Model studies of the flow and thermal behaviour of non-spherical particles in fluid bed reactors. The Australian steel industry has a turnover of around $11 billion (5% of total manufacturing), being a largest manufacturing sector in Australia. Iron ore sintering and blast furnace ironmaking are two important processes in an integrated steel works. This project aims to understand and model the particle-fluid flow and thermal behaviour of non-spherical particles in the two processes, formulating ....Model studies of the flow and thermal behaviour of non-spherical particles in fluid bed reactors. The Australian steel industry has a turnover of around $11 billion (5% of total manufacturing), being a largest manufacturing sector in Australia. Iron ore sintering and blast furnace ironmaking are two important processes in an integrated steel works. This project aims to understand and model the particle-fluid flow and thermal behaviour of non-spherical particles in the two processes, formulating strategies for improving the process control and productivity and energy saving. The research outcomes (theory/model/understanding) are useful to fluid bed reactors which are widely used in mineral/metallurgical/chemical industries. Their application can improve the competitiveness of the steel and other industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
Experimental and numerical studies of the packing and piling of coal. This project is oriented to the coal and steel industries, which are important to Australia. In fact, the coal industry creates a significant employment and produces 80% of electricity in Australia. Australia is also the world's biggest coal exporter. This project will develop methods to control the packing and piling processes of coal, which are of fundamental importance to many granular processes. The benefits from the proje ....Experimental and numerical studies of the packing and piling of coal. This project is oriented to the coal and steel industries, which are important to Australia. In fact, the coal industry creates a significant employment and produces 80% of electricity in Australia. Australia is also the world's biggest coal exporter. This project will develop methods to control the packing and piling processes of coal, which are of fundamental importance to many granular processes. The benefits from the project include improvements in productivity, coke quality and fuel efficiency, which will lead reduced energy consumption and pollution emission and thereby improve the competitiveness of Australia's coal and steel industries. Read moreRead less
Fundamental studies of screening processes in coal preparation. Screening is a most important unit operation widely used in industries but not well understood. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the dynamic behaviour of coal slurry on desliming screens by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the operation under various conditions at a particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify ....Fundamental studies of screening processes in coal preparation. Screening is a most important unit operation widely used in industries but not well understood. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the dynamic behaviour of coal slurry on desliming screens by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the operation under various conditions at a particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify the screening performance in relation to materials, machine and operation conditions. It will generate a basis for developing better design and control strategies of screen operation, resulting in an improved competitiveness of Australia's mineral industry.Read moreRead less
Advanced modelling and optimisation of Underground Coal Gasification. The last decade is characterised by increasing interest of many countries in obtaining and developing Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technologies. Recent long-term successful trial in Chinchilla has proven that the technology is ready for commercial use but the fundamental research into UCG is needed for further improvement of the technology performance in commercial applications. The major goal of this project is in comb ....Advanced modelling and optimisation of Underground Coal Gasification. The last decade is characterised by increasing interest of many countries in obtaining and developing Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technologies. Recent long-term successful trial in Chinchilla has proven that the technology is ready for commercial use but the fundamental research into UCG is needed for further improvement of the technology performance in commercial applications. The major goal of this project is in combining most recent advances in combustion modelling with practical UCG operations and developing new advanced models specifically for UCG diagnostics and optimisation. The project outcomes involve: better understanding and optimisation of UCG processes and further development of advanced modelling techniques.
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Model studies of multiphase flow in fluid bed reactors. Multiphase flow is widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industries which are important components of Australia's economy. Understanding and modelling multiphase flow plays a significant role in the design, control and optimization of multiphase reactors in these industries. The success of this project will enhance computational multiphase flow capability and help build fluid bed reactors with high efficiency, low energy ....Model studies of multiphase flow in fluid bed reactors. Multiphase flow is widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industries which are important components of Australia's economy. Understanding and modelling multiphase flow plays a significant role in the design, control and optimization of multiphase reactors in these industries. The success of this project will enhance computational multiphase flow capability and help build fluid bed reactors with high efficiency, low energy consumption and low emissions. The research outcomes will not only greatly benefit Australia's economy but also significantly help environmental protection beneficial to Australia's community.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resulta ....Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resultant models and the new understanding should lead to long life campaigns, better operational control, decreased fuel consumption, improved productivity and reduced environmental impact. This, together with the proposed research training, is important to the development of Australia's competitive steel industry.Read moreRead less
Using Mathematics to Maximize the Efficiency of Shared Infrastructure in Australia's Coal Export Supply Chain. Port Waratah Coal Services operates the world's largest coal export terminal, servicing about 14 coal mining companies in the Hunter Valley, NSW. It is responsible for around $15 billion in annual export income for Australia. The coal supply chain is a complex operation, hampered by bottlenecks in critical shared infrastructure. Such limitations are estimated to cost Australia about $2 ....Using Mathematics to Maximize the Efficiency of Shared Infrastructure in Australia's Coal Export Supply Chain. Port Waratah Coal Services operates the world's largest coal export terminal, servicing about 14 coal mining companies in the Hunter Valley, NSW. It is responsible for around $15 billion in annual export income for Australia. The coal supply chain is a complex operation, hampered by bottlenecks in critical shared infrastructure. Such limitations are estimated to cost Australia about $2 billion pa in lost sales. This project will support the design of new infrastructure and processes to ensure an efficient supply chain. The new science resulting will benefit other coal operations in Australia, and potentially other bulk goods supply chains.Read moreRead less
Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted ....Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted. In this project we shall develop creative mathematical solutions to maximise the expected net present value of mines with far greater accuracy, taking into account blending and the uncertain nature of future demand.Read moreRead less
Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and m ....Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and make more efficient the processing of data from the
analyser. A particular focus will be quicker and improved calibration
of the instrument. These techniques will increase the accuracy and
speed while reducing the costs of such analysers, thus retaining and
enhancing their competitiveness in the global market.
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