Faculty/School

Faculty of Engineering

School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy

Supervisors

Associate Professor Geoff Kent
Position
Principal Research Fellow
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
Dr Floren Plaza
Position
Senior Research Fellow
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Engineering

Overview

Cane sugar factories, while producing sugar and molasses, provide their own energy and power from the sugar cane biomass residue, are green house gas neutral and can export renewable electricity to the grid.  The performance of the milling train in extracting juice and dewatering the biomass bagasse residue are key components of the operation.  Understanding and modelling the mechanical and permeability flow processes are seen as a way forward to improve the performance, for example by reducing the final bagasse moisture below the current levels.

Research engagement

  • Literature review of recent advances in computer modelling.
  • Adopt a recently improved structural Finite Element Model (FEM, LS-Dyna and ANSYS) in real time of the crushing process, understand how to use it.
  • Add automatic re-meshing option so that mesh distortion does not affect the solution process.
  • Add permeability flow to model the flow of juice, development of pressure and effective stress.
  • Predict the loads, torques and material densities achieved and compare with industry measurements.
  • Carry out model modifications to predict improved performance.

Research activities

An improved understanding and model of the crushing process, possibly improved reproduction of industrial measurements and indication of how to improve the process.

Outcomes

An improved understanding and model of the crushing process, possibly the publication of a research paper,  improved reproduction of industrial measurements and indication of how to improve the process.

Skills and experience

The candidate requires a strong understanding of mechanical and flow behaviour in materials, previous skills in computer aided modelling including finite element modelling.

Start date

7 November, 2024

End date

20 February, 2025

Location

At QUT Gardens Point.  However the project can be completely undertaken offsite through library, zoom and eResearch access to QUT resources as well as the supervisors.

Additional information

The student will have access to the QUT eResearch High Performance Computer system hardware and software resources, access to publications around the world, and supervision from two milling experts with close relationships to industry.

Keywords

Contact

Floren Plaza, 0731381239, f.plaza@qut.edu.au