Granular dynamics: characterization, modelling and application. Storage and transport of bulk solids are widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industrials which are important to Australia. The design and control of bulk solids handling equipment must be optimised for the efficiency of processing. This project provides a systematic investigation of the techniques used to characterize bulk solids, and applies the new findings to hopper flow and pneumatic conveying. This, togeth ....Granular dynamics: characterization, modelling and application. Storage and transport of bulk solids are widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industrials which are important to Australia. The design and control of bulk solids handling equipment must be optimised for the efficiency of processing. This project provides a systematic investigation of the techniques used to characterize bulk solids, and applies the new findings to hopper flow and pneumatic conveying. This, together with the research training offered through the conduct of the work, is very helpful to maintaining Australia’s leading position in bulk solids handling and application in resource, energy, process and allied industries.Read moreRead less
Improving iron ore agglomeration by studying underlying mechanisms using experimental studies and dimensional analysis. The revenue from Australia's iron ore exports is currently worth over $15 billion. Over 80% of the shipped ores are fines (ie material smaller than 9mm), which have to be sintered to produce a lumpy product prior to reduction and smelting in iron making blast furnaces. An understanding of this process at the fundamental level is essential for enhancement of the nation's technol ....Improving iron ore agglomeration by studying underlying mechanisms using experimental studies and dimensional analysis. The revenue from Australia's iron ore exports is currently worth over $15 billion. Over 80% of the shipped ores are fines (ie material smaller than 9mm), which have to be sintered to produce a lumpy product prior to reduction and smelting in iron making blast furnaces. An understanding of this process at the fundamental level is essential for enhancement of the nation's technological standing with our key trading partners - that is, to enable Australian iron-ore exporters to become 'knowledgable' suppliers. In addition, local iron-making industries will gain direct economic benefit from the improved sintering processes developed. Read moreRead less
An innovative computational technique for the study and control of oscillation marks in continuous casting of steel. The project addresses an important problem in steel making industry. The success of the project will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the continuous steel casting process and the development of an innovative computational technique for the analysis of the process, which is important for the optimal control of the process. As Australia has a huge amount of mineral resources ....An innovative computational technique for the study and control of oscillation marks in continuous casting of steel. The project addresses an important problem in steel making industry. The success of the project will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the continuous steel casting process and the development of an innovative computational technique for the analysis of the process, which is important for the optimal control of the process. As Australia has a huge amount of mineral resources, improvement of the steel casting technology will result in great economic and social benefit. It will increase the revenue from the steelmaking industry and ensure the Australian steelmaking industry to be internationally competitive. The project will also lead to the production of a number of graduates with expertise directly useful to our local industry. Read moreRead less
Influence of adsorbed surfactants on three phase contact line motion at high capillary number. The interaction between thin films and solid surfaces underpins the performance of a number of value-adding industrial processes, most notably metallurgical coating operations. Typically, these operations are performed at speeds well beyond the range of existing models, thereby limiting their value when changes in operation occur or when there are problems with product quality. Existing models are also ....Influence of adsorbed surfactants on three phase contact line motion at high capillary number. The interaction between thin films and solid surfaces underpins the performance of a number of value-adding industrial processes, most notably metallurgical coating operations. Typically, these operations are performed at speeds well beyond the range of existing models, thereby limiting their value when changes in operation occur or when there are problems with product quality. Existing models are also limited by their inability to account for the presence of surfactants commonly used throughout industry. This study will produce a capability for predicting how velocity and local changes in molecular composition affect the wetting/dewetting of coated surfaces.Read moreRead less
Understanding the reactivity of pulverised coal at extreme conditions when injected into blast furnaces during PCI. This study aims to improve the understanding and develop a mathematical model of coal combustion during injection into blast furnaces as PCI (pulverised coal injection). The principle economic and social benefits of this project to the community are: (i) Increased efficiency of Blast Furnace operations, resulting in cheaper production of iron in an increasingly globally competitive ....Understanding the reactivity of pulverised coal at extreme conditions when injected into blast furnaces during PCI. This study aims to improve the understanding and develop a mathematical model of coal combustion during injection into blast furnaces as PCI (pulverised coal injection). The principle economic and social benefits of this project to the community are: (i) Increased efficiency of Blast Furnace operations, resulting in cheaper production of iron in an increasingly globally competitive industry, supporting the Australian steel industry and domestic market. And (ii) the potential to impact on process fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel sources providing a cleaner source of iron for steel production.Read moreRead less
