Flow field evaluation of AusIron top submerged injection system. The top submerged gas injection system is widely used in the metallurgical industry in many metal refining processes. The AusIron process, which uses dual top submerged lances injection, has been developed recently for direct smelting of iron ore to produce pig iron using low quality coal as fuel and reductant. Successful implementation of the process requires optimum furnace design. This project aims to study fluid flow within the ....Flow field evaluation of AusIron top submerged injection system. The top submerged gas injection system is widely used in the metallurgical industry in many metal refining processes. The AusIron process, which uses dual top submerged lances injection, has been developed recently for direct smelting of iron ore to produce pig iron using low quality coal as fuel and reductant. Successful implementation of the process requires optimum furnace design. This project aims to study fluid flow within the furnace using a laboratory scale model, plant trials and numerical analysis. The project will enhance our fundamental understanding of the top submerged injection processes and assist in optimising AusIron furnace design.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resulta ....Multiscale modelling of the transport phenomena of liquid iron and slag in ironmaking blast furnace. Blast furnace ironmaking is a key operation in the steel industry which, with an annual turnover around $11 billion, is a significant manufacturing sector in Australia. This project, focused on the behaviour of liquid iron and slag, can generate computer models that can reliably describe the complicated multiphase flow and thermochemical processes in the furnace. The implementation of the resultant models and the new understanding should lead to long life campaigns, better operational control, decreased fuel consumption, improved productivity and reduced environmental impact. This, together with the proposed research training, is important to the development of Australia's competitive steel industry.Read moreRead less
Model studies of new ironmaking processes. This project aims to study the fundamentals governing the multiphase flow and thermochemical performance in representative new ironmaking processes, and formulate some useful strategies for the design, control and optimisation of next generation of ironmaking technology which is useful to Australia's future mineral and steel industries.
Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted ....Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted. In this project we shall develop creative mathematical solutions to maximise the expected net present value of mines with far greater accuracy, taking into account blending and the uncertain nature of future demand.Read moreRead less
Exploiting Annealing Reactions for New Steel Grade Development. Overseas steel markets are demanding thinner and cheaper formable products. The proposed work aims to establish how the reactions that take place during annealing can be exploited to create new products to meet these needs. The processes of recrystallization texture development, which controls the ease with which the product can be drawn into shapes, precipitate dissolution, which impacts on surface quality, and creep, which can lea ....Exploiting Annealing Reactions for New Steel Grade Development. Overseas steel markets are demanding thinner and cheaper formable products. The proposed work aims to establish how the reactions that take place during annealing can be exploited to create new products to meet these needs. The processes of recrystallization texture development, which controls the ease with which the product can be drawn into shapes, precipitate dissolution, which impacts on surface quality, and creep, which can lead to annealing defects in thin products will be studied. The objective is use the knowledge generated to remove over-design of processing parameters and steel composition to develop new cost effective export grades.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Investigation of Kinetics of Ferro-Silicon Reactions in Cupola Scrap Melting Processes. The aims of this project include development of fundamental understanding of Ferro-silicon reactions in cupola scrap melting processes. This project will advance the scrap melting processes by enhancing their economic viability and environmental compatibility by optimising the reactions of Ferro-silicon which is one of the major sources of operating problems. Specifically the project will achieve ....Fundamental Investigation of Kinetics of Ferro-Silicon Reactions in Cupola Scrap Melting Processes. The aims of this project include development of fundamental understanding of Ferro-silicon reactions in cupola scrap melting processes. This project will advance the scrap melting processes by enhancing their economic viability and environmental compatibility by optimising the reactions of Ferro-silicon which is one of the major sources of operating problems. Specifically the project will achieve optimisation of Ferro-silicon utilisation, reduction in refractory consumption, minimisation of industrial slag waste generation, improved product composition control. The scientific outcomes include data and mechanisms of Ferro-silicon reactions with gas and graphite phases, kinetic models to describe the influence of Ferro-silicon and process variables.Read moreRead less
Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and m ....Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and make more efficient the processing of data from the
analyser. A particular focus will be quicker and improved calibration
of the instrument. These techniques will increase the accuracy and
speed while reducing the costs of such analysers, thus retaining and
enhancing their competitiveness in the global market.
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Chemistry of uranium extraction - studies on the dissolution of uranium ores in a complex solution matrix. Olympic Dam is the world's largest uranium deposit. With a planned massive expansion of the mine's operations, it could generate more than $10b per year. The mineral ores found there, however, are highly complex and poorly understood. This project will investigate and determine the detailed characteristics and chemistry of the mineral ore and offer process improvements that will increase th ....Chemistry of uranium extraction - studies on the dissolution of uranium ores in a complex solution matrix. Olympic Dam is the world's largest uranium deposit. With a planned massive expansion of the mine's operations, it could generate more than $10b per year. The mineral ores found there, however, are highly complex and poorly understood. This project will investigate and determine the detailed characteristics and chemistry of the mineral ore and offer process improvements that will increase the productivity and improve the economics of extraction of the ore. This project will also address the serious deficiency of researchers in this field by creating a sustainable skills development program in mineral extraction and separation technology.Read moreRead less
Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator s ....Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator scheme to fingerprint potential ?ore-forming? systems using state-of-the-art laser ablation ICP-MS analysis may engender new methods and strategies that lead to exploration success. A baseline study around a known deposit provides the best means to characterize indicators- the Ernest Henry Cu-Au deposit provides the ideal candidate.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of woody vegetation and water in the central Pilbara - understanding and managing for environmental change. The development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing sustainable management of semi-arid environments are of high priority and significant economic, social and environmental benefit. The value of iron ore exports from the Pilbara is expected to grow by nearly 30% in the next year, while the projected production of iron ore over the next 4 years is expected t ....Dynamics of woody vegetation and water in the central Pilbara - understanding and managing for environmental change. The development and application of technologies and knowledge for enhancing sustainable management of semi-arid environments are of high priority and significant economic, social and environmental benefit. The value of iron ore exports from the Pilbara is expected to grow by nearly 30% in the next year, while the projected production of iron ore over the next 4 years is expected to be valued in excess of 60 billion dollars. However, continued and rapid expansion in the development of these resources is contingent on environmental oversight and adoption of an adaptive management approach. This research will thus make a major contribution to understanding the Pilbara ecosystems that provide tremendous economic wealth for all Australians.Read moreRead less