Characterisation of Pyrolytic Thermal Regions in Coal Macerals using Computer Aided Thermal Analysis. The research will assist in the fundamental understanding of coal pyrolysis mechanisms. All coal contains proportions of different fossilised plant material, which behaves differently when heated. This proposal studies thermal behaviour of the density separated fractions in Australian coals using a highly sensitive technique. The characterisation adds value and use to current coal reserves and ....Characterisation of Pyrolytic Thermal Regions in Coal Macerals using Computer Aided Thermal Analysis. The research will assist in the fundamental understanding of coal pyrolysis mechanisms. All coal contains proportions of different fossilised plant material, which behaves differently when heated. This proposal studies thermal behaviour of the density separated fractions in Australian coals using a highly sensitive technique. The characterisation adds value and use to current coal reserves and is aimed towards producing an advanced modelling capability to promote efficient coal usage in existing and future technologies. Such innovative approaches support the sustainability of Australian coal reserves, particularly in the transition towards decarbonised energy.Read moreRead less
Scaleable Microstructured Chemical Process Systems. This project seeks to revolutionize the way bulk chemicals are made industrially. By combining highly integrated process designs, with profound process intensification, we will create the basis for chemical process technology that is efficient and economical at relatively small scale. This development will reinvigorate the Australian chemical industry, with enormous benefits to the country in terms of improved security of supply of chemicals an ....Scaleable Microstructured Chemical Process Systems. This project seeks to revolutionize the way bulk chemicals are made industrially. By combining highly integrated process designs, with profound process intensification, we will create the basis for chemical process technology that is efficient and economical at relatively small scale. This development will reinvigorate the Australian chemical industry, with enormous benefits to the country in terms of improved security of supply of chemicals and fuels and reduced trade deficit. This new type of plant will be scaleable and without the technical risk normally associated with plant scale-up. At the smallest scale, it will be mobile and able to utilise remote and dispersed feedstocks such as stranded natural gas, coal bed methane, or biogas. Read moreRead less
Unsteady-State Operation of Slurry and Fixed-Bed Fischer-Tropsch Reactors for Improved Process Performance. The development of efficient gas-to-liquid processes via the Fischer-Tropsch reaction is the most economically viable route for the production of non-petroleum based chemicals and environmentally-friendly fuels from abundant natural gas. This investigation proposes the exploitation of both reactor and catalyst dynamics behaviour to obtain higher hydrocarbon synthesis rate and selectivity n ....Unsteady-State Operation of Slurry and Fixed-Bed Fischer-Tropsch Reactors for Improved Process Performance. The development of efficient gas-to-liquid processes via the Fischer-Tropsch reaction is the most economically viable route for the production of non-petroleum based chemicals and environmentally-friendly fuels from abundant natural gas. This investigation proposes the exploitation of both reactor and catalyst dynamics behaviour to obtain higher hydrocarbon synthesis rate and selectivity not attainable under conventional steady-state operation. With current market conditions of about US$30/bbl for crude oil, even modest process improvements of 30-60% will make the process competitive. Whilst individual national energy policy goals are promoted, the research will further strengthen closer economic and technology ties between France and Australia.Read moreRead less
Novel Metal Carbide Catalysts For Gas-To-Liquid Conversion Processes. The development of efficient gas-to-liquid fuels processes is driven by the availability of abundant natural gas reserves and environmental advantages of synthetic liquid fuels. In this study, a new molybdenum-tungsten carbide catalyst that with excellent performance but 80 times cheaper than noble metal catalysts is proposed. It is especially attractive for industrial applications because it can be used for steam reforming of ....Novel Metal Carbide Catalysts For Gas-To-Liquid Conversion Processes. The development of efficient gas-to-liquid fuels processes is driven by the availability of abundant natural gas reserves and environmental advantages of synthetic liquid fuels. In this study, a new molybdenum-tungsten carbide catalyst that with excellent performance but 80 times cheaper than noble metal catalysts is proposed. It is especially attractive for industrial applications because it can be used for steam reforming of natural gas to synthesis gas, and subsequent conversion to gasoline. This represents huge cost savings in catalyst and energetically-efficient reactors in the global petrochemical industry where millions of dollars are spent annually on catalyst improvement and rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
Process Systems for Distributed Chemical Manufacturing. This Project investigates a new paradigm for chemicals production, moving away from large-scale centralised plant to distributed manufacture in relatively small localised facilities. The Project is built on the conjunction of a revolutionary process systems synthesis methodology with a new approach to highly compact equipment manufacture. The Project is of great significance to developing countries and to smaller, remote economies such as A ....Process Systems for Distributed Chemical Manufacturing. This Project investigates a new paradigm for chemicals production, moving away from large-scale centralised plant to distributed manufacture in relatively small localised facilities. The Project is built on the conjunction of a revolutionary process systems synthesis methodology with a new approach to highly compact equipment manufacture. The Project is of great significance to developing countries and to smaller, remote economies such as Australia's, which cannot justify or compete with world-scale production facilities. We will develop our ideas in a case study and identify routes to practical implementation of this example in particular and of the new approach in general.Read moreRead less
Multiphase flows in microchannels. This project will improve our understanding of how multiphase fluids (such as a gas and a liquid or two liquids) flow in very small passages. Such flows are at the heart of almost all chemical processing and miniaturisation of chemical processes depends on our ability to design for and control them. There is a worldwide interest in microplant for chemicals manufacture and the international partner investigators are leaders in this field. The particular benefit ....Multiphase flows in microchannels. This project will improve our understanding of how multiphase fluids (such as a gas and a liquid or two liquids) flow in very small passages. Such flows are at the heart of almost all chemical processing and miniaturisation of chemical processes depends on our ability to design for and control them. There is a worldwide interest in microplant for chemicals manufacture and the international partner investigators are leaders in this field. The particular benefit to Australia lies in the possibility that miniaturised, microsctructured chemical plant could become the basis for remote, distributed manufacture that could, for example, allow natural gas processing on ocean platforms directly located at the point of production. Read moreRead less
Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane a ....Unlocking the catalytic activity of metal oxides through hybrid catalysis. This project aims to understand the interaction of light responsive nano-metals and metal oxide supports in photo-thermal catalysis, and channel light and heat to efficiently drive catalytic reactions. From this understanding, it will develop principles to activate the active site of metal oxides and control catalytic activity with high selectivity and stability. It will use this knowledge to selectively oxidate methane and oxidative coupling of methane reactions. The expected outcome is an inexpensive green catalysis method for chemical manufacture. This should lower the amount of waste, decrease energy consumption and improve human health, finite global resources and quality of life.Read moreRead less