Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can de ....Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can develop from rolling oil films and adversely affect subsequent steel surface wetting by the molten zinc alloy. This collaborative research project will investigate the fundamental nature of nanolayer residue formation, using advanced thermal and surface analysis techniques, with the aim of determining the factors influencing residue formation and reducing their impact.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedd ....Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedded in a comprehensive model of coal flotation.Read moreRead less
A new geomechnical tool for the evaluation of hydrocarbon trap integrity. Hydrocarbon exploration drilling is an intrinsically high risk, high cost activity. Even once a potential reservoir is located there remains the possibility that under recent geological activity the trap has become breached and leaked due to failure of overlying or adjacent rock. This Project will develop a technique that builds on current predictive techniques, and numerical modelling methods, to produce a series of sub-s ....A new geomechnical tool for the evaluation of hydrocarbon trap integrity. Hydrocarbon exploration drilling is an intrinsically high risk, high cost activity. Even once a potential reservoir is located there remains the possibility that under recent geological activity the trap has become breached and leaked due to failure of overlying or adjacent rock. This Project will develop a technique that builds on current predictive techniques, and numerical modelling methods, to produce a series of sub-surface geomechanical models for four important petroleum basins. This new and integrated geomechanical approach will improve current predictive capabilities for detecting breached traps, thus enhancing prospectivity in the major petroleum provinces of Australia.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale heating towards high efficient nitrogen reduction reduction. This project aims to develop nanoscale heating technique using AC magnetic field for efficient synthesis of ammonia, widely used for fertiliser and having potential for hydrogen storage. This project is to introduce nanoscale heating concept by heating catalyst only but not solution in electrochemical catalysis to achieve high catalytic activity. Expected outcome is the creation of low cost catalysts having high selectivity a ....Nanoscale heating towards high efficient nitrogen reduction reduction. This project aims to develop nanoscale heating technique using AC magnetic field for efficient synthesis of ammonia, widely used for fertiliser and having potential for hydrogen storage. This project is to introduce nanoscale heating concept by heating catalyst only but not solution in electrochemical catalysis to achieve high catalytic activity. Expected outcome is the creation of low cost catalysts having high selectivity and formation rate for ammonia production. This unique technology has the potential to replace current ammonia production based on Haber-Bosch process, which consumes 2% of world energy and contributes 3% of overall CO2 emission. The project provides opportunities for new industries that will benefit Australian economy.Read moreRead less
The study and development of a 3D real-time stockpile management system. By successfully completing this project, the efficiency of existing infrastructure investments in industries involved in bulk material handling (inclusive of minerals, grain, sugar and woodchips) will be largely improved. This will allow such industries to contain costs and thus increase international competitiveness. Efficiencies gains (in these industries) to date have been in recover and processing with little attention ....The study and development of a 3D real-time stockpile management system. By successfully completing this project, the efficiency of existing infrastructure investments in industries involved in bulk material handling (inclusive of minerals, grain, sugar and woodchips) will be largely improved. This will allow such industries to contain costs and thus increase international competitiveness. Efficiencies gains (in these industries) to date have been in recover and processing with little attention to stockyard and movement within the stockyards. The industries sectors in which will receive the greatest benefits are in rural and remote Australia. There is also the ability of the system to be exported to overseas clients, particularly in the mining sector.Read moreRead less
A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establis ....A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establish various predictive models for Block Scale rock mass behaviour and caveability of ore deposit. Finally, we will develop a new constitutive model based on a dual damage concept that will capture the rock fragmentation and simulate the cave propagation in a large scale mine layout using Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics.Read moreRead less
Matching flotation concentrate composition to downstream processing in copper production at the Olympic Dam operations of BHP Billiton. This research is important for the Australian and South Australian economies. There are both large capital and operating costs benefits if a successful and robust mineral separation can be achieved. Being able to separate different copper sulphide minerals in copper concentrates will have global significance. In the particular case of Olympic Dam mine, the imp ....Matching flotation concentrate composition to downstream processing in copper production at the Olympic Dam operations of BHP Billiton. This research is important for the Australian and South Australian economies. There are both large capital and operating costs benefits if a successful and robust mineral separation can be achieved. Being able to separate different copper sulphide minerals in copper concentrates will have global significance. In the particular case of Olympic Dam mine, the impact of being able to separate the copper sulphide minerals at the mineral processing stage is a significant reduction in operating costs, which is a result of reduced ore handling, mining and smelting costs.Read moreRead less
Optimising the Recovery of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The collection of fine (<10 microns) and coarse (>100 microns) mineral particles by gas bubbles is the very heart of the selective froth flotation process. In the flotation of minerals, losses of fine and coarse value minerals equate to approximately $500M annually in Australia alone. The significance of flotation to the Australian economy may be judged from the fact that over $39b in commodity exports was derived from t ....Optimising the Recovery of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The collection of fine (<10 microns) and coarse (>100 microns) mineral particles by gas bubbles is the very heart of the selective froth flotation process. In the flotation of minerals, losses of fine and coarse value minerals equate to approximately $500M annually in Australia alone. The significance of flotation to the Australian economy may be judged from the fact that over $39b in commodity exports was derived from the minerals and energy industries in 2001, rising to well over $75b in 2005 (Australian Bureau of Statistics). These industries produce mineral concentrates of specific interest to our Industry Partner, such as copper, nickel, zinc and coal.Read moreRead less
Optimising the Capture of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The aim of this project is to optimise the physical conditions for the capture of both fine and coarse particles by gas bubbles in flotation. The projects significance lies in the fact that fine and coarse particles represent the major economic loss of minerals in flotation. New methods to characterise the physical environment in flotation, as well as new approaches to modelling flotation will be expected outcomes of the ....Optimising the Capture of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The aim of this project is to optimise the physical conditions for the capture of both fine and coarse particles by gas bubbles in flotation. The projects significance lies in the fact that fine and coarse particles represent the major economic loss of minerals in flotation. New methods to characterise the physical environment in flotation, as well as new approaches to modelling flotation will be expected outcomes of the project.
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Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical ap ....Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical approach will be used to simulate mudrush risk based on moisture content, particle sizes, compaction, geological conditions, and seismic energy. Outputs will include a practical framework to boost the safety, productivity, and profitability of caving operations to benefit miners and the broader resources industry.Read moreRead less