Dr Woei Saw
Grant-Funded Researcher (C)
School of Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Dr Woei Saw is a senior Research Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials at the University of Adelaide (UA). He has research and hands on experience in designing and operating pilot scale systems, and expertise relevant to thermal conversion technologies. He has been heavily involved in concentrated solar thermal (CST) research projects funded by ARENA. Currently, he is project managing one of the ARENA funded R&D projects, 'Integration of CST energy into the Bayer process'.
Furthermore, he is working towards on a transformation of agricultural waste through the development of technologies to produce value-adding energy co-products. The work targets on converting organic matter to both ‘liquid smoke’ and much more energy dense and stable ‘bio-coal’. He is also target on the development of solar gasification technologies that convert agricultural products to solar syngas or solar fuels that can be transported as liquids (green biodiesel). These technologies are delivering a low cost route to a sustainable and carbon neutral fuel to replace both conventional diesel and kerosene.
Prior to his position at UA, he held a research position at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, as the project leader leading one of the four research programs, 'Thermal conversion of biomass to H2-rich syngas and liquid fuel', funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.
Research Interests
- Concentrated solar thermal for power generation, liquid fuel production and mineral processing
- Gasification of biomass for production of synthetic gas (H2,CO) for biofuel or H2
- Waste (including Food waste) to value
- Process modelling and Techno-economic assessment
- Torrefaction and pyrolysis of biomass for high value products
- High temperature thermal energy storage
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide 2020 - ongoing Deputy Director of Internationalisation University of Adelaide 2020 - 2022 Lecturer University of Adelaide 2017 - 2022 Senior Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2013 - 2017 Research Fellow University of Adelaide 2009 - 2013 Research Fellow University of Canterbury, Christchurch -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write and speak English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Malay Can read, write and speak -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2009 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia PhD 2004 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia BE Mechatronics -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2021 Ingenhoven, P., Saw, W., Chinnici, A., Potter, D., Nathan, G., Rafique, M. M., . . . Jafarian, M. (2021). Energetic Assessment of a High Temperature Packed Bed Storage System in Combination with a Solar Expanding-Vortex Particle Receiver. In Proceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2021 (pp. 858-867). Virtual conference: International Solar Energy Society.
2020 Rafique, M. M., Nathan, G., & Saw, W. (2020). Uncertainty in predicting the start-up time and losses for a high temperature particle receiver due to solar resource variability. In ASME 2020 14th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2020 (pp. 1-8). online: ASME.
Scopus3 WoS22020 Chinnici, A., Davis, D., Lau, T. C. W., Tian, Z. F., Saw, W., & Nathan, G. J. (2020). First-of-a-kind investigation on performance of a directly-irradiated windowless vortex-based particle receiver. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2303 (pp. 1-7). online: AIP Publishing.
Scopus4 WoS32020 Saw, W. L., Naufal, A., Sandoval, A. B., Beath, A., Lovegrove, K., van Eyk, P., . . . Nathan, G. (2020). Technical feasibility of integrating concentrating solar thermal energy in the Bayer alumina process. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2303 (pp. 1-8). online: AIP.
Scopus2 WoS12019 Saw, W. L., Guo, P., Ashman, P. J., Nathan, G. J., & Lim, S. (2019). Performance Assessment of a Vertical Pneumatic Conveying System for High Temperature Solar Particle Receivers Using a New Correlation for Minimum Transport Boundary. In Fluidization XVI (pp. 391-393). 2019 Guo, P., Ly, Q. H., Saw, W. L., Lim, K. S., Ashman, P. J., & Nathan, G. J. (2019). A technical assessment of pneumatic conveying of solids for a high temperature particle receiver. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2126 (pp. 1-8). online: AIP.
Scopus12018 Davis, D., Chinnici, A., Saw, W., Lau, T., & Nathan, G. (2018). Particle residence time distributions in a solar vortex receiver. In Proceedings of the 2017 Asia Pacific Solar Research Conference (APSRC) (pp. 1-13). Melbourne, Australia: Australian PV Institute. 2017 Coventry, J., Arjomandi, M., Asselineau, C., Chinnici, A., Corsi, C., Davis, D., . . . Saw, W. (2017). Development of ASTRI high-temperature solar receivers. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 1850 (pp. 030011-1-030011-9). Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: AMER INST PHYSICS.
