Modelling of Slug Pneumatic Conveying with an In-situ Microprobe Sensor. This project aims to develop a particle-scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of particle behaviours for pneumatic conveying. Slug flow pneumatic transport of granular materials such as mineral particles and food grains is extremely popular across the processing industry. However, without the fundamental understanding of the conveying mechanism at the particulate level, pneumatic conveyors are over-designed and ....Modelling of Slug Pneumatic Conveying with an In-situ Microprobe Sensor. This project aims to develop a particle-scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of particle behaviours for pneumatic conveying. Slug flow pneumatic transport of granular materials such as mineral particles and food grains is extremely popular across the processing industry. However, without the fundamental understanding of the conveying mechanism at the particulate level, pneumatic conveyors are over-designed and energy intensive. The project aims to enable accurate measurement of the motion, inertia and force information at the particle scale, so as to produce more accurate design protocols for such a conveying system. Improved pneumatic conveyors may have the potential to reduce the energy consumption in such systems by up to a factor of 10.Read moreRead less
Modelling and characterisation of biomass materials for pneumatic transport. This project aims to develop a particle scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of biomass compaction, dilation and associated airflow for pneumatic conveying and potentially beyond. Low velocity, dense phase pneumatic transport presents the ideal method for transporting delicate biomass feedstocks. However, without the fundamental understanding of the compactive and dilative response of biomass ensembles, pn ....Modelling and characterisation of biomass materials for pneumatic transport. This project aims to develop a particle scale microprobe to capture the transient dynamics of biomass compaction, dilation and associated airflow for pneumatic conveying and potentially beyond. Low velocity, dense phase pneumatic transport presents the ideal method for transporting delicate biomass feedstocks. However, without the fundamental understanding of the compactive and dilative response of biomass ensembles, pneumatic conveyors will be over-designed and energy intensive. This project will enable accurate measurement of the motion, inertia and force information at the particle scale, to produce more accurate design protocols for dense phase biomass pneumatic transport.Read moreRead less
Wet granule mechanics and their influence on agglomeration behaviour and granulation processes. Granulation is a widely-used particle size enlargement process performed by spraying a liquid binder onto an agitated powder mass. It is currently impossible to quantitatively predict granule growth behaviour in terms of the fundamental properties of the particles and binder. This project will measure and model the deformation of granules and the strength of bonds formed between them and use this info ....Wet granule mechanics and their influence on agglomeration behaviour and granulation processes. Granulation is a widely-used particle size enlargement process performed by spraying a liquid binder onto an agitated powder mass. It is currently impossible to quantitatively predict granule growth behaviour in terms of the fundamental properties of the particles and binder. This project will measure and model the deformation of granules and the strength of bonds formed between them and use this information to predict their growth behaviour. Special attention will be given to the effects of strain-rate and particle morphology in granulation mechanics. Improvements in granulation technology will be of great benefit to food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, explosives and mining industries and opens the way to 'designer granulation' for special purposes.Read moreRead less
Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will re ....Engineering floating liquid marbles for three-dimensional cell cultures. This project aims to understand the physics of three-dimensional cell cultures in a liquid marble floating on a liquid free surface. New methodology developed can produce these cell cultures without using matrices or scaffolds and with run-times well beyond existing technologies. This methodology closely mimics a normal in-vivo environment and produces spheroids needed in cell transplantation therapies. This project will resolve uncertainties in the underlying phenomena. The expected outcome should support future high quality cell cultures suitable for transplantation therapies.Read moreRead less
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
Vaporization of heavier gas oil in Fluid Catalytic Cracking risers. Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is an important refinery operation responsible for about 45 per cent of the total petrol produced. The project is aimed at improving production efficiency of Australian refineries by applying fundamental modelling to the FCC. The outcomes will enable refiners to produce cleaner fuel and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
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
Supported biomass membrane bioreactor: optimisation of aeration for better fouling control. This project will lead to a sustainable, affordable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse. The technology developed will particularly benefit small sewage treatment plants in coastal and isolated communities in Australia, by maximising the utilisation of water resources where water is limited, and by reducing the environmental impact of waste discharges. This project will also strengthen rese ....Supported biomass membrane bioreactor: optimisation of aeration for better fouling control. This project will lead to a sustainable, affordable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse. The technology developed will particularly benefit small sewage treatment plants in coastal and isolated communities in Australia, by maximising the utilisation of water resources where water is limited, and by reducing the environmental impact of waste discharges. This project will also strengthen research links between Australian and European institutions through the development of this innovative technology. Local water industries will directly benefit from this frontier research.Read moreRead less
Membranes coupled with physico-chemcial treatment in water reuse: New hybrid systems development and fouling assessment. This project will be useful to sewage treatment systems prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with isolated communities. Membrane processes are a sustainable technology in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment and fouling assessment protocol proposed in this study are the keys for the cost-effective ....Membranes coupled with physico-chemcial treatment in water reuse: New hybrid systems development and fouling assessment. This project will be useful to sewage treatment systems prevalent in the coastal areas of NSW and Queensland and the interior parts of Northern Territory with isolated communities. Membrane processes are a sustainable technology in wastewater treatment for reuse. The novel pre-treatment and fouling assessment protocol proposed in this study are the keys for the cost-effective and energy-efficient operation and testing of membrane processes. This project will strengthen research links between Australian and European universities, through the development of an innovative pre-treatment technology. The technology is of direct benefit to reuse applications in Australia and has significant export potential.Read moreRead less
Recycling water and nutrients using a high-rate membrane bioreactor coupled with an ion-exchange system. Australia urgently needs to recycle both water and nutrients to protect its rivers and sustain its agriculture. This project will yield a sustainable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse and nutrient recovery. The technology's greater economy and efficiency will benefit decentralised systems in urban centres and small sewage treatment plants in isolated communities alike by en ....Recycling water and nutrients using a high-rate membrane bioreactor coupled with an ion-exchange system. Australia urgently needs to recycle both water and nutrients to protect its rivers and sustain its agriculture. This project will yield a sustainable, energy-efficient treatment system for water reuse and nutrient recovery. The technology's greater economy and efficiency will benefit decentralised systems in urban centres and small sewage treatment plants in isolated communities alike by enabling greater water reuse and by reducing the environmental impact of waste discharges. It will be of immediate benefit to the Australian water industry and to exports. This project will strengthen links in water science between Australian and European institutions.Read moreRead less