Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100204
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,147.00
Summary
Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. This project aims to investigate the technological aspects of re-using underground mines as a source for low-carbon heat extraction and storage – while simultaneously providing sustainable solutions for mine rehabilitation. Expected outcomes of this project include a framework to evaluate the viability of a mine-water system as a geothermal heat source; experimental and field exploration of the proposed technology; and strategie ....Geothermal heat recovery and energy storage from underground mines. This project aims to investigate the technological aspects of re-using underground mines as a source for low-carbon heat extraction and storage – while simultaneously providing sustainable solutions for mine rehabilitation. Expected outcomes of this project include a framework to evaluate the viability of a mine-water system as a geothermal heat source; experimental and field exploration of the proposed technology; and strategies to optimise the heat extraction process. Overall, the research provides significant benefits for renewable-based energy transformation while minimising the adverse impacts of post-mining landscapes.Read moreRead less
Mitigating the negative effects of process water on recovering gold. Low quality water has been used in the minerals industry to save fresh water but shows harmful effects on gold extraction. This project aims to understand the interactions of organic and inorganic components, existing in process water, with gold and determine problematic components that inhibit gold extraction. Expected outcomes will be developed bio-sorbents, based on agriculture waste, that can remove the problematic componen ....Mitigating the negative effects of process water on recovering gold. Low quality water has been used in the minerals industry to save fresh water but shows harmful effects on gold extraction. This project aims to understand the interactions of organic and inorganic components, existing in process water, with gold and determine problematic components that inhibit gold extraction. Expected outcomes will be developed bio-sorbents, based on agriculture waste, that can remove the problematic components in process water efficiently and economically. This will provide major benefits for the minerals industry by providing options to respond and adapt to the impacts of water quality change, leading to increases in yield, revenue and growth of the precious metal sector whilst cutting poisonous chemical consumptions.Read moreRead less
Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical ap ....Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical approach will be used to simulate mudrush risk based on moisture content, particle sizes, compaction, geological conditions, and seismic energy. Outputs will include a practical framework to boost the safety, productivity, and profitability of caving operations to benefit miners and the broader resources industry.Read moreRead less