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
A new methodology for the measurement of transition metals ions in complex, high temperature oxide systems relevant to non-ferrous metal production. Complex multi-component molten oxide phases, known commonly as slags, are used in the high temperature production and refining of metals. The slag systems of commercial interest contain transition metals species, such as, Fe2+, Fe3+. Each of these species behaves as if it were a separate chemical component. Researchers at the University of Queensla ....A new methodology for the measurement of transition metals ions in complex, high temperature oxide systems relevant to non-ferrous metal production. Complex multi-component molten oxide phases, known commonly as slags, are used in the high temperature production and refining of metals. The slag systems of commercial interest contain transition metals species, such as, Fe2+, Fe3+. Each of these species behaves as if it were a separate chemical component. Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a new methodolgy, which enables the concentrations of these transition metal ions to be measured.
These types of measurements cannot be made with any of the techniques currently in use. The study will provide data on high temperature slags in a number of industrially and scientifically important systems. This approach will be applicable to a wide range of chemical systems in the fields of extractive metallurgy, materials science and geology; systems which could not previously be characterised.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
Step Change Technologies in Ironmaking - Slag Compositions for Use in the New Low Energy Blast Furnace Practice. The world's current iron and steelmaking production capacity is over 200 million tonnes annually; this is set to rapidly rise with the increasing production in China and in India. Australia is a major exporter and supplier of iron ores and coal and coke to the South East Asian region. It is in Australia's National interest to encourage improvements in these technologies not only to in ....Step Change Technologies in Ironmaking - Slag Compositions for Use in the New Low Energy Blast Furnace Practice. The world's current iron and steelmaking production capacity is over 200 million tonnes annually; this is set to rapidly rise with the increasing production in China and in India. Australia is a major exporter and supplier of iron ores and coal and coke to the South East Asian region. It is in Australia's National interest to encourage improvements in these technologies not only to increase export income but also to contribute to improved environmental performance. The proposed project will assist in the development of a modified iron blast furnace, and in so doing substantially reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emissions from the process.Read moreRead less
Development of an efficient oxygen-thiosulfate process for the recovery of gold from ores. Gold is currently recovered from the ore by a cyanide leaching process. This high risk procedure is used because there is currently no safe alternative. The research we propose to undertake will investigate a novel thiosulfate-oxygen process to dissolve gold. Successful completion of the project will identify the mechanism of the process and could lead to the replacement of the highly toxic cyanide with th ....Development of an efficient oxygen-thiosulfate process for the recovery of gold from ores. Gold is currently recovered from the ore by a cyanide leaching process. This high risk procedure is used because there is currently no safe alternative. The research we propose to undertake will investigate a novel thiosulfate-oxygen process to dissolve gold. Successful completion of the project will identify the mechanism of the process and could lead to the replacement of the highly toxic cyanide with the non toxic thiosulfate. Thus the proposed project has the potential to substantially alter the gold recovery process, particularly in an era where environmental and public concerns exist over the use of cyanide.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
INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS ON SHEAR BAND FORMATION DURING THE WARM ROLLING OF LOW CARBON AND INTERSTITIAL FREE STEELS. This proposal involves the application of three dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy and advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques to study the phenomena of precipitation and solute atoms' interactions with dislocations in warm rolled low carbon steels and interstitial free steels. It is intended to examine the effect of alloying addition ....INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS ON SHEAR BAND FORMATION DURING THE WARM ROLLING OF LOW CARBON AND INTERSTITIAL FREE STEELS. This proposal involves the application of three dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy and advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques to study the phenomena of precipitation and solute atoms' interactions with dislocations in warm rolled low carbon steels and interstitial free steels. It is intended to examine the effect of alloying additions on in-grain shear bands formation, texture formation and formability of warm rolled and annealed low carbon steels. Ultimately, the project is concerned with developing of fundamental understanging of solute interactions which provide an improved basis for design of these economically significant steels.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