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Biography

RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Over the past 30 years, Dr Phil Schwarz has conducted and led research in Computational Fluid Dynamics aimed at improving processes and equipment in the minerals industry.  This has mostly comprised mathematical and numerical modelling of single phase and multi-phase industrial flows.  Specific projects include bath smelting processes (Sirosmelt and HIsmelt), thickeners, waste heat boilers, heavy medium cyclones, fluidised beds, copper electrowinning, heap leaching, coal-fired furnaces, mixer-settlers and flotation cells. Supervised several PhD students within the GK Williams CRC for Extractive Metallurgy and the CRC for Clean Power from Lignite. In addition, he has conducted research into shock wave propagation in explosives and rock as part of a project to improve rock breakage with ICI Research, and worked on gas dynamics simulation techniques with applications in astrophysical fluid dynamics (Monash and Yale Universities). He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in physics, astrophysics and mathematics at Yale and Monash Universities. 
Major Research Interests: ·        
Computational Fluid Dynamics ·        
Multi-phase Flow·        
Gas bubbling in liquid systems·        
Fluid mechanics and flocculation in thickeners ·        
Bath smelting processes·        
Gas-solid fluidized bed hydrodynamics ·        
Three phase gas-liquid-solid systems 
Journal Editorial Positions: ·        
Member of the International Editorial Board of the Elsevier Journal  “Applied Mathematical Modelling”·        

Academic Qualifications

  • 1975

    BSc (Hons Phys) University of Queensland

  • 1979

    PhD Australian National University

Achievements and Awards

  • 2012-2012

    Lifetime Achievement Award
    CSIRO

  • 2006-2006

    John A Brodie Medal for Achievment in Chemical Engineering
    Institute Engineers Australia

  • 1999-1999

    CSIRO Medal
    CSIRO

  • 1996-1996

    CSIRO Minerals Innovation Award
    CSIRO Minerals

  • 1982-1984

    Postdoctoral Fellowship
    Monash University

  • 1979-1981

    J Willard Gibbs Instructorship
    Yale University

  • 1975-1975

    University Medal
    University of Queensland