The focus of my research is to provide new insight into the fundamentals of chemical processes by using the latest experimental techniques. Chemical engineering relies on simple models and heuristic equations to enable the design of processes for a diverse array of industries including, for example, petrochemicals, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and dairy. Whilst this approach is successful for established technology, it is rarely optimal for new processes. The conventional design approach has evolved in part because instruments are normally restricted to observing what goes into and what comes out of a process; very little can be observed about what is actually happening within the process. Recently, new technologies have become available that permit us to "see inside" chemical processes. The development and use of these technologies forms the basis of my research.
These new technologies are used to improve our fundamental understanding of processes and to optimise computational modelling of processes throughout the chemical industries. I am especially interested in using these technologies to study processes that require the handling of particles, however I also work on non-Newtonian, gas-liquid and liquid-liquid flows, diffusion, and mass transfer processes and modelling of chemical reactors.
particulate flow
CFD for multiphase flow
manufacture of fertilisers
signal processing for MRI
