Thermal characterisation of iron ores and coals for HIsmelt operation. Substantial developments in direct reduction ironmaking (DRI) have been recently conducted providing sustainable way for metallurgical operations. The largest advantage of DRI is that it does not require cokemaking and sintering, two processes which are consistently causing environmental concerns. This project aims to thermally investigate coals and iron ores for optimising direct smelting, and to provide insight into effect ....Thermal characterisation of iron ores and coals for HIsmelt operation. Substantial developments in direct reduction ironmaking (DRI) have been recently conducted providing sustainable way for metallurgical operations. The largest advantage of DRI is that it does not require cokemaking and sintering, two processes which are consistently causing environmental concerns. This project aims to thermally investigate coals and iron ores for optimising direct smelting, and to provide insight into effect of the properties of ores and coals on the process. Structural changes using hot stage optical microscopy will be carefully clarified. Finally, a predictive model for DRI and energy requirements for direct smelting based on the experimental outcomes will be developed.Read moreRead less
High performance electrolyte for the vanadium redox flow battery. Vanadium batteries present a highly-scalable, sustainable solution for storage of renewable electricity, but the technology needs to be improved for robust and efficient operation in the warm Australian climate. This project aims to design and extensively test new high-performance electrolyte compositions with advanced thermal stabilising additives for safe long-term battery operation at 60 °C. New knowledge in materials science a ....High performance electrolyte for the vanadium redox flow battery. Vanadium batteries present a highly-scalable, sustainable solution for storage of renewable electricity, but the technology needs to be improved for robust and efficient operation in the warm Australian climate. This project aims to design and extensively test new high-performance electrolyte compositions with advanced thermal stabilising additives for safe long-term battery operation at 60 °C. New knowledge in materials science and electrochemistry will be generated. The core outcome of the project is a sustainable large-scale energy storage technology ready for immediate application in Australia. This will support the transition of the Australian energy sector to renewables and provide businesses with distributed energy storage solutions.Read moreRead less
Process Chemistry for Distributed Manufacture of Nitric Acid. This project will benefit Australia by enabling a new approach to the manufacture of explosives for the country's mining industry which will provide the entire explosives supply chain with greater safety and security. Development of this technology will enhance Orica's competitive position as the largest manufacturer of mining explosives in the world and will produce wealth for the country through the continued success of this ASX Top ....Process Chemistry for Distributed Manufacture of Nitric Acid. This project will benefit Australia by enabling a new approach to the manufacture of explosives for the country's mining industry which will provide the entire explosives supply chain with greater safety and security. Development of this technology will enhance Orica's competitive position as the largest manufacturer of mining explosives in the world and will produce wealth for the country through the continued success of this ASX Top 50 company and the export of the technology.Read moreRead less
Model studies of Australian lump ore applied to blast furnace ironmaking. Ore lump use in ironmaking blast furnaces (BFs) requires no preprocessing and has a lower carbon footprint. However, it suffers various technical problems. This project aims to understand and optimize the conditions for such operations. This will be achieved by means of a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of state-of-the-art multiscale computer modelling and simulation techniques. The researc ....Model studies of Australian lump ore applied to blast furnace ironmaking. Ore lump use in ironmaking blast furnaces (BFs) requires no preprocessing and has a lower carbon footprint. However, it suffers various technical problems. This project aims to understand and optimize the conditions for such operations. This will be achieved by means of a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of state-of-the-art multiscale computer modelling and simulation techniques. The research outcomes will be tested in the design and control of lump charging operations in practice through collaboration with the industrial partner. This will ultimately increase Australian ore lump usage in BFs, leading to significant financial and environmental benefits to Australia and the entire steel industry worldwide.Read moreRead less
Coke integrity in blast furnace ironmaking: understanding and technology development. This project's expected outcomes will lead to optimised coke consumption for the blast furnace and to a more competitive steel manufacturing sector, through improved and rational criteria for selection of carbonaceous materials. This will result in more efficient ironmaking with significant operational, economical and environmental benefits.
Thermodynamic basis for ironmaking and slag recycling in circular economy. This project aims to develop new, powerful state-of-the-art computer-based tools to predict the outcomes of complex chemical reactions, high-temperature ironmaking and slag recycling processes. Globally, over 1 billion tonnes of iron are produced each year consuming 30 billion billion (Quintillion) Joules energy! and creating over 300 million tonnes of molten oxides (slags). Our industry partners need new advanced thermod ....Thermodynamic basis for ironmaking and slag recycling in circular economy. This project aims to develop new, powerful state-of-the-art computer-based tools to predict the outcomes of complex chemical reactions, high-temperature ironmaking and slag recycling processes. Globally, over 1 billion tonnes of iron are produced each year consuming 30 billion billion (Quintillion) Joules energy! and creating over 300 million tonnes of molten oxides (slags). Our industry partners need new advanced thermodynamic databases and computer models with which to optimise their major industrial processes and develop new technologies. By delivering these tools, this project expects to benefit both industry and the community through improved process efficiencies, and reductions in energy usage, pollutants, and environmental impacts.
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The use of Australian magnetite ore in advanced ironmaking. The project will study reduction behaviour of Australian magnetite ore in advanced ironmaking with low emission of greenhouse and hazardous substances. Efficient utilisation of magnetite ore which economic demonstrated resources constitute 9.5 gigatonnes will be of high importance to Australian industry and prosperity.
Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvi ....Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvigorate exploration to maintain an industry that underpins much of Australia's regional wealth. Outcomes of the project will provide exploration with improved geological tools with which to develop superior exploration models and thereby better direct exploration strategies.Read moreRead less
Improved control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. This project aims to develop an innovative assessment of dioxin formation through analysis and speciation of its precursors (Cl and Cu). Iron ore sintering is the industrial process with the highest emissions of dioxins and furans to the environment in Australia, which are amongst the most toxic substances produced by man. The aim of this project is to conduct critical investigations required for control of dioxin emissions during i ....Improved control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. This project aims to develop an innovative assessment of dioxin formation through analysis and speciation of its precursors (Cl and Cu). Iron ore sintering is the industrial process with the highest emissions of dioxins and furans to the environment in Australia, which are amongst the most toxic substances produced by man. The aim of this project is to conduct critical investigations required for control of dioxin emissions during iron ore sintering. The expected outcome of this project is the development of control mechanisms for the process conditions responsible for dioxin formation. This should provide significant benefits, such as assisting the Australian iron ore industry to address the environmental requirements of their international trade partners and sustain their iron ore exports.Read moreRead less
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