TAILORING OF CARBON MATERIALS FOR USE IN DIRECT CARBON FUEL CELLS. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of and methods for tailoring carbon materials to be used in high efficiency (80-85%) direct carbon fuel cells (DCFC). This project addresses an important area in clean and efficient energy supply to meet the World's long-term energy and environmental requirements. Specifically, we aim to focus on the carbon particulates based on carbon black materials with a turbostratic st ....TAILORING OF CARBON MATERIALS FOR USE IN DIRECT CARBON FUEL CELLS. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of and methods for tailoring carbon materials to be used in high efficiency (80-85%) direct carbon fuel cells (DCFC). This project addresses an important area in clean and efficient energy supply to meet the World's long-term energy and environmental requirements. Specifically, we aim to focus on the carbon particulates based on carbon black materials with a turbostratic structure, and to investigate the relationship between the microstructures of synthetic carbon black materials and their efficacy in DCFC systems. Ultimately, we aim to engineer novel carbon particulates for use in DCFCs.Read moreRead less
Methane Coupling Using Mixed Conducting Catalytic Ceramic Hollow Fibre Membrane Reactor. The Gas product industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Australia, employing 10000 people with market value of $ 100 billion per year from power generation and LNG export. However, there are increasing concerns over issues of the green house gases emission and petroleum dwindling. This project addresses the technology needs in converting natural gas to more useful chemicals via a more effic ....Methane Coupling Using Mixed Conducting Catalytic Ceramic Hollow Fibre Membrane Reactor. The Gas product industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Australia, employing 10000 people with market value of $ 100 billion per year from power generation and LNG export. However, there are increasing concerns over issues of the green house gases emission and petroleum dwindling. This project addresses the technology needs in converting natural gas to more useful chemicals via a more efficient and cleaner means of methane utilization. The project target is to make the natural gas resources in Australia to delivery high value products with considerable economic benefits and increased employment opportunities. Read moreRead less
Ignition Mechanisms and Flame Evolution of Single Particles and Clouds of Pulverised Coal under Microgravity Condition. Gravity obscures some of the most subtle phenomena that are key to answering outstanding questions today, including combustion phenomena. The main scientific benefit from this fundamental research stems from the fact that it addresses far-reaching issues that transcend the boundaries of combustion science. It provides a rare opportunity to observe and understand the fundamental ....Ignition Mechanisms and Flame Evolution of Single Particles and Clouds of Pulverised Coal under Microgravity Condition. Gravity obscures some of the most subtle phenomena that are key to answering outstanding questions today, including combustion phenomena. The main scientific benefit from this fundamental research stems from the fact that it addresses far-reaching issues that transcend the boundaries of combustion science. It provides a rare opportunity to observe and understand the fundamental phenomena of combustion beyond the limitation of gravity on the earth surface, thus enriching our body of knowledge in this area. This new knowledge will provide a foundation for tomorrow's combustion science and technology.Read moreRead less
Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The nov ....Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The novel reaction system and research methodologies proposed in this proposal will certainly enhance Australia's science and technology capability and international competitiveness, in the area of reaction engineering. Also of the national benefit is the successful training of a postgraduate at PhD level who will no doubt add to future scientific research workforce.Read moreRead less
Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, impro ....Low-temperature plasma-catalytic conversion of CH4 and CO2 to alcohols. This project aims to investigate a novel concept of integrated low-temperature plasma and catalytic membrane hybrid reactor system for alcohols production from methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour. This research will combine plasma physics and reaction engineering techniques to develop an innovative gas to liquid technology. The outcomes have the potential to transform the nation's natural gas industry, improve energy efficiency, and utilise CO2 rich gas resources.Read moreRead less
Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the ....Mapping new cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries: The mechanism of intercalation of lithium in aqueous solutions. This technology could power electric vehicles of the future. With the aid of using advanced oxide and phosphate materials for an aqueous battery, the project will establish a widespread use of green energy for national benefit. This will help us to reduce the current emission observed in transport and energy conversion. The project will facilitate an understanding the electrochemical energy storage technology. The challenging and significant results from this project will contribute to the energy industries to build non-pollutant high energy storage equipments and productivity of Australia's research and development.Read moreRead less
Mapping Fluid Flow in the Earth's Crust: a Li and B micro-isotopic and thermodynamic study of serpentinisation. Interaction of fluids with magnesium-rich rocks creates new minerals and, on a global scale, affects the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth. On a more local scale, such fluid: rock interactions can lock up carbon dioxide via the formation of carbonate minerals. However, the extent to which such reactions may self-propagate is unclear. A primary benefit of this study will b ....Mapping Fluid Flow in the Earth's Crust: a Li and B micro-isotopic and thermodynamic study of serpentinisation. Interaction of fluids with magnesium-rich rocks creates new minerals and, on a global scale, affects the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth. On a more local scale, such fluid: rock interactions can lock up carbon dioxide via the formation of carbonate minerals. However, the extent to which such reactions may self-propagate is unclear. A primary benefit of this study will be new constraints on the viability of magnesium-rich rocks in geosequestration applications. Additional benefits will be provided by the development of advanced new analytical methodologies, and an increased level of understanding of the way that fluid flow can modify nickel sulphide ore bodies.Read moreRead less
A virtual exploration of iron-sulphur-world in search of the precursors to life on earth. The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, that currently presents a threat to the continued existence of humanity, ironically represents the starting point from which life on Earth probably originated. This research will probe the chemistry of how this gas, dissolved in ancient oceans, came to be converted to molecules that form the basis of living organisms through interaction with minerals, such as iron sulphid ....A virtual exploration of iron-sulphur-world in search of the precursors to life on earth. The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, that currently presents a threat to the continued existence of humanity, ironically represents the starting point from which life on Earth probably originated. This research will probe the chemistry of how this gas, dissolved in ancient oceans, came to be converted to molecules that form the basis of living organisms through interaction with minerals, such as iron sulphide. Aside from answering a fundamental question, it will offer insights into processes that convert a pollutant into a useful chemical, as well as what might happen if carbon dioxide is placed in mineral deposits for long-term storage.Read moreRead less
Hydrodynamics of Bubble Column Reactors. This project will study the hydrodynamics of bubble columns with the aim of optimising these reactors for offshore gas-to-liquid plants. Along with experiments using the state-of-art techniques such as the particle image velocimetry, radioactive particle tracking, electrical capacitance tomography and optical probes, computational fluid dynamics simulations will be conducted to gain a deeper insight into bubble-induced turbulence and regime transitions in ....Hydrodynamics of Bubble Column Reactors. This project will study the hydrodynamics of bubble columns with the aim of optimising these reactors for offshore gas-to-liquid plants. Along with experiments using the state-of-art techniques such as the particle image velocimetry, radioactive particle tracking, electrical capacitance tomography and optical probes, computational fluid dynamics simulations will be conducted to gain a deeper insight into bubble-induced turbulence and regime transitions in these reactors. This information will then be used to devise scale-up strategies of these complex and industrially important equipment.Read moreRead less
Fundamental research for advanced gasification technologies for low-rank coal and biomass in the carbon-constrained world. This project aims to acquire fundamental knowledge in order to develop advanced gasification technologies with high efficiencies and the capability to couple with carbon storage facilities in the carbon-constrained future. These technologies will contribute to the reduction of Australia's CO2 emissions using its cheap low-rank coal and biomass.