Professor Frank Bruno is South Australian Chair in Energy within the Future Industries Institute (FII). He has been involved in research, consultancy and teaching in the sustainable energy area for over 30 years at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Some of his areas of research include thermal storage, low energy buildings, air conditioning, refrigeration and solar thermal.
Over his career Professor Bruno has secured over $30M of research funding from national and other competitive grants, government and industry. He has authored or co-authored over 300 refereed journal and conference papers, 150 Engineering Technical reports, 1 Book and several Book Chapters. He was awarded the 2016 Sir... Read more
About me
Professor Frank Bruno is South Australian Chair in Energy within the Future Industries Institute (FII). He has been involved in research, consultancy and teaching in the sustainable energy area for over 30 years at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Some of his areas of research include thermal storage, low energy buildings, air conditioning, refrigeration and solar thermal.
Over his career Professor Bruno has secured over $30M of research funding from national and other competitive grants, government and industry. He has authored or co-authored over 300 refereed journal and conference papers, 150 Engineering Technical reports, 1 Book and several Book Chapters. He was awarded the 2016 Sir George Julius Medal for his paper which demonstrated how phase change materials can be used to reduce energy for cooling buildings. His Scopus citation data gives an H-index of 42, citations over 5,900 and citation rate currently tracking at over 1,000 per year. He has presented at conferences and workshops nationally and internationally. He has supervised 30 PhD completions.
Professor Bruno has worked widely with industries and led various research programmes. Examples include national testing for evaluation of Seeley International’s innovative indirect evaporative cooling system (Climate Wizard) and assessment of the thermal performance of insulation in roofs, funded by industry and the Australian Research Council. He also contributed to the urban design guidelines related to reducing energy for the nation-leading sustainable housing development, Lochiel Park.
Professor Bruno's recent research in the thermal storage area is on the use of phase change material (PCM) for energy storage for applications in refrigeration and concentrating solar power. He secured funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to establish a state-of-the-art high temperature thermal storage testing facility and from the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) to develop reliable low-cost phase change material thermal storage for solar power plants. He played a leading role in the development of patented technology leading to inexpensive thermal storage, and led research on novel approaches to designing and optimising PCM storage systems, which won the 2012 Australian Institute for Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating Award for Excellence in HVAC and Refrigeration Research. He has worked jointly with Glaciem to commercialise his PCM research for refrigeration. A scaled-up demonstration plant has been constructed and is in full commercial operation with PCM under licence from UniSA. Professor Frank Bruno and his team were winners of the 2015 ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology for their contribution to knowlege on PCM thermal storage systems. A video clip on this research can be found here.
Over the last few years Professor Bruno has also been working closely with Glaciem Cooling Technologies on the integration of dew point evaporative cooling technology with CO2 refrigeration systems. Laboratory testing has proven the high efficiency possible with this combination in high ambient temperatures. This CO2 refrigeration research resulted in Professor Frank Bruno and Glaciem being a finalist for the 2019 ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology. A video clip on this research can be found here.
A commercial scale system based on the CO2 refrigeration technology integerated with PCM thermal energy storage has been designed and constructed for a restaurant cold store at The Bend Motorsports Park in South Australia. Installation was completed in 2018 and the system has been operating successfully. This project has been announced as South Australia’s 2020 Engineering Excellence Award winner and Sir William Hudson Award finalist.
Professor Frank Bruno's Google Scholar page is here.
