Prof. Behdad Moghtaderi

Biography

Professor Behdad Moghtaderi's research expertise is in the general field of energy and the environment. He has broad experience, knowledge and achievements in this field, particularly in application areas, such as renewable energy resources (e.g. biomass combustion / gasification, and geothermal power cycles), fire safety science, hydrogen powered micro-energy systems, and energy efficiency in buildings. Prof Moghtaderi has worked with both reacting and non-reacting flows, spanning gaseous and particle-laden flow from laboratory to pilot-scale experimental facilities and full-scale plants. His experience spans both the experimental, involving a wide range of laser-diagnostic and conventional techniques, to modelling using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). All are of direct relevance to the research program of the PRC-Energy. Prof Moghtaderi has worked closely with industry, government (Federal Government Geothermal Industry Round Table, Australian Greenhouse Office, etc) and international bodies (the International Energy Agency, IEA) on his research activities informing policy and practice. He served as the Honorary Secretary of The Australian and New Zealand Section of the Combustion Institute between 2007-2010. Within his area of expertise, Prof Moghtaderi has jointly published in excess of 220 articles and holds five patents.

Since joining the University of Newcastle in 1999, Prof Moghtaderi has attracted in excess of $18M from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and industry to support his research activities. During this period he has secured 8 ARC-Discovery grants, 12 ARC-Linkage grants, 9 ARC-LIEF grants, 11 nationally competitive grants from none-ARC schemes, 21 industry grants and 21 University grants.

Prof Moghtaderi greatly values the importance of research training and, as such, has been heavily involved with the supervision of postgraduate students. Since 1999, Prof Moghtaderi has had 12 PhD and two MSc completions by students under his supervision.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Sydney, 1997
• Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering), Shiraz University - Iran
• Master of Engineering Studies (Mechanical Eng), University of Sydney, 1994

---

Research

Research keywords

• Clean Coal Technologies (Chemical Looping Combustion, Oxy-fuel Combustion)
• Combustion
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Energy Efficiency (Building Thermal Performance, Energy Efficeint Desalination)
• Laser Diagnostics
• Micro-Energy Systems (Microfluidics, Micro-reaction, Microfabrication)
• Renewable Energy Systems (Biomass Utilisation, Geothermal Power)

Research expertise

The underlying theme of my research is Thermo-Fluid Engineering encompassing applications in the general field of energy and the environment. The focus of my research is development of technologies suitable for direct/indirect minimisation of greenhouse emissions. I have broad experience, knowledge and interests in this field, particularly in the following application areas which I have established since joining the University of Newcastle in 1999:

• Renewable energy systems (e.g. biomass combustion, gasification and co-firing, as well as geothermal power);
• Advanced clean coal technologies (e.g. oxy-fuel and chemical looping combustion);
• Hydrogen powered micro-energy systems with an emphasis on microfluidics and micro-fabrication;
• Energy efficiency (e.g. energy efficiency in buildings, energy efficient desalination), and fire physics.

My research is underpinned by a wide range of novel and conventional experimental (e.g. laser-diagnostic, Micro-PIV) and modelling (e.g. computational fluid dynamics, CFD) techniques. I have extensive experience with both reacting and non-reacting flows, spanning gaseous and particle-laden systems from laboratory to pilot-scale facilities and full-scale plants.

My research is cutting edge, well respected and internationally recognised. I have worked closely with industry, government, and international organisations on topics related to my research informing/influencing policy and practice. Through my research I have made significant contributions to the application areas listed above. The unique feature of these contributions is the fact that they provide detailed fundamental information about various technologies under conditions pertinent to the full-scale systems. As such, they have immediate applications in the engineering design of energy systems.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
091499	Resources Engineering And Extractive Metallurgy Not Elsewhere Classified	50
090400	Chemical Engineering	45
120299	Building Not Elsewhere Classified	5

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Energy
• Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER)

Memberships

Editorial Board.

