Modelling of Nitric Oxides and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Bagasse-Fires Boilers. The project aims to develop computational models to predict emissions of nitric oxides and carbon monoxide from sugar-mill boilers burning bagasse. Bagasse combustion does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and clean and efficient combustion of this fuel has become very important for the sugar industry and for Australia. The project combines the opportunity of direct boiler measurements by SRI with the m ....Modelling of Nitric Oxides and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Bagasse-Fires Boilers. The project aims to develop computational models to predict emissions of nitric oxides and carbon monoxide from sugar-mill boilers burning bagasse. Bagasse combustion does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and clean and efficient combustion of this fuel has become very important for the sugar industry and for Australia. The project combines the opportunity of direct boiler measurements by SRI with the modelling expertise at the University to develop combustion-kinetics models for these species. The models will be incorporated into the previously developed computational fluid dynamics - combustion code of the furnace to give the capability of emission prediction as a function of burner operating conditions and fuel parameters.Read moreRead less
WAVELET-BASED MODELLING AND MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF COMPLEX MULTIDIMENSIONAL CRYSTALLISATION PROCESSES. The results of this project will directly contribute to a better understanding of crystallisation which is an important unit operation to achieve high purity separations. Many Australian industries for example, mineral processing, sugar processing, pharmaceuticals, etc will benefit from the results in order to enhance optimal operation and control to ensure globally competitive production ....WAVELET-BASED MODELLING AND MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF COMPLEX MULTIDIMENSIONAL CRYSTALLISATION PROCESSES. The results of this project will directly contribute to a better understanding of crystallisation which is an important unit operation to achieve high purity separations. Many Australian industries for example, mineral processing, sugar processing, pharmaceuticals, etc will benefit from the results in order to enhance optimal operation and control to ensure globally competitive production which is on time, minimize wastes and raw materials and inventories. The leading edge results will increase the contributions of these industries to the Australian economy and our global competitiveness necessary to maintain our culture and the beauty of our environment. Read moreRead less
Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Adsorbents Using Fractional Order Diffusion Equations. This project investigates the use of fractional order diffusion equations in modelling adsorption dynamics in microporous carbons. The long tail behaviour of adsorption processes cannot be readily explained by the classical second order Fickian model, and makes adsorption a candidate for the use of fractional order diffusion equations that have the potential to model such features. In the pre ....Modelling of Adsorption Dynamics in Microporous Adsorbents Using Fractional Order Diffusion Equations. This project investigates the use of fractional order diffusion equations in modelling adsorption dynamics in microporous carbons. The long tail behaviour of adsorption processes cannot be readily explained by the classical second order Fickian model, and makes adsorption a candidate for the use of fractional order diffusion equations that have the potential to model such features. In the present project we shall develop suitable numerical techniques for solving the fractional order diffusion model, and apply these to the interpretation of experimental kinetic data. The outcome will be an improved model of adsorption dynamics considering the fractal nature of the solid.Read moreRead less
Reducing wear on rotary coal pulverisers. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the small-scale flows and particle breakage required to permit optimised redesign of the attrition stage of the 36 coal pulverisers at Gladstone Power Station, which, because of erosive wear, currently have a maintenance budget of $4M per year. CFD-DEM simulation of the air and particle flows will be used to determine particle flow patterns, particle-particle and particle-wall impact energies. Thi ....Reducing wear on rotary coal pulverisers. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the small-scale flows and particle breakage required to permit optimised redesign of the attrition stage of the 36 coal pulverisers at Gladstone Power Station, which, because of erosive wear, currently have a maintenance budget of $4M per year. CFD-DEM simulation of the air and particle flows will be used to determine particle flow patterns, particle-particle and particle-wall impact energies. This information will be input to comminution and wear models to predict pulveriser performance and wear patterns. Simulation results will be validated using measurements from scale visualisation and working models.Read moreRead less
Interfacial Barriers to Transport in Nanomaterials. This project aims to make ground-breaking advances in the modelling of transport in disordered nanoporous materials by uncovering the interfacial barriers that are critical to the entry and exit of molecules from their nanostructure. The expected outcome is an efficient new simulation tool to simultaneously quantify interfacial transport resistances and system size-dependent internal transport coefficients. This is intended to be achieved throu ....Interfacial Barriers to Transport in Nanomaterials. This project aims to make ground-breaking advances in the modelling of transport in disordered nanoporous materials by uncovering the interfacial barriers that are critical to the entry and exit of molecules from their nanostructure. The expected outcome is an efficient new simulation tool to simultaneously quantify interfacial transport resistances and system size-dependent internal transport coefficients. This is intended to be achieved through simulations and experiments on the adsorption and dynamics of targeted gases in carbons with distinctly different nanostructures, enabling the optimal design of a wide range of emerging nanotechnologies for membrane separations, kinetic molecular sieving, catalysis, and gas and electrochemical energy storage.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.
The Effect of Fines Particles on Production and Permeability of cbm Reservoirs. Coalbed methane (cbm) energy resources in Australia exceed $20b in value. One of the production issues with recovering cbm is fines that are created or exist in the coal, which block gas flow to the recovery wells and damage downstream equipment. Understanding how fines are created and migrate within gas wells and then overcoming this problem, the purpose of this research, could deliver additional gas production wort ....The Effect of Fines Particles on Production and Permeability of cbm Reservoirs. Coalbed methane (cbm) energy resources in Australia exceed $20b in value. One of the production issues with recovering cbm is fines that are created or exist in the coal, which block gas flow to the recovery wells and damage downstream equipment. Understanding how fines are created and migrate within gas wells and then overcoming this problem, the purpose of this research, could deliver additional gas production worth over $1.8billion and reduce maintenance costs related to cbm extraction by $25m per year.Read moreRead less
Flue Gas and CO2 Geosequestration in Surat and Bowen Basin Coals. Climate change considerations require that CO2 emissions to atmosphere be severely reduced. This is best done in the short term by permanently storing the CO2 underground. Amongst the cheapest and safest options are to use coal seams, which then release valuable methane. The market value of this extra methane is ~$9billion and this reduces the cost of sequestration from ~$56 to $25/t CO2. Coal has a very strong affinity for CO2, ....Flue Gas and CO2 Geosequestration in Surat and Bowen Basin Coals. Climate change considerations require that CO2 emissions to atmosphere be severely reduced. This is best done in the short term by permanently storing the CO2 underground. Amongst the cheapest and safest options are to use coal seams, which then release valuable methane. The market value of this extra methane is ~$9billion and this reduces the cost of sequestration from ~$56 to $25/t CO2. Coal has a very strong affinity for CO2, so flue gas stream from power stations can be injected directly, eliminating the need for equipment to capture the CO2, providing savings of ~$500million for each large power station.Read moreRead less