Professor Frank Bruno is a leading figure in the field of sustainable energy, holding the position of South Australian Chair in Energy at the Future Industries Institute (FII) and serving as the South Australian Node Leader for the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Collaborative Research Centre (RACE for 2030 CRC). With over three decades of experience in research, consultancy, and education at the University of South Australia (UniSA), his expertise encompasses various aspects of sustainable energy, including thermal storage, low energy buildings, air conditioning, refrigeration, and solar thermal technologies.
Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Bruno has secured research funding exceeding $40 million through national ... Read more
About me
Professor Frank Bruno is a leading figure in the field of sustainable energy, holding the position of South Australian Chair in Energy at the Future Industries Institute (FII) and serving as the South Australian Node Leader for the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Collaborative Research Centre (RACE for 2030 CRC). With over three decades of experience in research, consultancy, and education at the University of South Australia (UniSA), his expertise encompasses various aspects of sustainable energy, including thermal storage, low energy buildings, air conditioning, refrigeration, and solar thermal technologies.
Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Bruno has secured research funding exceeding $40 million through national and competitive grants as well as collaborations with government and industry partners. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 refereed journal articles and conference papers, in addition to 150 engineering technical reports and several book chapters. His scholarly impact is reflected in his Scopus citation metrics, which show an H-index of 47 and over 7,400 citations. Internationally recognised, he has presented extensively at conferences and workshops and has supervised the completion of 40 PhD candidates.
In addition to his academic achievements, Professor Bruno has collaborated closely with industry on various research programs. Notable projects include a national testing initiative for Seeley International’s innovative indirect evaporative cooling system, Climate Wizard, and an assessment of the thermal performance of insulation in roofs. His expertise has also informed urban design guidelines aimed at reducing energy consumption for the sustainable housing development Lochiel Park.
A highlight of his work includes the development of patented technology for cost-effective thermal storage solutions and groundbreaking research on phase change material (PCM) storage systems, which has earned him multiple prestigious awards, including the 2012 Australian Institute for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Award for Excellence in HVAC and Refrigeration Research, the 2015 ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology, and the 2016 Sir George Julius Medal. His collaborations with industry have facilitated the commercialisation of his PCM research, leading to the construction and successful operation of several scaled-up demonstration plants.
In recent years, Professor Bruno has focused on integrating dew point evaporative cooling technology with CO2 refrigeration systems, demonstrating high efficiency in laboratory settings, particularly under high ambient temperature conditions. His team was a finalist for the 2019 ANSTO Eureka Prize for their innovative work in this area. This has culminated in the design and construction of a commercial-scale system at The Bend Motorsports Park in South Australia, combining CO2 refrigeration with PCM thermal energy storage for a restaurant cold storage application. Completed in 2018, this system was recognised as a winner of South Australia’s 2020 Engineering Excellence Award and a finalist for the Sir William Hudson Award, underscoring Professor Bruno's significant contributions to advancing sustainable energy technologies.
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.
Optimising NatHERS Whole of Home rating through advanced heating and cooling appliance integration - CSIRO iPhD stipend - Seeley, Seeley International, 23/09/2024 - 23/09/2029
Optimising NatHERS Whole of Home rating through advanced heating and cooling appliance integration - CSIRO iPhD stipend - CSIRO, CSIRO Industry PhD Program, 23/09/2024 - 23/09/2029
Business Power Flex: Business customer solutions to minimum demand, Race for 2030, 03/10/2023 - 31/12/2026
APY Lands Energy Efficiency Retrofit Pilot, Race for 2030, 13/10/2023 - 13/10/2025
Electrifying the Cold Chain – Phase 2, Race for 2030, 04/04/2023 - 14/02/2025
