyinecofriendlycooling.Thesystemworksbyproducingicewiththe
solaricemaker,usingthistocoolwaterwhichisthenpumpedthroughacoppercoilinfrontofa
fan.Thecoolwaterrunningthroughthecoppercoilwillcooltheairmovingacrossit,effectively
turningthefanintoapersonalairconditioner.

Theconstructionofanicepoweredairconditioneriseasyandfun,allyouneedisafan,some
copperpipe,atinywaterpumpandacontainerfortheice,soeverybodycangetinvolvedwith
makingthem.

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EARTH,FIRE&ICE
SOLARICEATBENDEEDOWNS

CANTHISIDEAHELPATTRACTPEOPLETOBENDEEDOWNS?
YES!Solaricemakingandicecoolingisafunandinterestingwaytokeepcool.Itwillhelpbring
peopletothepropertyinthreeways:
MakingVisitorsComfortable
Themorecomfortablevisitorstotheshearingshedare,themorelikelytheywillcomeback,and
themorelikelytheywilltellotherstocomeandvisit.Sincethewaytokeepcoolisso
interesting,italsogivesthemsomethingtotelltheirfriendsabout!
AttractingEcoTourists
Visitorswillalsoberemindedthattheirtripisgreeneverytimetheycooldown.Notonlywill
guestsbemorecomfortable,butBendeeDownswillhaveauniqueblendofanancienthistory,
richbiodiversity,andmoderninnovation,andinnovativeideashelptogettheattentionof
magazinesandecotourists.
VisitingStudents
TheQueenslandGovernmenthasnamed2010theYearofEnvironmentalSustainability,andhas
pouredmillionsofdollarsintosolarpowerforschools.Itstheperfecttimetoattractstudents
fromaroundtheregiontocomeandseehowtheMurriesdothingsdifferently,andmaybehave
anicypoleortwoalongtheway.Buildingonthesolarpowerthathasalreadybeeninstalledon
theproperty,thesolaricemakermakesthesustainableenergyexperiencemoreinteractive,
andcanbeateachingaidforvisitingyoungchildren,andsomethingtobuildformoreadvanced
students.
IfanyKoomakidswanttotakesustainabilityeducationfurther,theresalsoarenewableenergy
programsatTAFE.Inthelongrun,settingupsustainabletechnologiesthatareinterestingand
educationalcanleadtobroaderrelationshipswithstudentsandschoolsofalllevels,andmore
activitytakingplaceatBendeeDowns.

THENEXTSTEPS
AgoodfirststepwouldbetomakeaprototypeicemakeratBendeeDowns,andstartmaking
ice!AtthenextEmufest,somefunandgamescouldbehadholdinggroupsessionstomake
somebasicicecoolerdesigns.Thiswillgetpeopleinvolvedandseeifthecommunitygets
interestedinsuchacoolidea!
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Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund

(QSEIF)

Funding Guidelines for

Energy-saving technologies
Closing dates:
Note that draft and final applications will only be considered if received by
the closing dates in each funding round.
(Refer to the website of the Department of Environment & Resource
Management or QSEIF Application form for dates of the next funding round).

QSEIF assists Queensland organisations develop innovative technologies

or processes that reduce consumption of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas
emissions or water consumption 1 .
Technologies eligible for QSEIF funding include those that:
Reduce energy use and are more energy-efficient,
Use renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels,
Substitute biomass or waste for fossil fuels,
Reduce greenhouse gas and other pollution emissions resulting from use of fossil
fuels.
Eligible projects must have a strong innovative component. QSEIF is intended to
offset the technical risk involved in developing new technologies or process
improvements through to the commercialisation stage. Applications must propose a
clear pathway to commercialise the newly developed technology. QSEIF does not
fund projects that are able to proceed on a commercial basis without government
support.
QSEIF encourages collaboration between the applicant organisation and one or more
project partners. Applicants may contract technological development to an external
research institution, university, consulting group or another company.
University researchers with a project proposal should seek an industry partner with
the capability to commercialise the technology, contribute at least 20% of project
funding, and exercise oversight and financial management of the project.

