UoN scientist receives Ian Wark Medal
The Australian Academy of Science recently awarded the Ian Wark Medal to the University's Professor Kevin Galvin for his invention of the Reflux Classifier.
The medal recognises research that contributes to the prosperity of the nation, through the advancement of scientific knowledge and its application.
The Reflux Classifier is an industrial machine that saves the global mining and minerals processing industry billions of dollars by separating fine particles on the basis of either density or size. Since 2005, 22 units have been sold into seven countries including Australia, China, New Zealand, United States, India and Mozambique.
"This recognition is a wonderful honour, and something that I value highly," said Professor Galvin.
The invention works by using a system of inclined channels attached to a conventional fluidised bed. The inclined channels permit significantly higher feed rates and improved separation performance as a result of the higher shear rates in the channels.
This is one of many accolades for the Professor Galvin who has also won the Queensland Enterprise Workshop Innovation Award for best invention in 2003, the ACARP national Award for Research Excellence for Coal Preparation in 2004 and the Business and Higher Education award for the best Research and Development Collaboration in 2005.
"This invention is very important to me. I am extremely grateful for these awards and accolades but I am even more thankful that it has made an important impact in providing solutions for Australia's minerals industry."
"As a 'Career Award', there are many individuals over the past decade who have contributed to the success of the work, and I want to acknowledge the efforts of all of my past and present students and research staff," he said.
The medal was presented to coincide with a symposium in Canberra where the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) presented its views on the critical need for research and innovation if Australia is to meet its clean energy targets.
Professor Galvin is the Director of the University's Centre for Advanced Particle Processing and Transport. The purpose of this research Centre is to address important problems for the mineral industry, the largest single contributor to Australia's exports. The research is aimed at developing innovative processes which maximise the separation of products from waste material, and use methodologies that reduce water and energy usage.
Contact
- Kevin Galvin
- Phone: 02 40339077
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