Reducing wear on rotary coal pulverisers. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the small-scale flows and particle breakage required to permit optimised redesign of the attrition stage of the 36 coal pulverisers at Gladstone Power Station, which, because of erosive wear, currently have a maintenance budget of $4M per year. CFD-DEM simulation of the air and particle flows will be used to determine particle flow patterns, particle-particle and particle-wall impact energies. Thi ....Reducing wear on rotary coal pulverisers. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the small-scale flows and particle breakage required to permit optimised redesign of the attrition stage of the 36 coal pulverisers at Gladstone Power Station, which, because of erosive wear, currently have a maintenance budget of $4M per year. CFD-DEM simulation of the air and particle flows will be used to determine particle flow patterns, particle-particle and particle-wall impact energies. This information will be input to comminution and wear models to predict pulveriser performance and wear patterns. Simulation results will be validated using measurements from scale visualisation and working models.Read moreRead less
Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International ....Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International, who supply test and simulation systems to most of the world's leading manufacturers of vehicles, aircraft etc.Read moreRead less
Utilization of fly ash in manufacturing polypropylene composites: a fundamental study. A large amount of coal fly ash is generated from thermal power stations and only a small amount has found applications, causing a significant economic and environmental problem in Australia and worldwide. This project aims to develop techniques to use fly ash in the manufacture of polymer composite and, in particular, explore the underlying fundamentals by means of various advanced characterization and simulat ....Utilization of fly ash in manufacturing polypropylene composites: a fundamental study. A large amount of coal fly ash is generated from thermal power stations and only a small amount has found applications, causing a significant economic and environmental problem in Australia and worldwide. This project aims to develop techniques to use fly ash in the manufacture of polymer composite and, in particular, explore the underlying fundamentals by means of various advanced characterization and simulation techniques. The expected outcomes may lead to an environmentally sustainable and large quantity use of fly ash and bring about new business opportunities. This, together with the proposed research training, represents a useful contribution to the development of a more competitive Australia.Read moreRead less