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
Discrete particle modelling and analysis of complex particle-fluid flows. Multiphase processes are widely used in both conventional and modern industries in Australia and worldwide, however rarely reach more than 60% of design capacity because of a poor understanding of their fundamental characteristics. This project aims to overcome this problem using an extensive combined fundamental and applied approach. The resulting theories, computer models and simulation techniques will be applied to imp ....Discrete particle modelling and analysis of complex particle-fluid flows. Multiphase processes are widely used in both conventional and modern industries in Australia and worldwide, however rarely reach more than 60% of design capacity because of a poor understanding of their fundamental characteristics. This project aims to overcome this problem using an extensive combined fundamental and applied approach. The resulting theories, computer models and simulation techniques will be applied to improve process design, control and optimisation. Consequentially, productivity and Australian competitiveness will be significantly enhanced in its most important industries such as minerals, metallurgical, chemical, energy, and materials.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
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
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
Interfacial phenomena between carbon-alumina refractories and molten steel: A Monte Carlo simulation study. This project aims to carry out an atomic level investigation of the interfacial phenomena between carbon-alumina refractories and molten steel. For the first time, Monte Carlo computer simulations will be used to investigate the dissolution behavior of graphite particles distributed randomly in an alumina matrix. With support from experiments, these simulations are expected to identify me ....Interfacial phenomena between carbon-alumina refractories and molten steel: A Monte Carlo simulation study. This project aims to carry out an atomic level investigation of the interfacial phenomena between carbon-alumina refractories and molten steel. For the first time, Monte Carlo computer simulations will be used to investigate the dissolution behavior of graphite particles distributed randomly in an alumina matrix. With support from experiments, these simulations are expected to identify mechanisms and effective solutions for minimizing carbon erosion and surface reactions. Leading to advanced refractory materials with enhanced wear resistance, this research will result in significant improvements to steel quality, lowered costs, reduced downtimes and will be of far reaching importance to steelmaking technologies.Read moreRead less
The Physicochemical Properties of Complex Silicate Melts - Application of a New Quasichemical Model to Surface Tension Prediction. Most chemical reactions occur at surfaces or interfaces. The contact area and ease in which fluids spread or cover surfaces depends critically on the surface tension or surface energy of the fluid.
In the processing of metals and advanced ceramic materials the behaviour of molten oxides can greatly influence the rates of reactions, the quality of the interfaces bet ....The Physicochemical Properties of Complex Silicate Melts - Application of a New Quasichemical Model to Surface Tension Prediction. Most chemical reactions occur at surfaces or interfaces. The contact area and ease in which fluids spread or cover surfaces depends critically on the surface tension or surface energy of the fluid.
In the processing of metals and advanced ceramic materials the behaviour of molten oxides can greatly influence the rates of reactions, the quality of the interfaces between phases and therefore mechanical and other key properties of advanced materials produced.
This project provides a means of predicting the surface tensions of molten oxides, making it possible to design, control and improve metal and material manufacturing processes.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