Associate Professor Thomas Rainey
Faculty of Engineering,School of Mech., Medical & Process Engineering
Personal details
- Name
- Associate Professor Thomas Rainey
- Position(s)
- Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering,
School of Mech., Medical & Process Engineering - Discipline *
- Chemical Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 1977
- t.rainey@qut.edu.au
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Identifiers and profiles
-
- Qualifications
-
PhD (Queensland University of Technology), GradCertAcadPrac (Queensland University of Technology), BEng(Chem)Hons (University of Adelaide)
- Professional memberships
and associations Chair of the Queensland Joint Chemical Engineering Committee (IChemE)
MIChemE
Chartered Chemical EngineerRPEQ
- Keywords
-
process engineering, filtration, technoeconomics, bagasse, Energy, pyrolysis, Process modelling, pulp, paper, Chemical engineering
Biography
Dr Tom Rainey is coordinator of the Chemical Process Engineering course at QUT. He is a winner of The Caltex Award for excellence in chemical engineering education and the Sugar Research Development Corporation Award.
Key research areas:
- Process Engineering and Energy relating to biomass
- Cellulose nanofiber materials
- Advanced filtration problems
- Process modelling and financial valuation (technoeconomic assessment)
- Pulp and paper- all areas: specialising in sugarcane bagasse, paper formation and property testing
- Pyrolysis and HTL biocrudes
- Biomass processing technology
After completing his Chemical Engineering degree at University of Adelaide, Tom worked in the pulp and paper industry at Kimberly Clark (Mount Gambier, South Australia). Following this, he worked for the Sugar Research Institute in Mackay with a focus on value added products from sugarcane bagasse, particularly paper products, as well as raw sugar production. He completed his PhD in 2009 and worked as a Research Fellow until 2012. Since 2013 he has worked in the QUT Science and Engineering Faculty. He has acted as discipline leader in the Energy and Process Engineering Discipline acted as school HDR Director.
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
Teaching
Tom is Chemical Process Engineering Major Coordinator at QUT. He is coordinator for Masters of Engineering Management projects. Subject areas include
- Process Engineering
- Operations Management
- Process Economics/financial analysis
- Process simulation modelling (e.g. Aspen)
- Postgraduate capstone projects
Experience
Professional Experience:
- 2020 to present Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Science and Engineering Faculty, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, QUT
- 2013 to 2019 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Science and Engineering Faculty, Energy and Process Engineering Discipline in the 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:
- 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
Publications
- Taghipour A, Hornung U, Ramirez J, Brown R, Rainey T, (2021) Aqueous phase recycling in catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction for algal biomass and the effect on elemental accumulation and energy efficiency, Journal of Cleaner Production
- Taghipour A, Hornung U, Ramirez J, Brown R, Rainey T, (2021) Fractional distillation of algae based hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude for co-processing: changes in the properties, storage stability, and miscibility with diesel, Energy Conversion and Management
- Onigbajumo A, Taghipour A, Ramirez J, Will G, Ong T, Couperthwaite S, Steinberg T, Rainey T, (2021) Techno-economic assessment of solar thermal and alternative energy integration in supercritical water gasification of microalgae, Energy Conversion and Management
- Musa M, Wolf J, Stephens E, Hankamer B, Brown R, Rainey T, (2020) Cationic polyacrylamide induced flocculation and turbulent dewatering of microalgae on a Britt Dynamic Drainage Jar, Separation and Purification Technology
- Obeid F, Chu Van T, Horchler J, Guo Y, Verma P, Miljevic B, Brown R, Ristovski Z, Bodisco T, Rainey T, (2020) Engine performance and emissions of high nitrogen-containing fuels, Fuel
- Agarwal R, Rainey T, Steinberg T, Rahman A, Perrons R, Brown R, (2020) LNG regasification - Effects of project stage decisions on capital expenditure and implications for gas pricing, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering
- Taghipour A, Ramirez J, Brown R, Rainey T, (2019) A review of fractional distillation to improve hydrothermal liquefaction biocrude characteristics; future outlook and prospects, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews p1-24
- Chu Van T, Ramirez J, Rainey T, Ristovski Z, Brown R, (2019) Global impacts of recent IMO regulations on marine fuel oil refining processes and ship emissions, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment p123-134
- Musa M, Doshi A, Brown R, Rainey T, (2019) Microalgae dewatering for biofuels: A comparative techno-economic assessment using single and two-stage technologies, Journal of Cleaner Production p325-336
- Obeid F, Chu Van T, Brown R, Rainey T, (2019) Nitrogen and sulphur in algal biocrude: A review of the HTL process, upgrading, engine performance and emissions, Energy Conversion and Management p105-119
For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
Awards
Awards and recognition
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Board member IChemE Australia
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2020
- 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
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Chair of the Queensland branch committee of the Institution of Chemical Engineers Australia. Also, Chair of the Queensland Joint Chemical Engineering Committee (IChemE and Engineers Australia) 2019-present.
- Type
- Membership of Learned Societies
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- RPEQ in chemical engineering. Required to provide engineering service.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2019
- Details
- The Caltex Award for excellence in Chemical Engineering
- Type
- Membership of Learned Societies
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Chartered Engineer, Member IChemE
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2011
- Details
- Sugar Research Development Corporation Award
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- Pre-Linkage: Making Australia Resilient to Airborne Infection Transmission
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 00003559.0
- 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
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. 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://www.qut.edu.au/research/research-projects/biofuel-engine-research-facility
Current supervisions
- LNG Re-gasification Terminals - Technology Evaluation, Optimization and the Technology Selection Process
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Richard Brown, Professor Ted Steinberg, Professor Robert Perrons - Integration of concentrated solar thermal technologies in selected high temperature-based process industries
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Geoffrey Will, Professor Ted Steinberg, Associate Professor Sara Couperthwaite - Property methods in process modelling of biocrude
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Richard Brown - Electrochemical and thermochemical water-splitting catalyst: An experimental and computational study on comparision of catalyst performance and economic assessment
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Adjunct Professor John Bell, Professor Anthony O'Mullane - Fractional Distillation of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Biocrude
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Zoran Ristovski, Professor Richard Brown, Dr Jerome Ramirez
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Dewatering of Microalgae from Dilute Suspensions for Biofuels Production: A Single Stage Approach (2020)
- Measurement and Assessment of Ship Emissions (2019)
- Nitrogen in HTL Microalgae Biocrude: Production, Engine Performance and Emissions (2019)
- Role of Oxygenated Fuels on Morphology and Nanostructure of Soot Particles of a Diesel Engine (2019)
- Experimental Investigation of Thermochemically-Derived Fuels in a Diesel Engine (2018)
- Modelling a Commercial-Scale Bagasse Liquefaction Plant Using ASPEN Plus (2018)
- Economic Analyses of Microalgae Biofuels and Policy Implications in Australia (2017)
- A Larger Laboratory Scale Investigation into the Thermal Liquefaction of High Potential 2nd and 3rd Generation Biofuel Feedstocks (2016)