For projects dealing primarily with reducing water consumption, separate guidelines are available.

Revised March 2010

Eligibility Requirements
Project proposals must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Applicants must be Queensland-based organisations, and the main project
activities must be undertaken within Queensland. Applicant organisations must be
incorporated before government funding is committed to the project.
Projects must have a strong innovative component.
A minimum 20% of total external project costs 2 must be borne by the applicant.
Applicants are expected to contribute a greater share of funding for projects
having less technical risk. Other government grant funding may not contribute to
project costs.
Only applications that have been submitted in draft format will be eligible for
submitting as a final application.
Projects must lead towards a commercially-viable outcome.
Intellectual property developed in the project must belong to a Queensland-based
organisation.
Projects must enhance Queenslands position as a source of sustainable energy
and water technologies.
Draft and final applications will only be considered if lodged by the closing dates.
Projects must be able to commence once funding is approved, and should be
completed within about eighteen months.
Project outcomes must be compatible with legislation, standards and building
codes likely to be in effect when project outcomes are ready to be commercialised.
QSEIF funding is NOT available to State or Federal government departments or to
government-owned corporations.
Selection criteria for applications
QSEIF is a competitive process. Applications that meet basic eligibility requirements
are evaluated against the following selection criteria:
Demonstrated potential to achieve substantial reductions in use of fossil fuels and
greenhouse emissions.
Demonstrated potential for broad adoption and commercialisation of technology
or process developed in the project.
Feasibility, practicality and a sound technical basis.
An effective strategy to manage the Intellectual Property developed in the project,
and to commercialise or implement the project outcomes.
The technical and financial capability of the applicant and project partners to
successfully undertake and complete the project and achieve the intended
outcome.
A need for Queensland Government funding support.
The track record of the applicant and project partners in acting in an
environmentally, financially and socially responsible manner.
The completeness of the application.
Applications are expected to meet all the above criteria.
2

External costs are products or services purchased from organisations that are independent of the
applicant (i.e. excluding payments to employees, or to companies with common Directors or
ownership, of the organisation receiving QSEIF funding).

Revised March 2010

The amount of QSEIF funding available for any one project will generally be limited
to $200,000.

Application process
Prospective applicants should contact a QSEIF Project Officer in the Department
of Environment and Resource Management, DERM (see contact details below) to
discuss their proposal and obtain an application form).
Applicants are encouraged to seek guidance at each stage of preparing their
application.
Draft applications must be submitted by the closing date in the current
funding round.
The Department will provide feedback on draft applications to assist applicants to
further develop and refine their proposals. Only applications that have been
submitted in draft format before the draft application deadline will be eligible to
be submitted as a final application.
Final applications must be received by the closing date in the current funding
round.
Each final application that meets eligibility requirements will be forwarded to a
leading specialist in the respective technology area for in-depth assessment.
Additional information may be sought from referees, searches of financial records
of the applicant, and compliance with environmental permits.
Evaluation of final applications will be undertaken by an independent Queensland
Sustainable Energy Advisory Council (QSEAC), which will recommend projects
for Ministerial approval.
Information about the status of applications will not be available until the
evaluation process is complete.
Approved projects are expected to be announced publicly, and a description of
each approved project published on the DERM website. The decisions of the
QSEAC and the Minister are final, and no discussions will be entered into.
Offers of QSEIF funding will be subject to specific conditions set out in a project
contract, and the amount (or proportion) of DERM project funding may differ
from that proposed in the project application.
No funds will be paid until a contract has been agreed and signed by the applicant
organisation and DERM. Payments will be made after achievement of specified
milestones set out in the contract. General conditions for a typical contract can be
viewed on the DERM website at: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/qseif

For further information or to discuss your proposal, contact:

Dr Martin Gellender
Tel: 3330.5430
Email: martin.gellender@derm.qld.gov.au

Revised March 2010