Understanding Droplet Interactions in Solvent Extraction. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of how organic drops behave in a water phase. This would enable a new generation of more detailed mechanistic models to be used to optimise the performance of Australia’s large investment in solvent extraction technology. The solvent extraction industry is undergoing a transformation with the introduction of short-contact-time contactors to reduce solvent inventory and a change to mor ....Understanding Droplet Interactions in Solvent Extraction. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of how organic drops behave in a water phase. This would enable a new generation of more detailed mechanistic models to be used to optimise the performance of Australia’s large investment in solvent extraction technology. The solvent extraction industry is undergoing a transformation with the introduction of short-contact-time contactors to reduce solvent inventory and a change to more sustainable solvents. The project aims to develop efficient and innovative contactors for this industry and to develop confidence in the application of new contactor technology offering enhanced competitive performance to Australia's minerals industry.Read moreRead less
Micromechanic modelling and analysis of the dynamics of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This project aims to develop advanced theories and mathematical models to describe the packing and flow of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This will be achieved through a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of advanced discrete particle simulation and detailed analysis of packing/flow structures, particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions a ....Micromechanic modelling and analysis of the dynamics of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This project aims to develop advanced theories and mathematical models to describe the packing and flow of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This will be achieved through a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of advanced discrete particle simulation and detailed analysis of packing/flow structures, particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions at a particle scale. Research outcomes including theories, computer models and simulation techniques will be applied to representative industrial operations of importance to Australia's economic and technological future.Read moreRead less
Influence of additives in solvent extraction processes. This project directly supports innovative change in the solvent extraction industry in Australia. This industry is responsible for generating in excess of $600 million dollars annually of export earnings for Australia. This project aims directly at developing efficient and innovative processes for this industry.
The elutriation of ultrafine particles according to their density. This study is concerned with exploiting a new and powerful mechanism for separating particles according to their density, with strong potential for recovering and concentrating tens of billions of dollars worth of valuable minerals annually. By coupling the new separation mechanism with a centrifugal force it should be possible to apply gravity separation technology, arguably for the first time, to the recovery of ultrafine parti ....The elutriation of ultrafine particles according to their density. This study is concerned with exploiting a new and powerful mechanism for separating particles according to their density, with strong potential for recovering and concentrating tens of billions of dollars worth of valuable minerals annually. By coupling the new separation mechanism with a centrifugal force it should be possible to apply gravity separation technology, arguably for the first time, to the recovery of ultrafine particles from 200 microns to well below 10 microns, at high separation efficiency, and high feed rates. This study is also ideal for training new researchers, especially at the PhD level, in an area of importance to Australia's economic future. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100266
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,446.00
Summary
Granular interfaces for sustainable processing of raw materials. This project aims to develop an innovative interface model and a comprehensive understanding of the interfacial behaviours between granular materials using advanced numerical, experimental and theoretical approaches. This project expects to generate new knowledge of mixing and segregation in particle science and technology and a practical guide to applications. Expected outcomes of this project include the enhanced competitiveness ....Granular interfaces for sustainable processing of raw materials. This project aims to develop an innovative interface model and a comprehensive understanding of the interfacial behaviours between granular materials using advanced numerical, experimental and theoretical approaches. This project expects to generate new knowledge of mixing and segregation in particle science and technology and a practical guide to applications. Expected outcomes of this project include the enhanced competitiveness of Australia and energy efficiency in its important industries such as minerals, metallurgical, chemical, energy and pharmaceutical. These outcomes should provide significant benefits such as mitigated emissions and global warming in a carbon and resource constrained world.Read moreRead less