Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and ch ....Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and chemical interactions that occur between the particle and the oil-water interface, and develop a more efficient explosive that can be produced continuously on a commercial scale.Read moreRead less
Improvements and Optimisation of Water Electrolysis for Hydroxy Gas Production for Metal Cutting Applications. The current technique for metal cutting mainly uses oxygen-acetylene flames, which means for the large number of Australian remote communities oxygen and acetylene bottles have to be transported from major cities. This incurs significant transport costs and associated environmental emissions and presents major safety concerns. Hydroxy flames using electrolysis of water can alleviate the ....Improvements and Optimisation of Water Electrolysis for Hydroxy Gas Production for Metal Cutting Applications. The current technique for metal cutting mainly uses oxygen-acetylene flames, which means for the large number of Australian remote communities oxygen and acetylene bottles have to be transported from major cities. This incurs significant transport costs and associated environmental emissions and presents major safety concerns. Hydroxy flames using electrolysis of water can alleviate these problems and, by utilising renewable electricity, the new technology to be developed in this research will transform tens of thousands of Australian metal workshops to be more environmentally friendly, safer and more cost-effective, thus contributing to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia. Read moreRead less
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
A green technology for liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification. Upon arrival to its destination, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from Australia must be converted back into gas to make it suitable for distribution to end users, for which the current technologies burn up to two per cent our LNG exports. This project will design a technology that will use the energy of ambient air, which will not only increase the profit but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Catalytic Conversion of Waste Plastics to Hydrocarbon Fuels. This project aims to investigate the catalytic conversion of waste plastics to liquid fuels. Plastics comprise about 20% of municipal waste by volume, and are a major environmental concern as the present practice of disposal by landfilling has long-term hazard potential and is unsustainable. We propose to study the kinetics of the catalytic degradation of pure component plastics as well as their mixtures in a laboratory screw extrusi ....Catalytic Conversion of Waste Plastics to Hydrocarbon Fuels. This project aims to investigate the catalytic conversion of waste plastics to liquid fuels. Plastics comprise about 20% of municipal waste by volume, and are a major environmental concern as the present practice of disposal by landfilling has long-term hazard potential and is unsustainable. We propose to study the kinetics of the catalytic degradation of pure component plastics as well as their mixtures in a laboratory screw extrusion reactor, compare alternative catalysts, and develop process models to be used for scale up. The process and know-how developed will contribute to sustainable development, and provide an internationally competitive advantage to Australia.Read moreRead less
Dry Processing of Fine Coal Using the Reflux Classifier. New and efficient separation technologies are crucial for developing the concept of Dry Coal Processing. The benefits to the industry of Dry Processing are compelling, with savings in water consumption, and much larger savings in dewatering and transportation of the product. The Reflux Classifier is a new fluidized bed technology developed in Australia using the more conventional water fluidization approach. Already the technology is contr ....Dry Processing of Fine Coal Using the Reflux Classifier. New and efficient separation technologies are crucial for developing the concept of Dry Coal Processing. The benefits to the industry of Dry Processing are compelling, with savings in water consumption, and much larger savings in dewatering and transportation of the product. The Reflux Classifier is a new fluidized bed technology developed in Australia using the more conventional water fluidization approach. Already the technology is contributing to Australian exports in the rapidly growing area of mining services. The purpose of this project is to establish its potential for use in the Dry Processing of fine coal. Other benefits of the study include the education and training of researchers in this field.Read moreRead less
Sequestration of CO2 with enhanced methane recovery from deep coal. Coal and gas represent the main energy source for the Australian and many other national economies into the foreseeable future. The continuing use of these critical resources requires that greenhouse gas emission issues be addressed. Any serious attempt to achieve reduced emission of CO2 from power generation requires sequestration as a necessary element. A plausible method for cost effective sequestration of large amounts of ....Sequestration of CO2 with enhanced methane recovery from deep coal. Coal and gas represent the main energy source for the Australian and many other national economies into the foreseeable future. The continuing use of these critical resources requires that greenhouse gas emission issues be addressed. Any serious attempt to achieve reduced emission of CO2 from power generation requires sequestration as a necessary element. A plausible method for cost effective sequestration of large amounts of CO2 is by geological fixing in deep, unminable coal. The key technological and scientific issues regarding capacity, rate, technical viability and site selection form the basis of this proposal.Read moreRead less
Low cost on-site on-demand cyanide production for gold mining. This project seeks a breakthrough in providing a new, low cost, low environmental impact approach for synthesis of on-site, on-demand cyanide for gold extraction. This will facilitate economic processing of lower grade ores and enhance resource life. Also, avoiding transport of bulk cyanide to remote mine sites will improve community safety.
Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of g ....Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of generating air bubbles, to gain fundamental understanding of the foaming mechanism in currently used gassing techniques, and to invent ways to stabilise large bubbles within the emulsion. The project will provide scientific underpinning for the development of a new range of emulsion explosives manufactured by Orica for Australian and international markets, maintaining the Orica's position as a leader in the field of emulsion explosives.Read moreRead less
Novel technology to sensitise emulsion explosives. The project will develop a new technology for more efficient and safer extraction of minerals. It will extend the application of emulsion explosives to low-temperatures and will eliminate the heating of emulsion blasting agents during transport. Since mining operations are located in regional areas, the project will bring benefits to local and rural communities. The project will also generate new knowledge on the behaviour and stability of th ....Novel technology to sensitise emulsion explosives. The project will develop a new technology for more efficient and safer extraction of minerals. It will extend the application of emulsion explosives to low-temperatures and will eliminate the heating of emulsion blasting agents during transport. Since mining operations are located in regional areas, the project will bring benefits to local and rural communities. The project will also generate new knowledge on the behaviour and stability of three-phase systems that contain very small gas bubbles. In addition to its fundamental importance, this knowledge can be carried over to food and cosmetic industries to facilitate the development of new products.Read moreRead less