About me
Member, Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)
About me
Doctor of Philosophy (Mechanical Engineering) University of South Australia
Bachelor of Engineering The University of Adelaide
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
PCM Walls for Low Energy Homes (Project 4), UniSA-Donation via Foundation, 01/08/2023 - 31/12/2024
Electrifying the Cold Chain – phase 2, Race for 2030, 17/04/2023 - 16/04/2024
Electrifying the Cold Chain – Phase 2, Race for 2030, 04/04/2023 - 03/04/2024
SmartSat P2.17s: Small satellite thermal management with 3D printed metal heat sinks containing phase change material thermal storage (Artur Medon), SmartSat CRC, 04/01/2021 - 03/03/2024
Phase change materials for temperature and fire control of batteries and electronics, Cwth Dept of Education, Skills & Employment, 08/06/2023 - 08/12/2023
CSIRO-Education Scholarship, CSIRO-Education, 11/02/2019 - 30/09/2023
Testing and monitoring of an energy efficient dew point-CO2 refrigeration system at a Coles supermarket, Race for 2030, 27/09/2021 - 26/09/2023
Low Carbon Smart Homes Pilot - Review Research Framework, Race for 2030, 17/04/2023 - 02/06/2023
Improving Energy Productivity Through the Electrification of Cold Chain Logistics – phase 1: concept development, Race for 2030, 01/09/2021 - 28/02/2022
RACE: Improving the Performance and Potential Applications of PCM Storage of for Flexible Demand in the HVAC-R Industry, Race for 2030, 08/03/2021 - 06/08/2021
RACE 2030: Opportunity Assessment: H1 Residential Solar Pre-Cooling, Race for 2030, 15/02/2021 - 23/07/2021
Enhancing Dairy Milk Shelf Life with PCM Thermal Energy Storage and RE - DIIS, Australia-India Strategic Research Fund, 20/06/2017 - 30/06/2020
Dynamic Limits Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Feasibility Study, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, 05/09/2019 - 30/11/2019
Maximising solar PV with phase change thermal energy storage, Australian Renewable Energy Agency - R&D Program, 01/05/2016 - 30/04/2019
Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI), United States - Australia Solar Energy Collaboration R&D Program, 01/01/2013 - 31/01/2019
Develop low cost phase change thermal storage to reduce electricity costs and support the expansion of renewable energy, International Research Grants Program (DSD), 01/06/2015 - 30/06/2018
Molten Salt Mineral Processing Technology, Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia, 08/11/2016 - 14/06/2018
Development of a commercial/industrial refrigeration unit using indirect cooling to enable co2 refrigeration systems for climates with warm temperatures IVP159, Innovation Voucher Program (DSD), 01/01/2017 - 30/06/2017
Development of High Temperature Phase Change Storage Systems and a Test Facility, Australian Solar Institute - Competitive Component R & D Projects, 01/04/2012 - 15/01/2017
Uniting communities - low income energy efficiency program: consortium arrangement (lieep), Uniting Communities, 01/07/2013 - 31/08/2016
Assessment of the PCM Thermal Storage Refrigeration System at Parilla, Quickcool Cooling Technologies Pty Ltd, 20/11/2013 - 28/02/2016
Dynamic PCM Systems for High Temperature Thermal Storage, Australian Solar Institute - Competitive Component R & D Projects, 01/11/2012 - 31/12/2015
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
|
2018 |
1
|
2017 |
2
|
2017 |
4
|
2017 |
2
|
2017 |
4
|
2015 |
59
|
2011 |
Open access
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2023 |
Open access
|
2023 |
Open access
|
2023 |
Open access
2
1
|
2023 |
|
2023 |
1
|
2023 |
1
|
2022 |
3
1
|
2022 |
9
5
|
2022 |
Open access
4
|
2022 |
21
16
|
2022 |
3
2
|
2022 |
1
|
2022 |
Open access
5
3
|
2022 |
Open access
5
3
|
2022 |
2
|
2022 |
1
|
2022 |
22
15
|
2021 |
4
2
|
2021 |
Open access
11
7
|
2021 |
Open access
13
11
|
2021 |
20
16
|
2021 |
18
14
|
2021 |
Open access
5
1
|
2021 |
11
11
|
2021 |
9
7
|
2021 |
Open access
16
11
|
2021 |
4
2
1
|
2021 |
3
3
1
|
2021 |
35
27
|
2021 |
35
26
|
2020 |
Open access
16
12
4
|
2020 |
Open access
5
4
|
2020 |
Open access
8
8
7
|
2020 |
42
39
|
2020 |
Open access
38
36
|
2020 |
