Associate Professor Thomas Rainey

  • Associate Professor Thomas Rainey

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Program Lead - Green fuels

PhD (Queensland University of Technology), GradCertAcadPrac (Queensland University of Technology), BEng(Chem)Hons (University of Adelaide)

Tom conducts experimental and financial modelling research relating to the process engineering of biomass, energy production and filtration problems.  He is Course Coordinator for Engineering (u/grad) and a recipient of The Caltex Award for excellence in chemical engineering education.

Key research areas:

Cellulose nanofiber materials
Advanced filtration problems (liquid and gas phase)
Pyrolysis and HTL biocrudes
Pulp and paper- all areas: specialising in sugarcane bagasse, paper formation and property testing
Thermochemical biofuels and their diesel engine performance
Technoeconomic evaluation    
Process modelling (e.g. Aspen)

PhD opportunities: There are opportunities to work in Dr. Rainey’s process engineering group. Applicants are welcome to contact him to discuss potential projects. He leads a program investigating the nanocellulose, filtration problems and refinement of biofuels for performance testing in affiliation with the Biofuels Engine Research Facility (BERF). This is underpinned by technoeconomic assessment as part of their studies. https://research.qut.edu.au/berf/

Publications http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Rainey,_Thomas.html

Projects

Additional information

Experience

Professional Experience:  

  • Present Associate Professor, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, QUT
  • 2013 to 2019 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Science and Engineering Faculty, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, QUT
  • 2005 to 2012 Research Fellow, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, QUT
  • 2003 to 2005 Research Engineer, Sugar Research Institute (SRI), Mackay, Queensland
  • 2000 to 2003 Process Technologist, Kimberly – Clark, Millicent Paper Mill and Tantanoola Pulp Mill, South Australia

Grants: in such fields as:

  • Alternative filtration approaches (gas and liquid)
  • Bagasse paper formation and filtration
  • Process modelling and technoeconomics

External collaborations (academic)

  • Monash University- Australian Pulp and Paper Institute, Melbourne, Australia
  • Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute, India
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
  • University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Awards

Type
Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year
2021
Details
Chair of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Queensland members branch. Also, Chair of the Queensland Joint Chemical Engineering Committee (IChemE and Engineers Australia) 2019-2021.
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2019
Details
The Caltex Award for excellence in Chemical Engineering
Type
Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
Reference year
2021
Details
Board member IChemE Australia
Type
Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year
2021
Details
Member of the organising committee for the 2020 & 2021 Chemeca conference which is the regional chemical engineering conference. Also member of the technical program sub-committee.
Type
Membership of Learned Societies
Reference year
2022
Details
RPEQ in chemical engineering. Required to provide engineering service.
Type
Membership of Learned Societies
Reference year
2017
Details
Chartered Engineer, Member IChemE

Publications

Research Projects

Title
Pre-Linkage: Making Australia Resilient to Airborne Infection Transmission
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
Start year
2021
Keywords
Title
The Integrated Bio-Economy Project and the Controlled Biosphere
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
LP180100269
Start year
2019
Keywords
Title
Flocculation and Sedimentation of Slow Settling Mud and Mud Cake Conditioning(4055)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT056
Start year
2012
Keywords
Clarification; Clays; Flocculation; Juice; Sugar Manufacture
Title
Process for Making Bagasse Paper Pulp (4029)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT053
Start year
2012
Keywords
Bagasse; Biomass; Paper; Pulp; Sugarcane
Title
Evaluate Brazilian mud filtration technology to increase the profitability and environmental performance of Australian factories (3959/3960)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT048
Start year
2011
Keywords
Cake Moisture; Mud Filtration; Retention; Rotary Vacuum Filtration; Technopulp
Title
Advanced Computer Simulation of Sugar Factories - SysCAD (3874)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT040
Start year
2010
Keywords
Mass Balances; Energy Balances; Process Simulation; Computer Simulation; Process Flowsheet
Title
Opportunities for the Australian Sugar Industry in Greenhouse Gas Abatement and Carbon Trading (3866)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT027
Start year
2009
Keywords
LCA; Sugar; Bagasse; Emissions Trading; Renewable; Energy
Title
The Production of Biofuels and Value added Co-products from the Thermochemical Processing of Sugarcane Bagasse (3836)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT036
Start year
2009
Keywords
Thermochemical Processing; Sugarcane Bagasse; Biofuels; Platform Chemicals

Current Supervisions

Completed Supervisions (Doctorate)

Completed Supervisions (Masters by Research)