Scopus7 WoS62016 Hinkley, J., McNaughton, R., Pye, J., Saw, W., & Stechel, E. (2016). The challenges and opportunities for integration of solar syngas production with liquid fuel synthesis. In V. Rajpaul, & C. Richter (Eds.), AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 1734 (pp. 8 pages). Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA: AIP.
Scopus5 WoS52015 Saw, W., Kaniyal, A., Van Eyk, P., Nathan, G., & Ashman, P. (2015). Solar Hybridized Coal-to-liquids via Gasification in Australia: Techno-economic Assessment. In Z. Wang (Ed.), Energy Procedia Vol. 69 (pp. 1819-1827). Beijing, PEOPLES R CHINA: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
Scopus11 WoS112015 Guo, P., Saw, W., Van Eyk, P., Ashman, P., Nathan, G., & Stechel, E. (2015). Fischer-tropsch liquid Fuel Production by Co-gasification of Coal and Biomass in a Solar Hybrid Dual Fluidized Bed Gasifier. In Z. Wang (Ed.), Energy Procedia Vol. 69 (pp. 1770-1779). Beijing, PEOPLES R CHINA: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.
Scopus10 WoS92012 Saw, W., Hongrapipat, J., & Pang, S. (2012). Effect of steam to biomass ratio and calcite bed material on the performance of a 100kwth dual fluidised bed gasifier. In Chemeca 2012: Quality of life through chemical engineering: 23-26 September 2012, Wellington, New Zealand (pp. 308-318). Barton, A.C.T., Australia: Engineers Australia. 2009 Saw, W., Nathan, G., Ashman, P., & Hupa, M. (2009). Influence of droplet size on the release of atomic sodium during the combustion of black liquor. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium 2009 (pp. 163-166). CD: University of Queensland. 2009 Saw, W., Nathan, G., Ashman, P., Alwahabi, Z., & Hupa, M. (2009). Surface temperature measurement of a burning black liquor droplet using two-colour optical pyrometry. In Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium 2009 (pp. 167-170). CD: University of Queensland. 2008 Saw, W., Nathan, G., Ashman, P., & Alwahabi, Z. (2008). Assessment of the release of high concentration Na using quantitative PLIF. In P. O'Neill (Ed.), Proceeding of the Fifth Australian conference on laser diagnostics in fluid mechanics and combustion (pp. 67-70). Australia: UWA. 2007 Saw, W., Nathan, G., Ashman, P., Alwahabi, Z., Forssen, M., & Hupa, M. (2007). Assessment of the release of sodium from a burning liquor droplet using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and smelt analysis. In Andrew Jones (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2007 International Chemical Recovery Conference (pp. 97-100). Canada: PAPTAC. 2007 Saw, W., Hupa, M., Ashman, P., Nathan, G., Forssen, M., & Alwahabi, Z. (2007). Insight into the fate of atomic sodium from black liquor combustion in a flat flame using equilibrium calculations. In A. Masri, K. Sendt, P. Nelson, & P. Yaroshchyk (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australian Combustion Symposium 2007 (pp. 118-121). Australia: The Combustion Institute. 2006 Saw, W., Nathan, G., Alwahabi, Z., Ashman, P., Forssen, M., & Hupa, M. (2006). Preliminary investigation on the release rate of atomic sodium from combustion of black liquor. In Caroline Lemerle (Ed.), Proceedings of Bioenergy Australia 2006 (pp. 1-8). Australia: Bioenergy Australia. -
Report for External Bodies
| Date | Project | Investigators | Funding Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Feasibility study of co-gasification of bagasse and solid waste in a sugarcane mill | Saw, Woei Lean; Kwong, Philip; Nathan, Graham; Ashman, Peter | Department of Industry, Innovation and Science | $50,000 |
| 2019 | Development of biochar briquette and low cost kindling for energy |
Saw, Woei Lean; Kwong, Philip; Nathan, Graham; Ashman, Peter | Department of Industry, Innovation and Science | $70,545 |
| 2018 | Establishing new, leading interdisciplinary capability and solutions for secure, affordable and sustainable energy | Maier, H.; Nathan, G.; Ashman, P.; Burton, R.; Cavagnaro, T.; Riddell, G.; Dally, B.; Binenbaum, E.; Adamson, D.; Lewis, M.; Simpson, A.; Saw, W.; van Eyk, P.; Packer, J. | University of Adelaide, Interdisciplinary Fund | $65,000 |