33
33
|
2020 |
Open access
21
16
|
2020 |
Open access
4
4
1
|
2020 |
111
103
1
|
2019 |
21
16
|
2019 |
Open access
7
5
|
2019 |
Open access
18
13
|
2019 |
9
9
1
|
2019 |
27
23
7
|
2019 |
33
27
|
2019 |
Open access
14
13
|
2019 |
Open access
52
47
|
2018 |
42
35
|
2018 |
21
17
|
2018 |
Open access
14
13
1
|
2018 |
Open access
13
12
|
2018 |
64
59
|
2018 |
Open access
35
32
|
2018 |
Open access
32
27
|
2018 |
Open access
12
6
|
2017 |
46
40
|
2017 |
Open access
93
81
|
2017 |
Open access
53
44
|
2017 |
58
51
|
2017 |
Open access
50
44
|
2017 |
Open access
32
31
|
2017 |
Open access
55
47
|
2017 |
Open access
4
|
2017 |
33
25
|
2017 |
Open access
31
27
|
2017 |
3
3
|
2017 |
85
68
|
2016 |
58
55
|
2016 |
32
25
|
2016 |
19
12
|
2016 |
Open access
13
12
|
2016 |
Open access
60
53
|
2016 |
90
74
|
2016 |
Open access
664
592
3
|
2016 |
14
12
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
27
22
|
2015 |
27
21
|
2015 |
209
181
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
75
59
|
2015 |
Open access
83
69
3
|
2015 |
6
6
|
2015 |
21
53
|
2014 |
44
37
|
2014 |
83
74
|
2014 |
Open access
38
35
|
2014 |
Open access
|
2014 |
246
216
|
2014 |
152
134
3
|
2014 |
53
46
6
|
2014 |
42
33
|
2014 |
71
63
|
2013 |
Open access
3
|
2013 |
27
21
|
2013 |
148
126
|
2013 |
71
61
|
2012 |
53
48
|
2012 |
54
42
|
2012 |
33
31
|
2012 |
152
121
|
2012 |
648
551
|
2012 |
45
41
|
2012 |
5
3
|
2012 |
160
142
|
2012 |
116
104
|
2012 |
68
58
|
2012 |
96
81
|
2012 |
80
72
|
2011 |
31
27
|
2011 |
130
114
|
2011 |
116
110
|
2011 |
57
51
|
2010 |
39
38
|
2008 |
88
72
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2020 |
Open access
4
3
1
|
2020 |
Open access
1
1
|
2020 |
|
2020 |
1
|
2020 |
2
2
|
2019 |
Open access
|
2018 |
Open access
|
2018 |
Open access
3
3
1
|
2017 |
Open access
9
7
|
2017 |
Open access
3
1
|
2017 |
Open access
14
9
|
2017 |
Open access
7
7
|
2016 |
Open access
2
2
|
2016 |
Open access
13
8
|
2016 |
2
1
|
2016 |
Open access
4
3
|
2016 |
Open access
|
2016 |
Open access
12
12
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
Open access
31
25
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
1
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2014 |
Open access
|
2014 |
|
2013 |
Open access
|
2011 |
Open access
|
2011 |
Open access
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
Open access
|
2010 |
Open access
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2010 |
|
2009 |
|
2009 |
1
|
2009 |
Open access
9
|
2009 |
Open access
3
|
2009 |
Open access
|
2008 |
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2021 |
Open access
|
2013 |
|
Research
Research
Details | Registry | Status |
---|---|---|
A coolroom refrigeration arrangement and a method of operation thereof - AU2013101456 Belusko, Martin; Bruno, Frank; Koenders, Jason; Petkidis, Mark; Tay, Steven |
AU | Granted |
External engagement & recognition
Organisation | Country |
---|---|
Air-Cell Innovations | AUSTRALIA |
Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) | AUSTRALIA |
Beasley Industries Pty Ltd | AUSTRALIA |
BHP Group Limited | AUSTRALIA |
Care of Our Environment | AUSTRALIA |
Central University of Jammu | PAKISTAN |
Centrex Metals | AUSTRALIA |
Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
CSIRO Energy | AUSTRALIA |
Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
Delft University Of Technology | NETHERLANDS |
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands | NETHERLANDS |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Forschungszentrum Julich | GERMANY |
Glaciem Cooling Technologies | AUSTRALIA |
Mondial Advisory | AUSTRALIA |
National Renewable Energy Laboratory | UNITED STATES |
Newcastle University Singapore | UNITED KINGDOM |
Newcastle University, United Kingdom | UNITED KINGDOM |
Origin Energy | AUSTRALIA |
Politeknik Seberang Perai | MALAYSIA |
Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
R&D Services Inc | UNITED STATES |
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology | INDIA |
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University | INDIA |
Tongji University | CHINA |
Universidad Jaume I | SPAIN |
