APrf Woei Saw
Associate Professor
School of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Woei Saw is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide (UA). He has demonstrated a good track record in the development and demonstration of novel technology in the decarbonisation of high-temperature industrial processes. For example, he has developed a patent on net-zero steam alumina calcination, which allows steam generated from the alumina calcination process to be recovered and utilised in the bauxite digestion within the Bayer process. Currently, he is leading a HILT-CRC project to perform a preliminary assessment of technical and economic feasibility of low carbon alumina calcination via electrification or hydrogen pathway.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. For example, he co-led the development of process integration (including techno-economic assessment) of CST plant and high-temperature storage into alumina calcination process and contributed to scaling up of and lab-scale demonstration of the UA solar expanding vortex receiver (SEVR).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.
Research Interests
- Net-zero Alumina Production
- Net-zero Cement Production
- Process modelling, Process Integration and Techno-economic assessment
- Ash chemistry
- Concentrated solar thermal for power generation, liquid fuel production and mineral processing
- Gasification of biomass/refuse-derived fuel (DRF) for production of synthetic gas (H2,CO) for liquid fuels or H2
- Waste (including Food waste) to value
- Torrefaction and pyrolysis of biomass for high value products
- High temperature thermal energy storage
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Associate Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2022 - 2024 | 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 | Competency |
|---|---|
| Chinese (Mandarin) | Can read, write and speak |
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Malay | Can read, write and speak |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2004 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | BE Mechatronics |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Ang, D., Tang, Y., Chinnici, A., Tian, Z. F., Saw, W. L., Lau, T., . . . Nathan, G. J. (2023). Thermal performance analysis of a scaled-up suspension flow receiver for generation of industrial process heat: A computational study. In THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BATTERY FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES (ICB-REV) 2022 Vol. 2815 (pp. 1-7). Online: AIP Publishing. DOI Scopus1 |
| 2023 | Nathan, G. J., Saw, W., Ingenhoven, P., Lee, L., Tian, Z., Sun, Z., . . . Ashman, P. (2023). The Role of Hydrogen in Net-Zero, High Temperature Industrial Processes. In Australian Hydrogen Research Conference, AHRC2023. |
| 2023 | Saldivia, D., Saw, W., Chinnici, A., Ingenhoven, P., & Taylor, R. A. (2023). Optical Optimization of Beam Down Receiver Geometry for High Temperature Heat Processes Using the MCRT Method. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2815 (pp. 100010). Online: AIP Publishing. DOI |
| 2023 | Rafique, M. M., Saw, W., & Nathan, G. (2023). Impacts of Covering the Aperture of Refractory-Lined Solar Receiver During Shutdown. In AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2815 (pp. 100008). Online: AIP Publishing. DOI |
| 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. DOI Scopus2 |
| 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. DOI Scopus5 WoS2 |
| 2020 | 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. DOI Scopus6 WoS5 |
| 2020 | 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. DOI Scopus5 WoS4 |
| 2019 | 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. DOI Scopus5 WoS2 |
| 2018 | 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. DOI Scopus7 WoS7 |
| 2016 | 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. DOI Scopus6 WoS5 |
| 2015 | 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. DOI Scopus14 WoS13 |
| 2015 | 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. DOI Scopus13 WoS12 |
| 2012 | 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. |
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CHEM ENG 1007 Introduction to Process Engineering
ENG 1001/1011 Introduction to Engineering
CHEM ENG 4058/7058 Metallurgical Processes
CHEM ENG 4014 Plant Design Project
CHEM ENG 4054 Research Project
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Assessment of Net-zero Steam Generation for the Bayer Process | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Viveon Sze Yew Tan |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD) Modelling of the Segregated Fluidised Beds (SFB) for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Making | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Qingwen Dai |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Hydrogen combustion for net-zero heavy industries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Samuel Luke Harris |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Steam recovery in Bayer alumina refinery for low-cost green alumina production | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Huei Yeong Lim |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Experimental and Computational Study of Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer in a Novel Alumina Calciner | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Naufal Baihaqi Al Afkar |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Decarbonisation of the bayer process in alumina refineries | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Trung Hieu Nguyen |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Alumina Refineries’ Next Generation Transition (AlumiNEXT) Project – Alumina Calcination | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Van Le Hoang |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Novel methods utilising heavy industry waste for carbon sequestration, metal recovery and value-added products | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Oliver James Beecroft |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Packed Beds for Thermal Energy Storage | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Obed Nenyi Otoo |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Techno-Economic Assessment on photocatalytic hydrogen production and the design and development of Photo-Thermal Receivers. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Anthony Ernest Pellicone |
| 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Calcination of clay as a supplementary cementitious material | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Nikhil Kirti |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | Assessment of Hydrogen Driven Alumina Calcination Process | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Daniel Jin Tung Ang |
| 2021 | Principal Supervisor | Assessment of the effect of steam on alumina calcination | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Siyun Ning |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Pyroligneous Acid – An Innovative Green Lixiviant for Metal Extraction from Diverse Resources | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Cherry Nguyen |
| 2020 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Techno-Economic Assessment of Solar-Hybridized Dual Fluidized Bed Gasification of Biomass for Poly-generation of Heat, Power, Biochar, and Chemicals or Liquid Fuels | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Nguyet Ky Ngo |
| 2019 - 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Thermal Performance of the Solar Expanding Vortex Receiver (SEVR) | Master of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Mr Daniel Jin Tung Ang |
| 2019 - 2023 | Principal Supervisor | Assessment of a High Temperature Refractory-lined Suspension Flow Solar Particle Receiver | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Muhammad Mujahid Rafique |
| 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 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 |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - ongoing | Operating Agent for SolarPACES Task II- Solar Chemistry Research | Scientific Community Engagement | SolarPACES | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | National Coordinator of Australia for SolarPACES TASK II: Solar Chemistry Research | Scientific Community Engagement | SolarPACES | - |