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
Particle scale modelling of dense medium cyclones in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, worth around $A13.5 billion annually. Dense medium cyclones process the vast majority of tonnes fed to Australian coal preparation plants, and hence play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial design and operational improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and ....Particle scale modelling of dense medium cyclones in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, worth around $A13.5 billion annually. Dense medium cyclones process the vast majority of tonnes fed to Australian coal preparation plants, and hence play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial design and operational improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and discrete modelling method. Specifically, the improvements targeted relate to better process and product control, a decrease in unit energy consumption and improvements in productivity, which, together with the research training offered, will further enhance Australia's leading position in global coal industry.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedd ....Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedded in a comprehensive model of coal flotation.Read moreRead less
Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water bas ....Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water based fractionation method will be established, and a systematic investigation into the effects of the organic liquids will be undertaken. These results will be used to build a case for replacing the organic liquids used in the industry, which are known to have negative health and environmental impacts. 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
Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and ....Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and wider community. New separation technologies that could benefit the minerals industries and other key industries should follow. The project will also result in the education and training of two postgraduate students, and the advancement of two postdoctoral researchers in this area of industry. Read moreRead less
Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This rese ....Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This research will provide options for the recovery of this resource, making the remediation of these sites economically viable. The project will also support the education and training of researchers in this field of importance to Australia’s future.Read moreRead less
Particle scale modelling and analysis of the multiphase flows in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, with an annual value >$20 billion. Optimum design and control of the processes in coal preparation play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and discrete modelling method. Specifically, the improvements ta ....Particle scale modelling and analysis of the multiphase flows in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, with an annual value >$20 billion. Optimum design and control of the processes in coal preparation play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and discrete modelling method. Specifically, the improvements targeted relate to better process and product control, a decrease in unit energy consumption and improvements in productivity, which, together with the research training offered, will further enhance Australia's leading position in global coal industry.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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Mercury emissions from direct iron smelting technology. The proposed research will enhance the environmental performance of the first Australian direct ironmaking industry. This industry will maintain the commitment to environmental responsibility offering cleaner technologies and production. The project will enhance the social acceptability of this metallurgical operation within the regional and global communities. Optimisation of emission reduction technologies will ensure improved environment ....Mercury emissions from direct iron smelting technology. The proposed research will enhance the environmental performance of the first Australian direct ironmaking industry. This industry will maintain the commitment to environmental responsibility offering cleaner technologies and production. The project will enhance the social acceptability of this metallurgical operation within the regional and global communities. Optimisation of emission reduction technologies will ensure improved environmental standards and awareness of the industry's commitment to improved environmental performance among the local communities. The proposed work will also ensure Australia remains at the forefront of energy and ore utilisation technology, ensuring sustainable resource and environmental management control.Read moreRead less