Granular dynamics: theories, modelling and simulation. Particle science and technology is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research field and is of paramount importance Australia in view of the heavy dependence on raw materials processing. This project will tackle the core problems in this field by developing novel theories and mathematical models to describe the flow of particles. Application of the research outcomes can lead to better process or product control, a decrease in energy cons ....Granular dynamics: theories, modelling and simulation. Particle science and technology is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research field and is of paramount importance Australia in view of the heavy dependence on raw materials processing. This project will tackle the core problems in this field by developing novel theories and mathematical models to describe the flow of particles. Application of the research outcomes can lead to better process or product control, a decrease in energy consumption and an improvement in productivity, which, together with the research training offered through the conduct of the work, is very helpful to maintaining Australia's leading position in resource, energy, process and allied industries.Read moreRead less
Granular dynamics: from discrete simulation towards continuum modelling. The project aims to develop a general averaging theory to link discrete to continuum description of granular dynamics and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics. This will be achieved through detailed analysis of the particle-particle and particle-wall interactions at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, supported by the newly developed averaging theory and novel discrete particle simulation. The result ....Granular dynamics: from discrete simulation towards continuum modelling. The project aims to develop a general averaging theory to link discrete to continuum description of granular dynamics and a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics. This will be achieved through detailed analysis of the particle-particle and particle-wall interactions at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, supported by the newly developed averaging theory and novel discrete particle simulation. The results, in terms of constitutive relations and boundary conditions, will be implemented in continuum-based process modelling and tested by comparing numerical and experimental results via typical case studies. It will significantly enhance the present capability of modelling granular flow that is widely encountered in many industries and in nature.Read moreRead less
Low temperature carbothermal reduction of alumina. Australia is the world's largest producer of alumina and bauxite; and the aluminium industry is our second largest commodity exporter. This project targets the development of fundamentals of an advanced technology for aluminium production with advantages of low energy consumption, low production costs and being more environment-friendly. This frontier technology will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian aluminium industry and contribute ....Low temperature carbothermal reduction of alumina. Australia is the world's largest producer of alumina and bauxite; and the aluminium industry is our second largest commodity exporter. This project targets the development of fundamentals of an advanced technology for aluminium production with advantages of low energy consumption, low production costs and being more environment-friendly. This frontier technology will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian aluminium industry and contribute to making an environmentally sustainable Australia. The project will also provide high quality education to final year undergraduate students. The project will contribute to the theory of metallurgical processes, particularly to the gas-solid reactions in the reduction and carburisation processes. Read moreRead less
Novel Atomic Level Investigations of High Temperature Surface Thermodynamics of molten steel. This project will develop a highly advanced research capability to investigate critical aspects of impurity interactions and surface phenomena in molten steel. Innovative research proposed in this project will pave the way towards developing novel atomic level technologies whose potentials are largely unexplored and untested, with profound implications for international standing of Australian science an ....Novel Atomic Level Investigations of High Temperature Surface Thermodynamics of molten steel. This project will develop a highly advanced research capability to investigate critical aspects of impurity interactions and surface phenomena in molten steel. Innovative research proposed in this project will pave the way towards developing novel atomic level technologies whose potentials are largely unexplored and untested, with profound implications for international standing of Australian science and steel industry. It will lay the foundations for improvements in steelmaking practices enhancing operational efficiency, environmental sustainability with immense economic/technological benefits. Significant savings are to be gained from the ability to process lower cost scrap and reducing contamination in the final steel products. Read moreRead less
Studies in solid-gas reactions : precipitate formation and dissolution; carbide production and metal dusting. Reducing carbonaceous gases which become supersaturated with carbon can react with both oxides and metals. They reduce iron oxide and, if methane is used, produce iron carbide, a valuable material. However, they react with iron and alloy steels to destroy them, producing a dust of carbon, metal and metal carbides, a process in which iron carbide is thought to form only as a relatively ....Studies in solid-gas reactions : precipitate formation and dissolution; carbide production and metal dusting. Reducing carbonaceous gases which become supersaturated with carbon can react with both oxides and metals. They reduce iron oxide and, if methane is used, produce iron carbide, a valuable material. However, they react with iron and alloy steels to destroy them, producing a dust of carbon, metal and metal carbides, a process in which iron carbide is thought to form only as a relatively short-lived transient species. This program will study both reactions and determine the processes whereby new phases nucleate and grow or disintegrate.