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
Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this ....Redox processes in Bayer liquors. Alumina, and the aluminium produced from it, are amongst Australia's most important mineral commodities, earning about $8 billion p.a. in exports. However, ongoing technological improvements are needed for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. This project addresses a key problem in alumina production - the behaviour of organic impurities - which will help to increase industrial productivity and reduce energy consumption. Insights gained from this research will also minimize the environmental and occupational health impacts of various process emissions, making the industry more sustainable.Read moreRead less
Heat capacities of Bayer liquors to 300C. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries, earning ~$6 billion per year export income. However, major productivity gains are required for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. More accurate thermodynamic calculations, covering the full plant operating range, are seen by the industry as an important way to increase productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must e ....Heat capacities of Bayer liquors to 300C. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries, earning ~$6 billion per year export income. However, major productivity gains are required for Australian producers to remain globally competitive. More accurate thermodynamic calculations, covering the full plant operating range, are seen by the industry as an important way to increase productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must extend current theoretical understanding and establish an experimental capability, hitherto unavailable in Australia, for measuring heat capacities and densities of solutions to temperatures as high as 300 C.Read moreRead less
Modelling Bayer Plant Liquors for Industrial Process Simulations. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries but it exists within an increasingly competitive global market. More meaningful computer simulations of the Bayer process, covering conditions far beyond current plant operating ranges, are seen by Australian producers as an important way to increase future productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must develop ....Modelling Bayer Plant Liquors for Industrial Process Simulations. Alumina refining is one of Australia's most important industries but it exists within an increasingly competitive global market. More meaningful computer simulations of the Bayer process, covering conditions far beyond current plant operating ranges, are seen by Australian producers as an important way to increase future productivity, minimise energy consumption and cut greenhouse emissions. To achieve these aims, we must develop hitherto unavailable modelling capabilities for predicting the behaviour of Bayer plant liquors. The more robust thermodynamic models developed in this project will enable more realistic simulations, which are a prerequisite for innovative process design and optimisation.Read moreRead less
An assessment of carbon dioxide storage capacity of water bearing sedimentary basins. Dealing with the problems caused by climate change and global warming is among the greatest challenges facing Australia today. One of the approaches being considered to minimise anthropogenic influence over climate is the geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2). The proposed project will lead to greater understanding of storage capacity of sedimentary basins and identification of optimum injection conditions ....An assessment of carbon dioxide storage capacity of water bearing sedimentary basins. Dealing with the problems caused by climate change and global warming is among the greatest challenges facing Australia today. One of the approaches being considered to minimise anthropogenic influence over climate is the geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2). The proposed project will lead to greater understanding of storage capacity of sedimentary basins and identification of optimum injection conditions for geo-sequestration in such aquifers, and any potential mechanisms that could lead to migration of CO2 from the source rock back to the atmosphere.This will contribute to national efforts to reduce global warming, safeguard the Australian economy, and allow continued electricity generation from coal-fired plants.Read moreRead less
Influence of scale effect on the strength of rock mass for the better prediction of slope stability in large open-cut mines. The proposed project has the potential to bring national economic benefits through sustainable infrastructure and environment, commercial enterprise and community health and safety. Mining industry in Australia plays a major role for creating significant employment in regional Australia, coal-fired electricity generation, and export income which underpins the international ....Influence of scale effect on the strength of rock mass for the better prediction of slope stability in large open-cut mines. The proposed project has the potential to bring national economic benefits through sustainable infrastructure and environment, commercial enterprise and community health and safety. Mining industry in Australia plays a major role for creating significant employment in regional Australia, coal-fired electricity generation, and export income which underpins the international competitiveness of the entire Australian economy. The proposed project will assist Australian mining industry in gaining a better understanding of the mechanics of failure of large open cut mines, an improved design approach for high steep slopes, and in developing a new set of guidelines which can be used to assess such a risk. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354656
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Particulate Science and Technology Network. Particulate Science and Technology (PST) is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research field concerned with particle-related phenomena at different time and length scales and represents a very significant research and development effort in Australia for many years. This network is formed by linking the world-recognized research centres/groups with different expertise. Its aim is to provide greater collaboration among the Australian and overseas re ....Particulate Science and Technology Network. Particulate Science and Technology (PST) is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research field concerned with particle-related phenomena at different time and length scales and represents a very significant research and development effort in Australia for many years. This network is formed by linking the world-recognized research centres/groups with different expertise. Its aim is to provide greater collaboration among the Australian and overseas researchers and enhance the scale and focus of particulate research. It will help develop and maintain Australia's leading position in PST, generating massive research outcomes and training that can lead to improvement in resource, energy, process and allied industries.Read moreRead less
Managing Contaminant Metals in Complex Hydrometallurgical Processes; Meeting techno-economic, environmental and operability objectives. Sustainability of the minerals industry is predicated on being able to refine metals from increasingly lower-grade ores. This brings with it the critical problem of managing all contaminant elements present to ensure overall economic and environmental performance. Hydrometallurgical processes are favoured, though difficulties arise in controlling product charact ....Managing Contaminant Metals in Complex Hydrometallurgical Processes; Meeting techno-economic, environmental and operability objectives. Sustainability of the minerals industry is predicated on being able to refine metals from increasingly lower-grade ores. This brings with it the critical problem of managing all contaminant elements present to ensure overall economic and environmental performance. Hydrometallurgical processes are favoured, though difficulties arise in controlling product character to suit downstream processing. This project will develop a fundamental understanding of precipitation processes for optimal recovery of contaminant elements (for a novel zinc process case study), considering the quantitative relationship between all major physico-chemical and engineering features. This will lead to enhanced process designs to meet techno-economic, environmental and operability objectivesRead moreRead less