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
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
Multiscale modelling and analysis of complex particulate and multiphase flow. Particulate and multiphase processes are widely used in both conventional and modern industries in Australia and worldwide, however rarely reach more than 60% of design capacity because of a poor understanding of their fundamental characteristics. This frontier technology research program aims to overcome this problem using an extensive combined fundamental and applied approach. The resulting theories, computer models ....Multiscale modelling and analysis of complex particulate and multiphase flow. Particulate and multiphase processes are widely used in both conventional and modern industries in Australia and worldwide, however rarely reach more than 60% of design capacity because of a poor understanding of their fundamental characteristics. This frontier technology research program aims to overcome this problem using an extensive combined fundamental and applied approach. The resulting theories, computer models and simulation techniques will be applied to improve process design, control and optimisation. Consequentially, productivity and Australian competitiveness will be significantly enhanced in its most important industries such as minerals, metallurgical, chemical, energy, pharmaceutical and materials.Read moreRead less
Granular dynamics: characterization, modelling and application. Storage and transport of bulk solids are widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industrials which are important to Australia. The design and control of bulk solids handling equipment must be optimised for the efficiency of processing. This project provides a systematic investigation of the techniques used to characterize bulk solids, and applies the new findings to hopper flow and pneumatic conveying. This, togeth ....Granular dynamics: characterization, modelling and application. Storage and transport of bulk solids are widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industrials which are important to Australia. The design and control of bulk solids handling equipment must be optimised for the efficiency of processing. This project provides a systematic investigation of the techniques used to characterize bulk solids, and applies the new findings to hopper flow and pneumatic conveying. This, together with the research training offered through the conduct of the work, is very helpful to maintaining Australia’s leading position in bulk solids handling and application in resource, energy, process and allied industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347553
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
Smart Equipment for Remote Monitoring of Isolated and Mobile Infrastructure. The partners' research involves the collection and assessment of data to determine the condition, maintenance strategies and risk of failure of plant in diverse areas such as transport, cargo and packaging, mining and power. Recent advances in data processing, computing and telemetry mean that it is now possible to actually install small and rugged data acquisition equipment on remote infrastructure or mobile plant. T ....Smart Equipment for Remote Monitoring of Isolated and Mobile Infrastructure. The partners' research involves the collection and assessment of data to determine the condition, maintenance strategies and risk of failure of plant in diverse areas such as transport, cargo and packaging, mining and power. Recent advances in data processing, computing and telemetry mean that it is now possible to actually install small and rugged data acquisition equipment on remote infrastructure or mobile plant. This equipment can acquire, condition and process the signals and use wireless telemetry to transmit the data for remote assessment. The proposed infrastructure will enable the partners' research to be extended to these challenging applications.Read moreRead less
An investigation into the relationships between geology, geometry and wind blast magnitude & intensity in underground coal mining. In some underground coal mines where the roof comprises massive rock, the roof strata do not cave regularly as extraction progresses but hang up, leading to extensive areas of unsupported roof. These areas can suddenly collapse, compressing the air beneath and forcing it out of the void through surrounding openings giving rise to a potentially hazardous phenomenon kn ....An investigation into the relationships between geology, geometry and wind blast magnitude & intensity in underground coal mining. In some underground coal mines where the roof comprises massive rock, the roof strata do not cave regularly as extraction progresses but hang up, leading to extensive areas of unsupported roof. These areas can suddenly collapse, compressing the air beneath and forcing it out of the void through surrounding openings giving rise to a potentially hazardous phenomenon known as wind blast. The aim is to develop a fundamental understanding of the phenomenon and thus provide a basis on which to develop strategies to mitigate the hazard. Outcomes are expected to be improved levels of mining safety, technical viability and economics.Read moreRead less
Model studies of multiphase flow in fluid bed reactors. Multiphase flow is widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industries which are important components of Australia's economy. Understanding and modelling multiphase flow plays a significant role in the design, control and optimization of multiphase reactors in these industries. The success of this project will enhance computational multiphase flow capability and help build fluid bed reactors with high efficiency, low energy ....Model studies of multiphase flow in fluid bed reactors. Multiphase flow is widely encountered in mineral, metallurgical and chemical industries which are important components of Australia's economy. Understanding and modelling multiphase flow plays a significant role in the design, control and optimization of multiphase reactors in these industries. The success of this project will enhance computational multiphase flow capability and help build fluid bed reactors with high efficiency, low energy consumption and low emissions. The research outcomes will not only greatly benefit Australia's economy but also significantly help environmental protection beneficial to Australia's community.Read moreRead less
Transport phenomena in foam fractionation. Foam fractionation has a number of immediate applications in mineral and food processing but its most exciting potential is as low cost alternative for recovering and purifying high value biosurfactants. These are materials used to stabilise interfaces in living systems, and can be used as antibiotics and antiviral agents. The affinity for biosurfactants to collect at an interface suggests that foam fractionation is an ideal process to concentrate valua ....Transport phenomena in foam fractionation. Foam fractionation has a number of immediate applications in mineral and food processing but its most exciting potential is as low cost alternative for recovering and purifying high value biosurfactants. These are materials used to stabilise interfaces in living systems, and can be used as antibiotics and antiviral agents. The affinity for biosurfactants to collect at an interface suggests that foam fractionation is an ideal process to concentrate valuable products. Clearly, a cost-effective and reliable method of enriching streams of biosurfactants will make their use even more attractive and will engender the development of more novel biomaterials, such as pepfactants.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0211014
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,000.00
Summary
Electron Microscope/X-Ray Unit Equipment Upgrade.
The aim of this proposal is to obtain funding to upgrade major equipment items in the centralised Electron Microscope / X-Ray Unit to replace obsolete instruments, some of which are twenty two years old. The proposed equipment will support highly productive research groups and individuals from the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geography, Geology, Mechanical Engineering and Medical Sciences.
It w ....Electron Microscope/X-Ray Unit Equipment Upgrade.
The aim of this proposal is to obtain funding to upgrade major equipment items in the centralised Electron Microscope / X-Ray Unit to replace obsolete instruments, some of which are twenty two years old. The proposed equipment will support highly productive research groups and individuals from the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geography, Geology, Mechanical Engineering and Medical Sciences.
It will be of great assistance in projects as diverse as the development of new ceramic materials, waste water precipitation chemistry, ore deposit geology, increasing agricultural productivity and the ultrastructure of organs responsible for the sense of balance.
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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