Mr Xiaopeng Bi
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
PhD Candidate/ Research Associate
School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Xiaopeng 'Gavin' Bi, graduated from the School of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Adelaide in 2018, with gratefully receiving the 1st class honours in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Mechanical). Later, he decided to pursue a PhD study in the field of fluid mechanics with Professor Gus Nathan. Now, his research involves studies of different types of industrial-relevant particle-laden flows using various advanced optical techniques. Besides, he works closely with his supervisors and colleagues to develop and utilize new laser diagnostic methods.
"Our methods are globally unique, having been developed in-house, complementing other related investigations performed in a handful of places world-wide. I am very pleased to have access to such cutting-edge facilities and the rich experience accumulated by the Centre for Energy Technology. " --- Gavin
Laser technique: simultaneously measuring both particle- and fluid-phase velocities in particle-laden flows by two-color optical phase discrimination.
Supervisors: Professor Graham ’Gus’ Nathan (Principal), Dr Timothy Lau and Dr Zhiwei Sun.
Activities: multiple research conferences and industry-engaged activities, e.g., Selected speaker at the Gordon Research Conference on Laser Diagnostics (US 2021), Presenter at the 22nd -24th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AU 2020-2024, volunteer at the 21st in 2018), Australian Combustion Symposium (AU 2023), the 27th SolarPACES Conference (US 2021) and the 3rd-4th High Temperature Mineral Processing Forum - HiTeMP-3 (AU 2022-2024), as well as Mentee in the Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (AU IMNIS - ATSE, 2020-2021).
| Particle-based concentrating solar power technology (G3P3-Sandia DoE - US) | 2019-2023 |
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My PhD research focuses on fundamentally and experimentally studying lab-scale densely-seeded particle-laden flows in the development of next-generation commercially up-scaled renewable energy system, a concentrating solar thermal system, named as “falling particle receivers”, under the G3P3 project led by the Sandia National Laboratories (US), and partnering with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian National University (ANU).
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| Particle-based thermal reactor for renewable mineral processing (Calix - AU) | 2023-Present |
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Another research I am working on is experimentally studying particle residence time and particle dynamics in impulsively-seeded, particle-laden flows, in the development of Calix’s (AU) next-generation thermal flash reactors using renewable energy for advancing mineral processing in the production of lime/cement and metals, and for benefiting CO2 capture/reduction. |
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| High flux thermal pre-treatment of low-grade iron ores for improved liberation, beneficiation and quality (FMG, Roy Hill, Liberty Steel & CSIRO - AU) | 2023-2024 |
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This work under the project of HILT CRC Iron ore, is systematically and experimentally studying a series of processing techniques (comminution / beneficiation) integrated with novel thermal pre-treatment methods using high heating fluxes and high heating rates for up-grading low-quality iron ores and reducing crushing energy cost.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - 2024 Research Associate (Minerals & Energy) The University of Adelaide 2020 - 2021 Teaching Assistant (MECH ENG4107/7029 - Air Conditioning) The University of Adelaide 2019 - 2019 Teaching Assistant (CHEM ENG 1009 - Materials I) The University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2022 Award Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society (AFMS) Student-Participation Award Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society (AFMS) Australia - 2022 Award The HiTeMP-3 Forum People's Choice Award for PhD Research Presentation and Poster The University of Adelaide; Centre for Energy Technology Australia - 2022 Award Special Commendation for Contribution to Research Quality (PhD) Centre for Energy Technology Australia - -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2019 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2015 - 2018 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours), awarded with First-Class Honours -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2020 - 2021 Mentee in the IMNIS Energy-Minerals Program The Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) Australia 2019 - 2019 Level 3 Operator Laser Safety University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW Canberra) Australia -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
2020 - 2021 Teaching Assistant (MECH ENG4107/7029 - Air Conditioning)
2019 - 2019 Teaching Assistant (CHEM ENG 1009 - Materials I)
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Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2023 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Experimental study of particle residence times related to drop-tube reactor design The University of Adelaide Master by coursework Master Full Time Shizhen Hu, Tiankuo Jiao, Yaoyao Yang
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2025 - ongoing Member The Australian Institute of Physics Australia 2025 - ongoing Member The Australian Academy of Science Australia 2023 - ongoing Member Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre Australia 2021 - ongoing Member Optica Student Chapter - The Optical Society United States 2019 - ongoing Member Centre for Energy Technology Australia 2018 - ongoing Member Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles
