Dry Processing of Fine Coal Using the Reflux Classifier. New and efficient separation technologies are crucial for developing the concept of Dry Coal Processing. The benefits to the industry of Dry Processing are compelling, with savings in water consumption, and much larger savings in dewatering and transportation of the product. The Reflux Classifier is a new fluidized bed technology developed in Australia using the more conventional water fluidization approach. Already the technology is contr ....Dry Processing of Fine Coal Using the Reflux Classifier. New and efficient separation technologies are crucial for developing the concept of Dry Coal Processing. The benefits to the industry of Dry Processing are compelling, with savings in water consumption, and much larger savings in dewatering and transportation of the product. The Reflux Classifier is a new fluidized bed technology developed in Australia using the more conventional water fluidization approach. Already the technology is contributing to Australian exports in the rapidly growing area of mining services. The purpose of this project is to establish its potential for use in the Dry Processing of fine coal. Other benefits of the study include the education and training of researchers in this field.Read moreRead less
Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of g ....Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of generating air bubbles, to gain fundamental understanding of the foaming mechanism in currently used gassing techniques, and to invent ways to stabilise large bubbles within the emulsion. The project will provide scientific underpinning for the development of a new range of emulsion explosives manufactured by Orica for Australian and international markets, maintaining the Orica's position as a leader in the field of emulsion explosives.Read moreRead less
Novel technology to sensitise emulsion explosives. The project will develop a new technology for more efficient and safer extraction of minerals. It will extend the application of emulsion explosives to low-temperatures and will eliminate the heating of emulsion blasting agents during transport. Since mining operations are located in regional areas, the project will bring benefits to local and rural communities. The project will also generate new knowledge on the behaviour and stability of th ....Novel technology to sensitise emulsion explosives. The project will develop a new technology for more efficient and safer extraction of minerals. It will extend the application of emulsion explosives to low-temperatures and will eliminate the heating of emulsion blasting agents during transport. Since mining operations are located in regional areas, the project will bring benefits to local and rural communities. The project will also generate new knowledge on the behaviour and stability of three-phase systems that contain very small gas bubbles. In addition to its fundamental importance, this knowledge can be carried over to food and cosmetic industries to facilitate the development of new products.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
New process for mineral flotation. Flotation is an important process in the minerals industry, which underpins Australia's prosperity. Ore is first finely ground and suspended in water. Finer grinds need more energy. The energy used in grinding in Australia is 14 percent of the national electricity consumption. This project will lead to a flotation technology that can successfully process much coarser particles than current devices, with large savings in grinding energy, greenhouse gas emissions ....New process for mineral flotation. Flotation is an important process in the minerals industry, which underpins Australia's prosperity. Ore is first finely ground and suspended in water. Finer grinds need more energy. The energy used in grinding in Australia is 14 percent of the national electricity consumption. This project will lead to a flotation technology that can successfully process much coarser particles than current devices, with large savings in grinding energy, greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. A case study of a large mine shows that, by increasing the initial grinding size from 100 µm to 500 µm, the new technology could cut grinding energy by 45 percent, the carbon dioxide emissions by the same amount, and the water consumption by a factor of five.Read moreRead less
Extending the range of the flotation process for particle separation. The minerals industry is a significant contributor to Australia's prosperity. Flotation is an important process for upgrading low-grade ores to high-grade concentrates, and for recovering fine coal from tailings. This project is aimed at solving a long-term problem in current flotation practice, the difficulty in recovering ultrafine and coarse particles, currently lost from production. We will pursue two new discoveries recen ....Extending the range of the flotation process for particle separation. The minerals industry is a significant contributor to Australia's prosperity. Flotation is an important process for upgrading low-grade ores to high-grade concentrates, and for recovering fine coal from tailings. This project is aimed at solving a long-term problem in current flotation practice, the difficulty in recovering ultrafine and coarse particles, currently lost from production. We will pursue two new discoveries recently made by us, relating to the recovery of ultrafines and coarse particles. Benefits to Australia are of the order of $500 million a year in increased exports, education of high-quality graduates, export income from license fees and equipment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347603
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,876.00
Summary
Integrated Facility for Interfacial Rheology Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish a state-of-the-art facility for interfacial rheology analysis. The proposed facility will be unique in Australia and bring together leading researchers from the Universities of Newcastle, Melbourne and South Australia. The facility will allow direct measurements of physical properties at fluid-liquid interfaces which are needed for ongoing research in froth flotation, food processing and surfactant applicatio ....Integrated Facility for Interfacial Rheology Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish a state-of-the-art facility for interfacial rheology analysis. The proposed facility will be unique in Australia and bring together leading researchers from the Universities of Newcastle, Melbourne and South Australia. The facility will allow direct measurements of physical properties at fluid-liquid interfaces which are needed for ongoing research in froth flotation, food processing and surfactant applications as well as to develop new processes in emerging fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and medical and pharmaceutical production.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
Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This rese ....Gravity Separation and Desliming of Fine Particles. This project will be of benefit to the Australian coal and mineral processing industries, worth tens of billions of dollars to the Australian economy each year. The objective is to establish an innovative system of cascading Reflux Classifiers for achieving both gravity separation and desliming of fine particles. Presently millions of tonnes of fine coal exist in tailings dams, unrecoverable by existing technologies such as flotation. This research will provide options for the recovery of this resource, making the remediation of these sites economically viable. The project will also support the education and training of researchers in this field of importance to Australia’s future.Read moreRead less
Mass transport in aqueous foams. Flotation is extremely important in the minerals industry, whose exports are $110.5 billion annually. This project aims to significantly advance understanding of liquid transport in flotation froths, via a quantitative study of foam mass flow mechanisms. If successful, it may lead to modifications to current flotation devices, improving their froth-zone performance and saving money, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.