Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and indus ....Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and industry to join the search for dark matter. This Australian experiment aims to help to confirm or deny current results from Northern Hemisphere experiments. As the mine nears the end of its working life as a gold mine, this project is expected to benefit the local economy and provide opportunities for education and outreach.Read moreRead less
Powder blending for dry powder inhalers: a new approach for direct control of powder structure. Over 80 per cent of pharmaceutical products involve the processing of powders. This project will generate new knowledge of how to assemble fine and cohesive particles into the structure required for dry powder inhaler products, leading to the development of new low-cost medicines in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Controlling hydrate slurry flow to enable deepwater oil and gas production. This project aims to investigate the plugging of hydrate slurries in pipelines to determine under what conditions they will flow satisfactorily without forming a blockage. Hydrate blockages are expensive and hazardous occurrences in oil and gas operations, so current prevention systems aim to avoid hydrate formation altogether through over-design. These over-designed hydrate prevention systems are extremely expensive to ....Controlling hydrate slurry flow to enable deepwater oil and gas production. This project aims to investigate the plugging of hydrate slurries in pipelines to determine under what conditions they will flow satisfactorily without forming a blockage. Hydrate blockages are expensive and hazardous occurrences in oil and gas operations, so current prevention systems aim to avoid hydrate formation altogether through over-design. These over-designed hydrate prevention systems are extremely expensive to build and costly to run during the operations phase. The project intends to examine the behaviour of hydrate slurry flow as a function of the oil's properties, amount of water and degree of turbulence. Outcomes are intended to be a sophisticated approach to avoiding hydrate blockages that is safe but more efficient and less costly.Read moreRead less
Computational methods in atomic collision theory. We will develop computational methods for solving interactions between particles on the atomic scale. Computational problems, of particular interest to the industry partner, are the treatment of large-scale ill-conditioned linear systems, and the extension of the Gaussian molecular structure package to collision physics. We have been world-leaders in the field of atomic collision theory for almost a decade, and now, utilising the latest software ....Computational methods in atomic collision theory. We will develop computational methods for solving interactions between particles on the atomic scale. Computational problems, of particular interest to the industry partner, are the treatment of large-scale ill-conditioned linear systems, and the extension of the Gaussian molecular structure package to collision physics. We have been world-leaders in the field of atomic collision theory for almost a decade, and now, utilising the latest software and hardware, will have the capacity to extend the numerical techniques to a vast range of collision systems of interest to science and industry, where visualisation and sheer computer power will play a major role in both
code development and production runs.Read moreRead less
Data-driven monitoring of raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces. Raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces affect operational stability and cost considerably, yet their dynamic behaviour has not been well monitored online. The project aims to develop a data-driven model for monitoring the internal state of gas-solid-powder reacting flow in the raceway and predicting raceway anomalies online. It will be achieved by combining particle-fluid numerical simulations with data processing an ....Data-driven monitoring of raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces. Raceway dynamics in ironmaking blast furnaces affect operational stability and cost considerably, yet their dynamic behaviour has not been well monitored online. The project aims to develop a data-driven model for monitoring the internal state of gas-solid-powder reacting flow in the raceway and predicting raceway anomalies online. It will be achieved by combining particle-fluid numerical simulations with data processing and reduced-order state observer, supported by lab/plant experiments, and collaborating with two industry partners from coal and steel industries. The project outcomes including codes, models and raceway control strategies can help promote Australian metallurgical coal's global markets and ultimately the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Improving the scale-up of spray drying for bioactive extracts and fibres. The project will develop new processing techniques that will contribute to better functional foods and bioactive products from fruit and vegetable wastes. The total national crop of fruit and vegetables produces over 3 million tonnes of wastes, where the bioactive materials in the wastes have a potential value of $3 billion/year.
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
Design a Targeted Delivery System for Probiotics. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of probiotics by developing a targeted delivery system to the colon. This interdisciplinary research will generate new knowledge in the field of microbiota and develop new delivery systems for live microorganisms and other active compounds. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the factors affecting the viability of probiotics during storage and passage through the gastro-intestinal tra ....Design a Targeted Delivery System for Probiotics. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of probiotics by developing a targeted delivery system to the colon. This interdisciplinary research will generate new knowledge in the field of microbiota and develop new delivery systems for live microorganisms and other active compounds. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the factors affecting the viability of probiotics during storage and passage through the gastro-intestinal tract, the establishment of probiotics into gut flora, and how this incorporation affects the dynamics of gut microbiota. The new technology can be utilised across a wide range of therapeutics that target the colon to promote the well-being of our society through commercialisation by industry partner.Read moreRead less
Micromechanical analysis of size segregation and its prediction in granular free-surface flows. Industries often suffer from size segregation in the handling and processing of granular materials, leading to significant economic consequences. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of size segregation and prediction models, enabling industries to eliminate, minimise, or manage the effects to an acceptable level.
Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This rese ....Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This research will provide options for the recovery of this resource, making the remediation of these sites economically viable. The project will also support the education and training of researchers in this field of importance to Australia’s future.Read moreRead less