A coupled finite volume method for viscoelastic flow problems on highly-skewed unstructured meshes: a computational rheology revolution. Commercial tools are unavailable for 21st century industry to analyse complex flow processes involving viscoelastic materials. Using fabrication of microstructured polymer optical fibre as a key case study, a coupled finite volume methodology holds the key for the next generation of computational rheology simulators.
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
A fundamental study of milk ultrafiltration. The Dairy Industry is one of Australia's largest domestic and export industries. The fundamental knowledge and models developed in this project will be used to optimise dairy membrane processing. This will reduce water and energy use to improve the global competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact of the Australian Dairy Industry.
Force Interactions in Packed and Fluidised Beds at Micro-Scale Operation. Industrial processing in the 20th century was about increasing size to gain benefit from economies of scale. This century, the focus is on micro devices like lab-on-a-chip and high speed computer processors that deliver their product directly to the consumer. There are significant obstacles facing this new technology. Mixing is reduced due to laminar flow, and a large amount of energy is needed to move the fluid through su ....Force Interactions in Packed and Fluidised Beds at Micro-Scale Operation. Industrial processing in the 20th century was about increasing size to gain benefit from economies of scale. This century, the focus is on micro devices like lab-on-a-chip and high speed computer processors that deliver their product directly to the consumer. There are significant obstacles facing this new technology. Mixing is reduced due to laminar flow, and a large amount of energy is needed to move the fluid through such small devices. Particles are often added to improve mixing and heat transfer, but their presence adds to the energy requirements. This study will help us overcome these challenges. Read moreRead less
Process Chemistry for Distributed Manufacture of Nitric Acid. This project will benefit Australia by enabling a new approach to the manufacture of explosives for the country's mining industry which will provide the entire explosives supply chain with greater safety and security. Development of this technology will enhance Orica's competitive position as the largest manufacturer of mining explosives in the world and will produce wealth for the country through the continued success of this ASX Top ....Process Chemistry for Distributed Manufacture of Nitric Acid. This project will benefit Australia by enabling a new approach to the manufacture of explosives for the country's mining industry which will provide the entire explosives supply chain with greater safety and security. Development of this technology will enhance Orica's competitive position as the largest manufacturer of mining explosives in the world and will produce wealth for the country through the continued success of this ASX Top 50 company and the export of the technology.Read moreRead less
Coarse-Grid Eulerian-Eulerian Multiphase Model for Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit. A fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit is an important refinery unit operation responsible for about 45% of total petrol production. The aim of this study is to improve the petrol production efficiency of Australian refineries thus allowing our country not only to maintain its self-sufficiency but also to permit lucrative exports. This will be done by optimising the performance of the FCC unit through novel computat ....Coarse-Grid Eulerian-Eulerian Multiphase Model for Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit. A fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit is an important refinery unit operation responsible for about 45% of total petrol production. The aim of this study is to improve the petrol production efficiency of Australian refineries thus allowing our country not only to maintain its self-sufficiency but also to permit lucrative exports. This will be done by optimising the performance of the FCC unit through novel computational fluid dynamic simulations. The outcomes of this study will enable refiners to produce cleaner fuel (e.g., fuel with less sulphur) and decrease air pollution from the FCC unit (in the form of CO and particulates) thus helping Australia to preserve its diverse and relatively pollution-free environment.Read moreRead less
Selective generation of hydrogen from biomass and waste fuels. Biomass fuels account for 14% of global energy supply. This is likely to increase in future as the population increases, energy demand rises, cheap oil and coal reserves are depleted, and the effects of global warming become more readily visible. In Australia the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy is a national priority. The hydrogen economy could bring about improved energy security, substantially reduced greenhouse gas e ....Selective generation of hydrogen from biomass and waste fuels. Biomass fuels account for 14% of global energy supply. This is likely to increase in future as the population increases, energy demand rises, cheap oil and coal reserves are depleted, and the effects of global warming become more readily visible. In Australia the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy is a national priority. The hydrogen economy could bring about improved energy security, substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency and improved air quality. This proposal directly addresses this challenge by investigating the science underpinning a large-scale sustainable hydrogen synthesis process using biomass and waste fuels. Read moreRead less
Design of granule microstructure in fluidised bed granulation: Modelling & experimental realisation. Production of granules with engineered microstructure is a common industrial problem. This project focuses on understanding how to control the microstructure of granules - including size, porosity, composition - produced by fluidised bed granulation by developing systematic, science based design rules. Designer granules can be used to develop and fast-track the development of innovative microstru ....Design of granule microstructure in fluidised bed granulation: Modelling & experimental realisation. Production of granules with engineered microstructure is a common industrial problem. This project focuses on understanding how to control the microstructure of granules - including size, porosity, composition - produced by fluidised bed granulation by developing systematic, science based design rules. Designer granules can be used to develop and fast-track the development of innovative microstructured products for niche markets and the next generation of high-value agricultural, food and pharmaceutical industries. This unique project clearly contributes to the National Research Priority of 'Frontier Technologies' and will further enhance Australia's world-class excellence in both powder fluidisation and granulation research.Read moreRead less
Jet breakup of emulsions for the production of designer microparticulate drug delivery systems. Drug delivery systems are an important and growing part of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology market. The growth is estimated to be at 23% p.a. and is tied to the requirements for more precise and complex delivery profiles by highly potent drugs or vaccines (bioactives). To achieve the required level of control and precision, improved encapsulation technologies are needed to produce particles of a p ....Jet breakup of emulsions for the production of designer microparticulate drug delivery systems. Drug delivery systems are an important and growing part of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology market. The growth is estimated to be at 23% p.a. and is tied to the requirements for more precise and complex delivery profiles by highly potent drugs or vaccines (bioactives). To achieve the required level of control and precision, improved encapsulation technologies are needed to produce particles of a precise size and narrow size distribution. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of superior uniformly sized particulate drug delivery systems for the delivery of the "next generation" bioactives.Read moreRead less
Developing novel aerosol inhalers for pulmonary drug delivery from the fundamental understanding of powder dispersion mechanisms. The project seeks to understand how powder aerosol inhalers can be significantly improved. The outcome will provide therapeutic benefits to the Australian community for better treatment of respiratory diseases and facilitate environmentally friendly technology since these inhalers do not require any harmful organic solvents to operate.