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Studies of the Packing of Cohesive Particles. Particle/powder technology is of paramount importance to Australia in view of its heavy dependence on the handling and processing of raw materials. Particle packing is here a most basic operation. This project will examine the underpinning physics of the packing of cohesive particles and develop novel generic theories and mathematical models for solving packing problems. Its outcomes can lead to better process or product control, a decrea ....Fundamental Studies of the Packing of Cohesive Particles. Particle/powder technology is of paramount importance to Australia in view of its heavy dependence on the handling and processing of raw materials. Particle packing is here a most basic operation. This project will examine the underpinning physics of the packing of cohesive particles and develop novel generic theories and mathematical models for solving packing problems. Its outcomes can lead to better process or product control, a decrease in energy consumption and an improvement in productivity in many processes/operations in mineral/material and relevant industries, which, together with the research training offered, will help strengthen and maintain Australia's leading position in particulate science and technology.Read moreRead less
A Fundamental Investigation of the Thermoplastic Behaviour and Porous Structural Evolution of Coke and Char Particles. During heating, solid fuel particles undergo complex physical changes resulting in sophisticated structures in the residual material (coke and char) which influence the operational performance of these materials in ironmaking and power generation processes. The mechanistic understanding of the evolution of physical structure and the coupled role of gas evolution has not been wel ....A Fundamental Investigation of the Thermoplastic Behaviour and Porous Structural Evolution of Coke and Char Particles. During heating, solid fuel particles undergo complex physical changes resulting in sophisticated structures in the residual material (coke and char) which influence the operational performance of these materials in ironmaking and power generation processes. The mechanistic understanding of the evolution of physical structure and the coupled role of gas evolution has not been well established. An interpretive and predictive mechanism to describe the process will be developed through experimental observations and mathematical modelling. The project will provide fundamental new insights and understanding of operational issues concerning the complex behaviour of solid fuel residues in coal based industrial processes.Read moreRead less
Recycling of Waste Plastics in Electric Furnace Steelmaking: Kinetics of Carbon Dissolution into Steel. Waste plastics form an ever-increasing component of industrial and municipal solid waste and there are serious environmental hazards associated with current methods of plastic waste disposal. This project will produce an in-depth understanding on the critical aspects of recycling waste plastics in steelmaking processes as a carbon and energy resource. Potentially huge quantities of plastic was ....Recycling of Waste Plastics in Electric Furnace Steelmaking: Kinetics of Carbon Dissolution into Steel. Waste plastics form an ever-increasing component of industrial and municipal solid waste and there are serious environmental hazards associated with current methods of plastic waste disposal. This project will produce an in-depth understanding on the critical aspects of recycling waste plastics in steelmaking processes as a carbon and energy resource. Potentially huge quantities of plastic waste can be utilised in the steelmaking industry in a way which will be clean, economic and environmentally friendly. The possibility of recycling infusible and insoluble thermoset plastics will also be investigated.Read moreRead less
Recycling Alumina-Carbon Refractory Waste in Steelmaking: Fundamental understanding of impurities during refractory/steel interactions. This project will deliver the technical advances for critical aspects of the recycling of waste refractories as raw materials in steelmaking. The novel and recycled refractories that we will develop will lead to reductions in waste generation through reduced wear, resulting in significant economic and environmental benefits. Optimising the characteristics of the ....Recycling Alumina-Carbon Refractory Waste in Steelmaking: Fundamental understanding of impurities during refractory/steel interactions. This project will deliver the technical advances for critical aspects of the recycling of waste refractories as raw materials in steelmaking. The novel and recycled refractories that we will develop will lead to reductions in waste generation through reduced wear, resulting in significant economic and environmental benefits. Optimising the characteristics of these refractories will result in longer refractory life, reduced downtime, and increased product quality. These advances will result in significant advantages for the steel industry.Read moreRead less
Competitive nucleation and growth during rapid solidification of steel. This research will assist in maintaining Australia at the forefront of research into strip casting of steel. Fundamental understanding and new modelling capabilities will help to promote the take-up of this energy/emission/cost efficient revolutionary process. It will furthermore provide, through the development of a novel experimental technique, new research capabilities for Australian researchers in other fields such as ra ....Competitive nucleation and growth during rapid solidification of steel. This research will assist in maintaining Australia at the forefront of research into strip casting of steel. Fundamental understanding and new modelling capabilities will help to promote the take-up of this energy/emission/cost efficient revolutionary process. It will furthermore provide, through the development of a novel experimental technique, new research capabilities for Australian researchers in other fields such as rapid solidification of advanced materials, e.g. hard magnets and thermoelectric alloys.Read moreRead less