title: Developing a monitoring system for Toyota Prius battery-packs for longer term performance issues

authors: Leijen, Peter

subjects: electric vehicles

abstract: The Toyota Prius battery pack consists of 38 individual battery blades, each blade contains 6 NiMH cells in series. This means that each pack contains 228 NiMH cells. Given this number of individually manufactured cells combined into a large battery pack, any individual cell or a blade getting weaker than all other linearly degrading cells, will become the performance limiting element in the pack. For example in a situation where one blade weakens down to 1200mAh compared to all other 37 blades maintaining approximately 2400mAh capacity will make the car run only 1.3 km in EV mode, compared to 2.6 km if all 38 blades are of 2400mAh capacity. In order to identify such individually weak cells, a supercapacitor based monitoring system is designed and the paper indicates the approach in developing this system, together with some details explaining the general performance of the overall system and how the new monitoring system can help in managing the battery pack life issues in the Toyota Prius.

text: Developing a monitoring system for Toyota Prius battery-packs for longer term performance issues The Toyota Prius battery pack consists of 38 individual battery blades, each blade contains 6 NiMH cells in series. This means that each pack contains 228 NiMH cells. Given this number of individually manufactured cells combined into a large battery pack, any individual cell or a blade getting weaker than all other linearly degrading cells, will become the performance limiting element in the pack. For example in a situation where one blade weakens down to 1200mAh compared to all other 37 blades maintaining approximately 2400mAh capacity will make the car run only 1.3 km in EV mode, compared to 2.6 km if all 38 blades are of 2400mAh capacity. In order to identify such individually weak cells, a supercapacitor based monitoring system is designed and the paper indicates the approach in developing this system, together with some details explaining the general performance of the overall system and how the new monitoring system can help in managing the battery pack life issues in the Toyota Prius.

year: 2013

title: Applications of Hydroxymethylphosphines

authors: Wyllie, Megan Jane

subjects: Hydroxymethylphosphine

abstract: Hydroxymethylphosphines are compounds containing P-CH₂-OH functional groups. They have numerous applications, of which three types were explored in this project.
The cross-linking ability of tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) was investigated for use as a fixative for biological samples for visualisation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). THP has similar cross-linking ability to glutaraldehyde, the most commonly used fixative for SEM samples. Samples fixed with THP were compared with samples fixed with glutaraldehyde and an unfixed sample, under the SEM. THP appears to have a similar effect on the preservation of the samples, and seems to be successful as a fixative.
The bonding between Ph₂P(S)CH₂OH and diiodine was investigated. The resulting adduct was unable to be crystallised. It was partially characterised by ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy. The related compound, Ph₃PS.I₂ was synthesised successfully and characterised by ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy.
The ability of THP to immobilise compounds to solid supports, in the interest of immobilising fluorescent compounds was investigated. THP was used to immobilise N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide onto aminopropyl silica, and analysed under UV light. The resulting solid however, fluoresced only slightly. The reaction between Ph₂P(CH₂OH) ₂Cl and N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide was also investigated, but the product was unable to be crystallised.

text: Applications of Hydroxymethylphosphines Hydroxymethylphosphines are compounds containing P-CH₂-OH functional groups. They have numerous applications, of which three types were explored in this project.
The cross-linking ability of tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) was investigated for use as a fixative for biological samples for visualisation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). THP has similar cross-linking ability to glutaraldehyde, the most commonly used fixative for SEM samples. Samples fixed with THP were compared with samples fixed with glutaraldehyde and an unfixed sample, under the SEM. THP appears to have a similar effect on the preservation of the samples, and seems to be successful as a fixative.
The bonding between Ph₂P(S)CH₂OH and diiodine was investigated. The resulting adduct was unable to be crystallised. It was partially characterised by ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy. The related compound, Ph₃PS.I₂ was synthesised successfully and characterised by ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopy.
The ability of THP to immobilise compounds to solid supports, in the interest of immobilising fluorescent compounds was investigated. THP was used to immobilise N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide onto aminopropyl silica, and analysed under UV light. The resulting solid however, fluoresced only slightly. The reaction between Ph₂P(CH₂OH) ₂Cl and N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide was also investigated, but the product was unable to be crystallised.

year: 2015

title: The Indigenous Exchange Forum: transitions in mine closure

authors: Holcombe, Sarah

abstract: “The Indigenous Exchange Forum: transitions in mine closure” was held on 2–3 November 2021 over Zoom, hosted by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) in the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), at The University of Queensland.
The Forum aimed to affirm, connect, and elevate the voices of First Nations leaders and interested community members impacted by mining and mine closure. In doing so, we hoped to begin to build an international network across these Indigenous communities, to enable the sharing of experiences, struggles, and sentiments in relation to mine site transition and mine-related impacts on their lands.
The intent was to recognise each other’s unique cultural position and the impact of mining and mine closure through lessons learned: first with each other and then with industry.
The Forum had a strong foundation of reciprocity. The objective was:
•To provide an independent and culturally safe space to facilitate the connectionbetween First Nations peoples, whose customary lands have been impacted bymining.
•To position First Nations voices individually and collectively in a shared learningjourney full of experiences and lessons learned through online network exchange.
•To facilitate knowledge exchange and elevate the connectivity between Canadian,Australian, and Aotearoa (New Zealand) First Nations regarding impacts, issues, andinnovative ideas and practices in response to mine site transitions and mine closure.

text: The Indigenous Exchange Forum: transitions in mine closure “The Indigenous Exchange Forum: transitions in mine closure” was held on 2–3 November 2021 over Zoom, hosted by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) in the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), at The University of Queensland.
The Forum aimed to affirm, connect, and elevate the voices of First Nations leaders and interested community members impacted by mining and mine closure. In doing so, we hoped to begin to build an international network across these Indigenous communities, to enable the sharing of experiences, struggles, and sentiments in relation to mine site transition and mine-related impacts on their lands.
The intent was to recognise each other’s unique cultural position and the impact of mining and mine closure through lessons learned: first with each other and then with industry.
The Forum had a strong foundation of reciprocity. The objective was:
•To provide an independent and culturally safe space to facilitate the connectionbetween First Nations peoples, whose customary lands have been impacted bymining.
•To position First Nations voices individually and collectively in a shared learningjourney full of experiences and lessons learned through online network exchange.
•To facilitate knowledge exchange and elevate the connectivity between Canadian,Australian, and Aotearoa (New Zealand) First Nations regarding impacts, issues, andinnovative ideas and practices in response to mine site transitions and mine closure.

year: 2022