• Member of the Editorial Borad - Journal of BioResources

Learned Academy.

• Honorary Secretary - The Australia and New Zealand Section of the Combustion Institute

Appointments

Australian Representative The International Energy Agaency (IEA), Task 32, Biomass Combustion & Cofiring (Australia)	01/04/2005
Member and advisor Industry Round Table on Geothermal Energy, Australian Federal Government (Australia)	01/03/2007

Awards

Distinction.

2006	Fellow The Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust) (Australia) I received the distinction in 2006 of being elected a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust), a highly prestigious and prized honour awarded to only a small number of eminent professional engineers. This great honour is recognition of my accomplishments by my peers.

Honours.

2006	Citation The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Australia) I received a citation for research into the the successful convergence of a student-centred and vertically integrated approach to design in engineering curriculum.

Invitations

Keynote presentation (Biomass in Australia) The Australians Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and The Indian Academy of Science , Australia (Keynote Presentation)	2006
Keynote paper: Pyrolysis of Char Forming Solid Fuels: A Critical Review of the Mathematical Modelling Techniques 5th Asia Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology , Australia (Keynote paper)	2001
keynote paper: CFD Modelling of Coal/Biomass Co-Firing in PF Boilers Indo-Australian Workshop on CFD, India (Keynote paper)	2007

---

Administrative

Administrative expertise

I have proven experience and demonstrable record of planning, management and quality improvement of services at the university and professional levels. I have:

• Simultaneously held four major administrative positions at the Discipline, Faculty and University levels (Chem Eng Program Convenor, Member of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee, Member of the Faculty Research Committee, Co-Director PRC-Energy) and have played an influential role in establishing new initiatives and reviewing/streamlining of existing policies/procedures.
• Significantly contributed to professional activities through the membership of editorial boards and organising committees, refereeing scientific papers, assessing grant applications, and examining postgraduate theses.
• Participated in a campaign to raise public awareness about global warming, renewable energy and clean coal technologies.
• Provided expert advice to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Australian Federal Government and the Australian Greenhouse Office on matters related to global warming, energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean coal technologies.

---

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Combustion
• Energy Systems
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Mathematics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Heat Transfer
• Mass Transfer
• Process Simulation and Modelling
• Reaction Kinetics
• Thermodynamics

Teaching expertise

I have taught many undergraduate courses since joining the University in 1997. My primary area of interest is courses related to thermo-fluid engineering. The courses I taught since 1997 include: CHEE111, CHEE1150, CHEE265, CHEE2820, CHEE2830, CHEE2690, CHEE357, CHEE372, CHEE3900, CHEE4210, CHEE4630, CHEE4950, and CHEE4970. I have also led and implemented several curriculum development initiatives, including:

• Major revisions of chemical engineering and its associated double degree programs as part of the Faculty Engineering course rationalisation and introduction of the common first year program (revision in 2005, implementation 2006).
• Played an instrumental role in the development of a new course-work Master program in Chemical Engineering.
• Played an instrumental role in the Faculty of Engineering course rationalisation and introduction of the common first year and General Engineering courses such as GENG1000, GENG1002, GENG1803, GENG3830, (2004-2005).
• Development of a Chemical Engineering program for future use in the PSB (Singapore) night program, (2005-2006).
• Development of a Chemical/Mechanical Engineering program for UNISS scholars support by the Bradken Pty Ltd (2005).

I have been the recepient of the following teaching awards:

• The 2006 Carrick Awards for Australian University Teaching, Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning., citation was awarded for : the successful convergence of a student-centred and vertically integrated approach to design in engineering.

The 2006 Vice Chancellors Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (the University of Newcastle) for: the successful convergence of a student-centred and vertically integrated approach to design in Engineering.

• The Institute of Engineers Australia (IEAust) Excellence in Engineering Education Award, 2002.
• Several commendation letters from the PVC-Engineering for my teaching performance.