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
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
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 |
---|---|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2021 |
Open access
|
2018 |
1
|
2017 |
3
|
2017 |
4
|
2017 |
3
|
2017 |
4
|
2015 |
76
|
2011 |
Open access
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2025 |
Open access
|
2024 |
Open access
2
2
|
2024 |
Open access
|
2024 |
1
|
2023 |
Open access
2
2
|
2023 |
5
5
|
2023 |
Open access
1
1
|
2023 |
Open access
5
5
|
2023 |
3
4
|
2023 |
7
4
|
2023 |
9
15
|
2022 |
8
5
|
2022 |
Open access
30
27
|
2022 |
Open access
7
|
2022 |
58
56
|
2022 |
Open access
12
10
|
2022 |
Open access
3
3
|
2022 |
Open access
35
38
|
2022 |
Open access
14
13
|
2022 |
9
7
|
2022 |
10
9
|
2022 |
36
34
|
2021 |
8
5
|
2021 |
Open access
19
14
|
2021 |
Open access
16
16
|
2021 |
Open access
12
|
2021 |
32
27
|
2021 |
Open access
31
27
|
2021 |
Open access
13
8
|
2021 |
18
16
|
2021 |
Open access
12
11
|
2021 |
Open access
23
21
|
2021 |
7
5
1
|
2021 |
5
5
1
|
2021 |
64
60
|
2021 |
45
38
|
2020 |
Open access
20
18
4
|
2020 |
Open access
13
13
|
2020 |
Open access
11
10
7
|
2020 |
61
54
6
|
2020 |
Open access
46
44
|
2020 |
44
40
|
2020 |
Open access
31
26
|
2020 |
Open access
7
7
1
|
2020 |
155
149
1
|
2019 |
28
23
|
2019 |
Open access
9
7
|
2019 |
Open access
26
21
|
2019 |
13
11
1
|
2019 |
33
28
7
|
2019 |
49
37
|
2019 |
Open access
18
18
|
2019 |
Open access
62
55
|
2018 |
66
57
|
2018 |
29
25
|
2018 |
Open access
19
17
1
|
2018 |
Open access
15
14
|
2018 |
80
75
|
2018 |
Open access
40
39
|
2018 |
Open access
41
38
|
2018 |
Open access
16
12
|
2017 |
54
48
|
2017 |
Open access
107
95
|
2017 |
Open access
67
60
|
2017 |
71
62
3
|
2017 |
Open access
62
55
|
2017 |
Open access
39
36
|
2017 |
Open access
68
63
|
2017 |
Open access
4
|
2017 |
39
32
|
2017 |
Open access
39
37
|
2017 |
4
3
|
2017 |
105
87
|
2016 |
65
62
|
2016 |
34
28
|
2016 |
19
13
|
2016 |
Open access
14
13
|
2016 |
Open access
69
60
|
2016 |
115
92
|
2016 |
Open access
785
710
6
|
2016 |
15
12
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
35
29
|
2015 |
28
23
|
2015 |
250
218
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
84
68
|
2015 |
Open access
98
85
3
|
2015 |
9
9
|
2015 |
21
63
|
2014 |
50
44
|
2014 |
103
88
|
2014 |
Open access
45
41
|
2014 |
Open access
|
2014 |
333
304
|
2014 |
172
157
6
|
2014 |
56
49
9
|
2014 |
50
40
|
2014 |
80
73
|
2013 |
Open access
3
|
2013 |
31
28
|
2013 |
175
159
|
2013 |
78
68
|
2012 |
59
54
|
2012 |
59
49
|
2012 |
38
34
|
2012 |
186
155
|
2012 |
738
627
|
2012 |
53
49
|
2012 |
5
4
|
2012 |
188
164
|
2012 |
128
116
|
2012 |
74
66
|
2012 |
103
91
|
2012 |
85
79
|
2011 |
35
28
|
2011 |
145
129
|
2011 |
123
117
|
2011 |
60
53
|
2010 |
44
42
|
2008 |
103
85
|
Year | Output |
---|---|
2022 |
Open access
1
|
2021 |
Open access
1
|
2020 |
Open access
10
7
1
|
2020 |
Open access
2
2
|
2020 |
|
2020 |
1
|
2020 |
2
2
|
2019 |
Open access
|
2018 |
Open access
1
|
2018 |
Open access
3
3
1
|
2017 |
Open access
9
8
|
2017 |
Open access
5
2
|
2017 |
Open access
14
11
|
2017 |
Open access
8
8
|
2016 |
Open access
3
2
|
2016 |
Open access
15
10
|
2016 |
2
1
|
2016 |
Open access
4
3
|
2016 |
Open access
|
2016 |
Open access
13
12
|
2015 |
Open access
|
2015 |
Open access
1
|
2015 |
|
2015 |
Open access
35
29
|
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
10
|
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 (TU Delft) | NETHERLANDS |
Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands | NETHERLANDS |
Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
Forschungszentrum Julich | GERMANY |
Glaciem Cooling Technologies | AUSTRALIA |
Jülich Research Centre (Germany) | GERMANY |
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 |
Structure and Function of Materials (IEK-2) | GERMANY |
TERI School of Advanced Studies | INDIA |
Tongji University | CHINA |
Universidad Jaume I | SPAIN |
Università degli Studi di Padova | ITALY |
Universitat De Lleida | SPAIN |
Universitat Rovira I Virgili | SPAIN |
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 Malaysia, Perlis (Malaysia) | MALAYSIA |
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 |
Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam | INDIA |
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 |
---|---|
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 |
Amorphous self-healing geopolymer composites and amorphous self-healing ceramic composites for high temperature containment of molten salts | Completed |
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 |
Wholesale demand response using HVAC intervention in commercial buildings | Completed |