Multiscale modelling and analysis of complex particulate and multiphase flow. Particulate and 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 frontier technology research program aims to overcome this problem using an extensive combined fundamental and applied approach. The resulting theories, computer models ....Multiscale modelling and analysis of complex particulate and multiphase flow. Particulate and 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 frontier technology research program 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, pharmaceutical and materials.Read moreRead less
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
Thermal characterisation of iron ores and coals for HIsmelt operation. Substantial developments in direct reduction ironmaking (DRI) have been recently conducted providing sustainable way for metallurgical operations. The largest advantage of DRI is that it does not require cokemaking and sintering, two processes which are consistently causing environmental concerns. This project aims to thermally investigate coals and iron ores for optimising direct smelting, and to provide insight into effect ....Thermal characterisation of iron ores and coals for HIsmelt operation. Substantial developments in direct reduction ironmaking (DRI) have been recently conducted providing sustainable way for metallurgical operations. The largest advantage of DRI is that it does not require cokemaking and sintering, two processes which are consistently causing environmental concerns. This project aims to thermally investigate coals and iron ores for optimising direct smelting, and to provide insight into effect of the properties of ores and coals on the process. Structural changes using hot stage optical microscopy will be carefully clarified. Finally, a predictive model for DRI and energy requirements for direct smelting based on the experimental outcomes will be developed.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resulta ....Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resultant models and the new understanding should lead to long life campaigns, better operational control, decreased fuel consumption, improved productivity and reduced environmental impact. This, together with the proposed research training, is important to the development of Australia's competitive steel industry.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
Fundamental studies of physical and thermal processes around the taphole of an ironmaking blast furnace. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the complex physical and thermochemical processes in the hearth of an ironmaking blast furnace by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate computer models that can describe reliably the gas-liquid-solid flow and heat transfer in the hearth, particularly near the taphole region. The models will ....Fundamental studies of physical and thermal processes around the taphole of an ironmaking blast furnace. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the complex physical and thermochemical processes in the hearth of an ironmaking blast furnace by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate computer models that can describe reliably the gas-liquid-solid flow and heat transfer in the hearth, particularly near the taphole region. The models will be very useful to quantify the interrelationships among fluid flow, heat transfer and furnace refractory erosion, and provide a basis for developing better control strategies and extending furnace campaign life, leading to an improved competitiveness of Australia's steel industry.Read moreRead less
Transforming industrial waste into valuable carbons for iron-carbon alloys: Fundamental investigations of structure, impurity reactions and carbon dissolution. This project will deliver the comprehensive science that will enable the ferrous alloy industry to utilize industrial waste as a carbon resource. Novel recycling process will enhance the international competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Australian industries. At the same time, our advances will allow ferrous alloy producer ....Transforming industrial waste into valuable carbons for iron-carbon alloys: Fundamental investigations of structure, impurity reactions and carbon dissolution. This project will deliver the comprehensive science that will enable the ferrous alloy industry to utilize industrial waste as a carbon resource. Novel recycling process will enhance the international competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Australian industries. At the same time, our advances will allow ferrous alloy producers to consume substantial amounts of chemically inert, difficult to recycle industrial/composite waste, and significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills/illegal dumps. The technology will have a significant impact on the environment through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, savings on raw materials and enhanced waste recycling. 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
Fundamental Investigation of Chemical and Physical Factors Influencing Slag Reactions in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking. This project aims to optimise slag design in electric arc furnace steelmaking, leading to decreased consumption of refractory, increased metal yield and efficient energy utilisation. Along with trial runs at Onesteel mini-mill, graphite/slag and refractory/slag interactions will be investigated using in-situ, a high-temperature visualisation-based facility as a function of s ....Fundamental Investigation of Chemical and Physical Factors Influencing Slag Reactions in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking. This project aims to optimise slag design in electric arc furnace steelmaking, leading to decreased consumption of refractory, increased metal yield and efficient energy utilisation. Along with trial runs at Onesteel mini-mill, graphite/slag and refractory/slag interactions will be investigated using in-situ, a high-temperature visualisation-based facility as a function of slag composition and temperature. The effect of gas injection on slag foaming and bubble coalescence will be investigated for a range of injection conditions. The outcomes of this project are expected to be substantial to the steel industry in terms of both economic and environmental advantages.Read moreRead less