Università degli Studi di Padova | ITALY |
Universitat De Lleida | SPAIN |
Universitat Rovira I Virgili | SPAIN |
Universiti Malaysia Perlis | MALAYSIA |
Universiti Teknologi Petronas | MALAYSIA |
University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
University of Barcelona | SPAIN |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | UNITED STATES |
University of Kurdistan | IRAN |
University of Lleida | SPAIN |
University of Lyon | FRANCE |
University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
University of Padova | ITALY |
University of Padua | ITALY |
University of Perugia | ITALY |
University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
University of Tehran | IRAN |
Uttaranchal University | INDIA |
External engagement & recognition
Engagement/recognition | Year |
---|---|
MemberAustralian Institute for Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating |
2018 |
Sir George Julius MedalEngineers Australia (EA) |
2016 |
Winner, ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of TechnologyAustralian Museum |
2015 |
Excellence in HVAC and Refrigeration ResearchAustralian Institute for Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating |
2012 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
Thesis title | Student status |
---|---|
Amorphous self-healing geopolymer composites and amorphous self-healing ceramic composites for high temperature containment of molten salts | Current |
Investigation of using carbon dioxide as a two-phase transfer fluid in latent heat thermal energy storage systems | Current |
Thermal efficiency improvements of electrocaloric cooling using an electrohydrodynamic egenerative heat exchanger | Current |
Use of battery energy storage system to improve power system stability with high penetration of renewables | Current |
Wholesale demand response using HVAC intervention in commercial buildings | Current |
Analysis and optimization of the performance of canola-based biodiesel for a compression ignition engine | Completed |
Design and development of a cost-effective, high temperature, encapsulated phase change thermal energy storage system | Completed |
Development of a phase change thermal storage unit for refrigerated trucks | Completed |
Development of diesel engine waste energy recovery technology for stationary power generators | Completed |
Effect of guide vanes on the performance of a diesel engine using higher viscous fuel | Completed |
Enhancing phase change material heat transfer with additive manufacturing for the thermal management of high-powered CubeSat electronics | Completed |
Evaluation of key properties of high temperature phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage | Completed |
Gaseous heat transfer fluids in direct contact thermal energy storage for concentrated solar power | Completed |
Heat transfer enhancement of thermal storage systems using phase change materials for concentrating solar power applications | Completed |
Industry adaption to Nathers 6 star energy regulations and energy performance disclosure models for housing | Completed |
Investigation of molten chloride and carbonate salts for mineral processing and thermal energy storage | Completed |
Investigation of water and water-related energy performance in sustainable urban dwellings | Completed |
Minimisation of life cycle energy of residential buildings in Australia | Completed |
Numerical modelling of high temperature phase change materials in latent heat thermal energy storage systems for concentrated solar power plant | Completed |
Optimal control of electrical and thermal energy storage combined with renewable energy systems | Completed |
Optimisation of a phase change thermal storage system | Completed |
Optimisation of heat transfer in a tube-in-tank phase change thermal energy storage system | Completed |
Study on transcritical CO2 heat pumps for simultaneous heating and cooling | Completed |
The interaction of local climate with thermal mass in commercial buildings | Completed |
The technical and economic feasibility of applying a net zero carbon standard for new housing | Completed |