Reactivity of Carbon-Carbon Composites. This project investigates the reactivity of pitch-coke carbon composites with the aim of minimising oxidative carbon loss from anodes during aluminium smelting. Such carbon loss accounts for about 15 percent of the total carbon consumption in smelting, and its reduction will provide considerable economic benefit besides contributing to mitigation of greenhouse gas emission. In the present project the effect of coke calcination and composite baking temper ....Reactivity of Carbon-Carbon Composites. This project investigates the reactivity of pitch-coke carbon composites with the aim of minimising oxidative carbon loss from anodes during aluminium smelting. Such carbon loss accounts for about 15 percent of the total carbon consumption in smelting, and its reduction will provide considerable economic benefit besides contributing to mitigation of greenhouse gas emission. In the present project the effect of coke calcination and composite baking temperatures on the relationship between anode microstructure and reactivity in oxygen as well as carbon dioxide will be investigated, and optimum process conditions determined for minimum reactive carbon loss during smelting.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Dual Fuel Compression Ignition (Diesel) Engines With Respect to Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions. A successful dual-fuel compression ignition (diesel) engine technology utilizing renewable alcohol fuels will provide a commercially attractive, immediate solution to the global fuel challenges of security and cost of oil supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality . This project provides both the rigorous laboratory and field testing required to develop, test, optim ....Optimisation of Dual Fuel Compression Ignition (Diesel) Engines With Respect to Engine Performance and Pollutant Emissions. A successful dual-fuel compression ignition (diesel) engine technology utilizing renewable alcohol fuels will provide a commercially attractive, immediate solution to the global fuel challenges of security and cost of oil supply, greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality . This project provides both the rigorous laboratory and field testing required to develop, test, optimize and validate both engine performance and pollution emissions. This ethanol dual fuel approach has the potential to reduce Australia's dependence on imported fuels, support the development of regional agriculture and employment through the expansion of the biofuels industry and enhance the environmental performance of transport and stationary engines.Read moreRead less
Homogeneous Combustion Catalysts for Efficiency Improvements and Emission Reduction in Diesel Engines. Australia currently consumes about 25 billion litres of diesel annually through the mining industry, road transportation and electricity generation for remote communities which presentins a significant cost and carbon footprint. A small reduction of say 2.5% in diesel consumption nationwide by improving engine performance and energy efficiency can result in more than $0.5 billion in savings and ....Homogeneous Combustion Catalysts for Efficiency Improvements and Emission Reduction in Diesel Engines. Australia currently consumes about 25 billion litres of diesel annually through the mining industry, road transportation and electricity generation for remote communities which presentins a significant cost and carbon footprint. A small reduction of say 2.5% in diesel consumption nationwide by improving engine performance and energy efficiency can result in more than $0.5 billion in savings and a reduction of 1.75 million tonnes in greenhouse gas emission annually. The homogeneous combustion catalysts, to be developed in this research for direct doping into diesel supply system, will help realise these objectives and contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Development of a low emission, pulverised fuel rotary kiln burner utilising a low pressure-drop, oscillating jet nozzle. A low pressure-drop oscillating jet nozzle, developed recently by the investigators, will be applied to pulverised fuel combustion to provide an advanced, low emission burner for the cement industry. This design is expected to overcome the high pressure drop of the present design which limits its range of application. The program will apply advanced measurement techniques to ....Development of a low emission, pulverised fuel rotary kiln burner utilising a low pressure-drop, oscillating jet nozzle. A low pressure-drop oscillating jet nozzle, developed recently by the investigators, will be applied to pulverised fuel combustion to provide an advanced, low emission burner for the cement industry. This design is expected to overcome the high pressure drop of the present design which limits its range of application. The program will apply advanced measurement techniques to study the aerodynamic behaviour of particles, which control many aspects of the combustion. These will be used to advance understanding and for the development and validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. A preferred design will be assessed in FCT's model lab and then in full-scale trials.Read moreRead less
Investigations into the Mechanisms of Reactions between Alkanes and Nitric Oxide at Low Temperatures. Energy is essential to human progress and Australia's economy is built on our energy-intense industry. In the foreseeable future, combustion of hydrocarbon fuels remains a major means of energy utilisation. The challenges are to reduce emissions and improve combustion operability. The outcomes of the present research will provide a scientific basis that enable new combustion and associated emiss ....Investigations into the Mechanisms of Reactions between Alkanes and Nitric Oxide at Low Temperatures. Energy is essential to human progress and Australia's economy is built on our energy-intense industry. In the foreseeable future, combustion of hydrocarbon fuels remains a major means of energy utilisation. The challenges are to reduce emissions and improve combustion operability. The outcomes of the present research will provide a scientific basis that enable new combustion and associated emission control technologies to be developed with potential to reduce engine knock, improve efficiency and reduce NOx emissions during the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. This project will also offer an excellent opportunity to develop future combustion scientists and technologies through postgraduate research training.Read moreRead less
Development of a gas-diesel engine injection system using a hydraulically actuated, electronically controlled unit injector (HEUI) for flexible dual-fuel operation. Achieving targets for greenhouse gas reduction will require practical, easily implemented alternative fuels for vehicles. Converting existing truck/bus diesel engines to dual-fuel systems using natural gas is important. In particular, for long distance application, these systems need to allow flexible switching from sole diesel to du ....Development of a gas-diesel engine injection system using a hydraulically actuated, electronically controlled unit injector (HEUI) for flexible dual-fuel operation. Achieving targets for greenhouse gas reduction will require practical, easily implemented alternative fuels for vehicles. Converting existing truck/bus diesel engines to dual-fuel systems using natural gas is important. In particular, for long distance application, these systems need to allow flexible switching from sole diesel to dual-fuel operation and good gas substitution at low loads within cities. An earlier ARC funded project allowed UNSW to develop the world's most compact, flexible HEUI diesel injector. This project aims to develop, test and explore dual-fuel combustion using a compact single unit, combined NG/HEUI injector which will have considerable combustion and operational advantages.Read moreRead less