Biochar as a renewable catalyst for hot gas cleaning. This project aims to generate new knowledge for the development of a novel hot gas cleaning technology. This project expects to understand the mechanisms of tar reforming using biochar as a renewable catalyst, which can avoid the problems associated with the catalyst deactivation and catalyst disposal if conventional supported catalysts are used. Expected outcomes of this project include a theoretical framework and a kinetic model describing ....Biochar as a renewable catalyst for hot gas cleaning. This project aims to generate new knowledge for the development of a novel hot gas cleaning technology. This project expects to understand the mechanisms of tar reforming using biochar as a renewable catalyst, which can avoid the problems associated with the catalyst deactivation and catalyst disposal if conventional supported catalysts are used. Expected outcomes of this project include a theoretical framework and a kinetic model describing the catalytic reforming of tar as part of the hot gas cleaning during the conversion of biomass. The technology will contribute to Australia’s improved energy security and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the carbon-constrained future.Read moreRead less
New understanding of turbulent flames with soot and particulate fuels. This project will develop the new understanding and models required to optimise practical furnaces, boilers and combustion chambers, most of which involve soot and/or particulate fuels. This work will be performed with state-of-the-art measurement and modelling tools through a well-established partnership of international researchers.
The Permeation of Water through Industrial Membrane Systems. This project aims to understand the permeation of water through commercially relevant non-porous polymeric membranes. Permeation, solubility and diffusivity will be studied in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature to elucidate the changes in free volume that occur through this transition. Non-linear concentration gradients due to anisotropic swelling will be probed using novel laminated membrane systems. Water clustering wil ....The Permeation of Water through Industrial Membrane Systems. This project aims to understand the permeation of water through commercially relevant non-porous polymeric membranes. Permeation, solubility and diffusivity will be studied in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature to elucidate the changes in free volume that occur through this transition. Non-linear concentration gradients due to anisotropic swelling will be probed using novel laminated membrane systems. Water clustering will be evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Results are proposed to be used to build a new phenomenological model of water permeation that can be used directly by engineers in the design of industrial membrane systems.Read moreRead less
Biosolid flow, separation and activity in anaerobic lagoons. This project aims to develop a fundamental model of the complex, non-steady state flow behaviour in anaerobic lagoons. The project will develop new operating procedures and designs for large municipal, industrial and agricultural anaerobic lagoons. This will improve the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and reduce wastewater treatment costs, as well as increase renewable and sustainable biogas production. The intended outcome is a va ....Biosolid flow, separation and activity in anaerobic lagoons. This project aims to develop a fundamental model of the complex, non-steady state flow behaviour in anaerobic lagoons. The project will develop new operating procedures and designs for large municipal, industrial and agricultural anaerobic lagoons. This will improve the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and reduce wastewater treatment costs, as well as increase renewable and sustainable biogas production. The intended outcome is a validated 3D model that captures the physical and biological complexities of anaerobic lagoons. This will impact the design and operation of partner organisation lagoons, reducing capital and operating costs and improving biogas production.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101215
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A novel pyrolysis process for high-quality bio-oil production from biomass. The project outcome will provide fundamental knowledge essential to the development of a novel pyrolysis process for high-quality bio-oil production with biochar, a value-added by-product. It will largely accelerate the commercialisation of the biomass pyrolysis process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use in the energy sector.
Advanced biomass gasification process for distributed power generation with significant negative carbon emission in rural and regional Australia. The outcome of this project is fundamental knowledge essential to the development of advanced biomass gasification processes for distributed power generation with drastic reduction in carbon emissions and the recycling of inorganic nutrients to the land. It will contribute significantly to the future sustainability of rural and regional Australia.
An innovative two-phase anaerobic process for biogas production from green waste and animal droppings for remote communities. Australia's remote communities, including agricultural and Indigenous communities, are an important part of Australian society and a significant contributor to the Australian economy, yet their access to cheap, secure, reliable and clean energy remains a significant challenge. Building on recent scientific advancement in anaerobic digestion, this project will develop a ne ....An innovative two-phase anaerobic process for biogas production from green waste and animal droppings for remote communities. Australia's remote communities, including agricultural and Indigenous communities, are an important part of Australian society and a significant contributor to the Australian economy, yet their access to cheap, secure, reliable and clean energy remains a significant challenge. Building on recent scientific advancement in anaerobic digestion, this project will develop a new technology for biogas production using locally available resources such as green waste and animal droppings. The outcome of this project will provide clean energy services to regional communities while minimising greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste disposal and thus contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia.Read moreRead less
Solar-driven massive hydrogen production from biomass and biomass/coal mixtures by supercritical water gasification. Cheap and massive hydrogen production from renewable resources is one of the key challenges to achieve a hydrogen economy that promises to ultimately solve critical problems, such as energy depletion and climate change. This project exactly falls into this research and development priority and will benefit Australian economy and environment.
Overcoming microplastics induced inhibition on waste-to-energy conversion . This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to achieve stable and efficient mitigation of emerging microplastics induced inhibition that is becoming a key barrier hindering waste-to-energy conversion in anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a low-cost technology widely used to divert sewage sludge to renewable energy production. However, the increasing levels of microplastics ....Overcoming microplastics induced inhibition on waste-to-energy conversion . This project aims to develop an innovative technology and the underpinning science to achieve stable and efficient mitigation of emerging microplastics induced inhibition that is becoming a key barrier hindering waste-to-energy conversion in anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a low-cost technology widely used to divert sewage sludge to renewable energy production. However, the increasing levels of microplastics captured in sludge leads to low methane yield and process failure due to their small size and specific characteristics. The outcome of the project will remove the emerging barrier to enhance energy recovery that can be applied in existing anaerobic digestion infrastructure for addressing Australia’s increasing energy demand.Read moreRead less
Production, processing and combustion of an innovative slurry fuel for high efficiency distributed power generation. This project will advance the science underpinning the development of an innovative technology for energy production (with carbon capture) and use in remote regions. The outcomes of this research will help meet the great challenges of climate change and contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia.