The Effects of Pyrolysis Conditions on Combustion and Gasification Reactivities of Biomass Chars and the Quality of Their Ash. Considerable efforts are being made to minimise the environmental impacts of fossil fuels by utilising renewable energy sources like biomass. Many of the challenges associated with the thermal conversion of biomass relate to its char characteristics. The aim of this project is to gain a fundamental understanding about the impact of reaction conditions during the pyrolyti ....The Effects of Pyrolysis Conditions on Combustion and Gasification Reactivities of Biomass Chars and the Quality of Their Ash. Considerable efforts are being made to minimise the environmental impacts of fossil fuels by utilising renewable energy sources like biomass. Many of the challenges associated with the thermal conversion of biomass relate to its char characteristics. The aim of this project is to gain a fundamental understanding about the impact of reaction conditions during the pyrolytic stage on the structural and compositional transformations of the resultant char, its combustion and gasification reactivities, and the release of inorganic matter and ash formation. This holistic and integrated approach should reveal the underlying science necessary to support existing and future biomass use.Read moreRead less
Combined Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and CFD modelling to study particle deposition in conduits. System geometry greatly influences flow hydrodynamics and hence the transport of colloidal particles and ionic species from the bulk to the surfaces that result in formation of unwanted deposit matter on the surface. The formation of unwanted deposits has significant environmental and economic penalties. This project uses a new approach that is combining the CFD modelling and experimentation inc ....Combined Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and CFD modelling to study particle deposition in conduits. System geometry greatly influences flow hydrodynamics and hence the transport of colloidal particles and ionic species from the bulk to the surfaces that result in formation of unwanted deposit matter on the surface. The formation of unwanted deposits has significant environmental and economic penalties. This project uses a new approach that is combining the CFD modelling and experimentation including flow visualization by PIV to systematically investigate the effect of channel geometry and flow on deposit formation. The outcomes of the project will result in a better understanding and formulating of the effect of geometry on deposition of colloidal particles and ionic species on the surfaces. The results contribute not only towards the mitigation processes for unwanted deposition; it also advances the knowledge in coating applications.Read moreRead less
Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Chars in Pressurised Circulating Fluidised Bed Reactors. The development of new, cleaner methods of electricity generation, such as biomass-based integrated gasification combined-cycles and hybrid-cycle pressurised fluidised-bed combustion, have highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the combustion characteristics of biomass chars at high pressures and temperatures. The aim of this project is to gain a clearer understanding of the underlying mec ....Combustion Characteristics of Biomass Chars in Pressurised Circulating Fluidised Bed Reactors. The development of new, cleaner methods of electricity generation, such as biomass-based integrated gasification combined-cycles and hybrid-cycle pressurised fluidised-bed combustion, have highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the combustion characteristics of biomass chars at high pressures and temperatures. The aim of this project is to gain a clearer understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control the combustion of biomass chars in pressurised circulating fluidised-bed (PCFB) reactors. The fundamental knowledge gained in this project will have immediate practical applications as modern PCFB reactors are considered to be the most suitable systems for the combustion of biomass char particles.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.
Near zero-emission hydrogen and carbon production from natural gas and bio-methane. Hydrogen is envisaged as a clean fuel for power generation particularly for the transportation sector. In the short- and mid-term future, hydrogen will be derived from fossil fuels. Based on the conventional processes, the route from fossil fuels to hydrogen invariably produces greenhouse gases. Geosequestration is a viable technique of storing carbon dioxide but has an uncertain long-term environmental ramifi ....Near zero-emission hydrogen and carbon production from natural gas and bio-methane. Hydrogen is envisaged as a clean fuel for power generation particularly for the transportation sector. In the short- and mid-term future, hydrogen will be derived from fossil fuels. Based on the conventional processes, the route from fossil fuels to hydrogen invariably produces greenhouse gases. Geosequestration is a viable technique of storing carbon dioxide but has an uncertain long-term environmental ramification. In contrast, our proposed technique avoids the production of greenhouse gases and, instead, engenders high value added graphitized carbon as a by-product. Given the relative stability and value of graphitized carbon, our catalytic cracking process provides another option to geosequestration.Read moreRead less
Nano- and micro-scale engineering of MoS2-based catalyst for conversion of syngas to ethanol. Domestic production of ethanol to provide a 10% blend in petrol (E10) can be achieved from waste methane gas that Australia currently vents or flares to atmosphere. This project aims to develop a conversion process for making ethanol from syngas (the product of coal or methane gasification). Small scale, modularised plants would make ethanol locally to the methane emission source. The benefits of local ....Nano- and micro-scale engineering of MoS2-based catalyst for conversion of syngas to ethanol. Domestic production of ethanol to provide a 10% blend in petrol (E10) can be achieved from waste methane gas that Australia currently vents or flares to atmosphere. This project aims to develop a conversion process for making ethanol from syngas (the product of coal or methane gasification). Small scale, modularised plants would make ethanol locally to the methane emission source. The benefits of local E10 production would be a reduction in the oil trade deficit of $1 billion per year, $500 million per year in lower carbon imposts to industry and government, 25 million tonnes per year of reduced CO2e release to atmosphere and significantly improved urban air through reduced emissions from car transport, with attendant human health benefits.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101824
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,970.00
Summary
Capturing Latent Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Production. Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The natural gas industry produces significant methane emissions through collateral venting with nitrogen gas. Recovering waste methane will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the revenue of natural gas processors. This project will develop the technology needed to capture the latent methane and significantly reduce its concentration in nitrogen gas ri ....Capturing Latent Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Production. Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The natural gas industry produces significant methane emissions through collateral venting with nitrogen gas. Recovering waste methane will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the revenue of natural gas processors. This project will develop the technology needed to capture the latent methane and significantly reduce its concentration in nitrogen gas rich vent streams. New adsorbents for separating these gases, such as molecular trapdoor zeolites, will be designed and tested over wide ranges of pressure and temperature. Dual reflux pressure swing adsorption cycles will be tested using the best materials to demonstrate how latent methane emissions can be reduced to part-per-million levels.Read moreRead less
Supercritical Highly-Integrated and Modular, Continuous Solid-Catalysed Biodiesel Production from Plant and Animal Feedstocks. We propose to revolutionise biodiesel production by creating a new reactor type and associated process that allows the production of 160,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year in a supercritical reactor volume of one cubic metre after scale-up. In this project, we propose to design the appropriate catalysts and pilot plant to study our ideas which should lead to a highly effici ....Supercritical Highly-Integrated and Modular, Continuous Solid-Catalysed Biodiesel Production from Plant and Animal Feedstocks. We propose to revolutionise biodiesel production by creating a new reactor type and associated process that allows the production of 160,000 tonnes of biodiesel a year in a supercritical reactor volume of one cubic metre after scale-up. In this project, we propose to design the appropriate catalysts and pilot plant to study our ideas which should lead to a highly efficient and sustainable system that offers a real alternative to current mineral oil-based technologies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100445
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Engineering triple-phase boundary for superior aqueous metal-air batteries. This project aims to advance development of high-performance rechargeable aqueous zinc-air (Zn-air) batteries by engineering the triple-phase boundary to increase battery efficiency and power density for practical applications. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and efficient energy storage and conversion systems to underpin technological development with increasing demand for superior battery technologies fo ....Engineering triple-phase boundary for superior aqueous metal-air batteries. This project aims to advance development of high-performance rechargeable aqueous zinc-air (Zn-air) batteries by engineering the triple-phase boundary to increase battery efficiency and power density for practical applications. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and efficient energy storage and conversion systems to underpin technological development with increasing demand for superior battery technologies for portable electronics, renewable power sources and electrified vehicles. This project expects to accelerate the commercialisation of rechargeable aqueous Zn-air batteries and progress global commitments to new clean energy sources and storage technologies that are efficient, cost-effective and reliable.Read moreRead less
Multifunctional trilayer separator for durable multivalent energy storage. This project aims to develop an important new family of economical, high energy, multivalent batteries based on an abundant element, sulphur. The project plans to design a new battery separator to enable long-term stability in sulphur-based rechargeable batteries. This type of separator is of critical importance in many membrane-involved energy storage technologies. The project plans to use leading-edge durable energy tec ....Multifunctional trilayer separator for durable multivalent energy storage. This project aims to develop an important new family of economical, high energy, multivalent batteries based on an abundant element, sulphur. The project plans to design a new battery separator to enable long-term stability in sulphur-based rechargeable batteries. This type of separator is of critical importance in many membrane-involved energy storage technologies. The project plans to use leading-edge durable energy technologies to strengthen the development of residential energy systems and the involvement of renewable energy sources in modern grid.Read moreRead less