| 2018-2021 | Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge, Building Australia’s international partnerships in solar fuels research and innovation for energy |
Nathan, G; Stein, W; Dally, B; Stechel, E; Steinfeld, A; Kodama, T; McDaniel, A; Saw, W; Chinnici, A | Australian Renewable Energy Agency | $494,000 |
| 2017-2018 | Potential for reduction in the cost and carbon emissions for energy |
Jafarian, Mehdi; Saw, Woei Lean; Nathan, Graham | Department of Industry, Innovation and Science | $110,215 |
| 2016-2020 | Integrating concentrating solar thermal energy into the Bayer alumina process; | Nathan, Graham; Saw, Woei Lean; Alwahabi, Zeyad; Arjomandi, Maziar; Ashman, Peter; Dally, Bassam; Hawkes, Evatt; Hinkley, Jim; Steinfeld, A; Taylor, Robert; Tian, Zhao Feng; van Eyk, Philip Joseph; Yeoh, Guan Heng; Chatfield, Ray; Abraham, John; Harrison, Ian; Haywood, Ross; Lovegrove, Keith; Stein, Wes; Stephenson, Ian; | ARENA: Emerging Renewables Program: | $4,490,752 |
| 2016-2017 | Design tools for complex solar hybrid thermochemical processes | Nathan, Graham; Dally, Bassam; Pitsch, Heinz; Medwell, Paul; Jafarian, Mehdi; Saw, Woei Lean; Chinnici, Alfonso; | Universities Australia - DAAD - Australia Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme | $25,000 |
CHEM ENG 1007 Introduction to Process Engineering
ENG 1001/1011 Introduction to Engineering
CHEM ENG 4058/7058 Hydro and Electrometallurgy
CHEM ENG 4014 Plant Design Project
CHEM ENG 4054 Research Project
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Co-Supervisor Thermal Performance of the Solar Expanding Vortex Receiver (SEVR) with a Buffer Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Gangyisen Lu 2022 Principal Supervisor Assessment of Hydrogen Driven Alumina Calcination Process Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Jin Tung Ang 2021 Co-Supervisor Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium ion batteries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Cherry Nguyen 2021 Principal Supervisor Assessment of the effect of steam on alumina calcination Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Siyun Ning 2021 Co-Supervisor Solar Thermo-photocatalytic Technologies Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Anthony Ernest Pellicone 2020 Principal Supervisor Technical-economic assessment of dual fluidized bed gasification of non-woody biomass feedstock for poly-generation of fuels, power, heat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Nguyet Ky Ngo 2019 Principal Supervisor Assessing the influence of solar variability on the heat transfer and techno-economic feasibility of high temperature particle receivers Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Mujahid Rafique -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Thermal Performance of the Solar Expanding Vortex Receiver (SEVR) Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Daniel Jin Tung Ang 2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Agglomeration characteristics of olivine sand during combustion and gasification of potassium-or silicon-rich agricultural residues Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Gule Li 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Characterising the Performance of Vortex-Based Solar Thermal Particle Receiver-Reactors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dominic Michael Walldorf Davis 2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Influence of Potassium and Sodium Salts, Calcium and Phosphorus on Agglomeration Behaviour of Biomass and Quartz Sand Under Combustion and Gasification Atmospheres Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Zimeng He 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Assessment of Fischer-Tropsch Liquid Fuels Production via Solar Hybridized Dual Fluidized Bed Gasification of Solid Fuels Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Peijun Guo
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