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Staff profiles

Personal details

Name
Dr Thomas Rainey
Position(s)
Senior Lecturer
Science and Engineering Faculty,
Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering,
Energy and Process Engineering
Discipline *
Chemical Engineering
Phone
+61 7 3138 1977
Fax
+61 7 3138 4132
Email
Location
View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
Identifiers and profiles
ORCID iD LinkedIn
Qualifications

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

Professional memberships
and associations

IChemE Brisbane – QUT University Liaison Officer, RPEQ

Keywords

process engineering, filtration, technoeconomics, bagasse, biocrude, pyrolysis, HTL, pulp, paper, pollution

* Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008

Biography

Dr Tom Rainey is a Chemical Process Engineer. Tom is Chemical Process Engineering Major Coordinator at QUT and has been involved in the development and delivery of the curriculum since its inception. He is discipline Deputy Director for Higher Degree by Research students (i.e. PhD and Research Masters for Energy and Process Engineering). He is also coordinator for the following student capstone projects: undergraduate process and mechanical engineering; and Masters of Engineering Management. Key research areas:

  • Process Engineering and Energy relating to biomass
  • Process modelling (e.g. Aspen) and financial valuation (technoeconomic assessment)
  • Pyrolysis and HTL biocrudes
  • Pulp and paper- all areas: specialising in sugarcane bagasse, paper formation and property testing
  • Biomass processing technology

After completing his Chemical Engineering degree at Adelaide University, Tom moved to Mount Gambier in regional South Australia to work at Kimberly Clark Australia where he worked in the pulp and paper industry. Following this, he worked for the Sugar Research Institute in Mackay with a focus on value added products from sugarcane bagasse as well as raw sugar production. He completed his PhD in 2009 and worked as a Research Fellow until 2012. In 2013 he started with the School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering in the Energy and Process Engineering Discipline in an ongoing role. 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 production and refinement of biofuels for performance testing in affiliation with the Biofuels Engine Research Facility (BERF). https://research.qut.edu.au/berf/ Publications http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Rainey,_Thomas.html

This information has been contributed by Dr Thomas Rainey.

Teaching

Tom is Chemical Process Engineering Major Coordinator at QUT and discipline Deputy Director for Higher Degree by Research students (i.e. PhD and Research Masters for Energy and Process Engineering). He is coordinator for the following student capstone projects: undergraduate process and mechanical engineering; and Masters of Engineering Management. Subject areas include

  • Process Engineering
  • Operations Management
  • Process Economics/financial analysis
  • Process simulation modelling (e.g. Aspen)
  • Biofuels
  • Management of undergraduate and postgraduate capstone projects
This information has been contributed by Dr Thomas Rainey.

Experience

Professional Experience: 

  • 2013 to present Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Energy and Process Engineering Discipline in the School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (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:

  • Pulp/fertiliser production from sugarcane bagasse
  • Filtration of sugar factory mud
  • Bagasse paper formation and filtration
  • Process modelling
  • Government policy review

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
This information has been contributed by Dr Thomas Rainey.

Publications


For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.

Awards

Awards and recognition

Type
Membership of Learned Societies
Reference year
2017
Details
Chartered Chemical Engineer, Member IChemE, RPEQ
Type
Appointment to Prestigious Positions
Reference year
2013
Details
Ongoing Faculty Appointment (ECARD)
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2011
Details
Sugar Research Development Corporation - Young Scientist of the Year Innovation Award

Research projects

Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)

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
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
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
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
Title
Low Moisture Mill Mud for Cost Effective Return to Cane Fields (also includes Clarification of A Molasses)
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
SRI134
Start year
2005
Keywords
Cane Mud; Moisture; Centrifugal; Belt Filter; Decanter
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 2006 Appita Conference - Value Adding Of Bagasse
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT006
Start year
2006
Keywords
Bagasse; Pulp; Paper
Title
Improving the cost-effectiveness of mud filtration through modern technology
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
QUT012
Start year
2006
Keywords
Sugar; Mud; Transport
Title
SIRE #5 - Crystallisation Rates In Pilot Vacuum Pan
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
SRI123
Start year
2005
Keywords
Crystallisation; Sugar Manufacture; Growth Rates; Growth Dispersion; Vacuum Pan

Supervision

  • PhD opportunities: There are opportunities to work in Dr. Rainey’s Process Engineering group. Applicants are welcome to contact Dr. Rainey to discuss potential projects. Dr. Rainey leads a program investigating the production and refinement of biofuels for performance testing in the Biofuels Engine Research Facility (BERF). https://www.qut.edu.au/research/research-projects/biofuel-engine-research-facility

Current supervisions

Completed supervisions (Doctorate)