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
Understanding the reactivity of pulverised coal at extreme conditions when injected into blast furnaces during PCI. This study aims to improve the understanding and develop a mathematical model of coal combustion during injection into blast furnaces as PCI (pulverised coal injection). The principle economic and social benefits of this project to the community are: (i) Increased efficiency of Blast Furnace operations, resulting in cheaper production of iron in an increasingly globally competitive ....Understanding the reactivity of pulverised coal at extreme conditions when injected into blast furnaces during PCI. This study aims to improve the understanding and develop a mathematical model of coal combustion during injection into blast furnaces as PCI (pulverised coal injection). The principle economic and social benefits of this project to the community are: (i) Increased efficiency of Blast Furnace operations, resulting in cheaper production of iron in an increasingly globally competitive industry, supporting the Australian steel industry and domestic market. And (ii) the potential to impact on process fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel sources providing a cleaner source of iron for steel production.Read moreRead less
A Fundamental Study on Redox Behaviour of Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Combustion. Our goal here is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the redox behaviour of metal oxide oxygen carriers which, arguably, underpins the feasibility of the Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) concept. Although the proposed work is fundamental and will contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the results will have immediate practical applications in power generation industry at both national and internatio ....A Fundamental Study on Redox Behaviour of Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Combustion. Our goal here is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the redox behaviour of metal oxide oxygen carriers which, arguably, underpins the feasibility of the Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) concept. Although the proposed work is fundamental and will contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the results will have immediate practical applications in power generation industry at both national and international levels. This should significantly contribute to the Australian Government's efforts in producing world class solutions for abatement of greenhouse emissions (Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, Priority Goal 1.4 - Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation).Read moreRead less
Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and com ....Atomisation and Combustion Physics of Australian Bio-oils. Australia is highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transport, and this dependence is growing. Wide spread substitution of liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indigenous renewable bio-oil has the potential to improve Australian's energy outlook and assist in reaching greenhouse gas targets. Understanding the interrelationships between the physical and chemical properties of bio-oil, its atomisation, droplet formation and combustion physics is fundamental to the delivery of an efficient and reliable combustion process using this fuel. Measurements using laser based diagnostics of the atomisation flow, droplet formation and combustion process will provide the experimental data to understand this complex interrelationship.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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0230569
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
INTEGRATED PARTICLE IMAGE THERMOMETRY / VELOCIMETRY FACILITY. This proposal seeks to establish a specialised Particle Image Thermometry / Velocimetry (PITV) facility for simultaneous three-dimensional measurements of global temperature and velocity fields in complex flows. The proposed facility is needed to obtain experimental validations for theories and models developed for complex reacting and non-reacting flows that are strongly influenced by transient behaviour. Applications of PITV include ....INTEGRATED PARTICLE IMAGE THERMOMETRY / VELOCIMETRY FACILITY. This proposal seeks to establish a specialised Particle Image Thermometry / Velocimetry (PITV) facility for simultaneous three-dimensional measurements of global temperature and velocity fields in complex flows. The proposed facility is needed to obtain experimental validations for theories and models developed for complex reacting and non-reacting flows that are strongly influenced by transient behaviour. Applications of PITV include, but are not limited to, low-temperature reacting flows, mixing, jets, wakes, shear layers, time-dependent multiphase flows, unsteady turbulent flows, complex rotating machinery and other periodic flows, as well as natural convection studies.Read moreRead less
Enabling low greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles through the proper use of alternative fuels. A major increase in alternative transport fuel use appears necessary in our response to the challenges of climate change and energy security. This proposal will advance our fundamental understanding of key aspects of the combustion of particular alternative fuels, thus enabling proper engine design and so maximising greenhouse and energy security benefits. Further, the Australian automotive indu ....Enabling low greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles through the proper use of alternative fuels. A major increase in alternative transport fuel use appears necessary in our response to the challenges of climate change and energy security. This proposal will advance our fundamental understanding of key aspects of the combustion of particular alternative fuels, thus enabling proper engine design and so maximising greenhouse and energy security benefits. Further, the Australian automotive industry is a major employer and exporter, and needs to develop and/or maintain international leadership in low emission technologies to ensure its long term viability. This proposal builds a consortium of local organisations with common interests, thus helping local industry respond to several, significant challenges that they presently face.Read moreRead less
A Fundamental Investigation of the Thermoplastic Behaviour and Porous Structural Evolution of Coke and Char Particles. During heating, solid fuel particles undergo complex physical changes resulting in sophisticated structures in the residual material (coke and char) which influence the operational performance of these materials in ironmaking and power generation processes. The mechanistic understanding of the evolution of physical structure and the coupled role of gas evolution has not been wel ....A Fundamental Investigation of the Thermoplastic Behaviour and Porous Structural Evolution of Coke and Char Particles. During heating, solid fuel particles undergo complex physical changes resulting in sophisticated structures in the residual material (coke and char) which influence the operational performance of these materials in ironmaking and power generation processes. The mechanistic understanding of the evolution of physical structure and the coupled role of gas evolution has not been well established. An interpretive and predictive mechanism to describe the process will be developed through experimental observations and mathematical modelling. The project will provide fundamental new insights and understanding of operational issues concerning the complex behaviour of solid fuel residues in coal based industrial processes.Read moreRead less
Self-heating of porous lignocellulosic and coal particles. This project develops models for spontaneous heating of materials, which have substantial value to Australian economy, and whose self-heating behaviour have led to loss of life and significant material losses in industries processing these materials. The results will be immediately applicable to evaluate risks of spontaneous ignition in process plants in a more rigorous manner than performed presently. Furthermore, findings of this inv ....Self-heating of porous lignocellulosic and coal particles. This project develops models for spontaneous heating of materials, which have substantial value to Australian economy, and whose self-heating behaviour have led to loss of life and significant material losses in industries processing these materials. The results will be immediately applicable to evaluate risks of spontaneous ignition in process plants in a more rigorous manner than performed presently. Furthermore, findings of this investigation will allow considerable improvement in estimating green house gas emissions as a consequence of spontaneous combustion.Read moreRead less
Carbon surface oxides: the key to understanding the chemical rate of carbon combustion. This project employs a unique combination of experimental measurements and fundamental quantum chemical calculations to study the oxides which form on the surface of carbon as it burns. Our objective is to develop a quantitative model for the kinetics of carbon combustion which will be a profound improvement over existing approaches. Such a model would provide the basis for the improved prediction of carbon c ....Carbon surface oxides: the key to understanding the chemical rate of carbon combustion. This project employs a unique combination of experimental measurements and fundamental quantum chemical calculations to study the oxides which form on the surface of carbon as it burns. Our objective is to develop a quantitative model for the kinetics of carbon combustion which will be a profound improvement over existing approaches. Such a model would provide the basis for the improved prediction of carbon combustion and gasification in current (coal-burning) power generation appliances, as well as catering for new approaches to lowering greenhouse emissions which also depend on the combustion and gasification of carbon as coal, biomass or refuse-derived fuel.Read moreRead less