JCU Sugar Advanced Technology Unit

Innovation through modelling

James Cook University is the only Australian University to be located in the tropical cropping zone and has close access to sugar cane producers and processors. James Cook University has taken the initiative of bringing together its multidisciplinary research and training skills to set up JCU Sugar.

JCU sugar is an advanced technology research unit located in the heart of the sugar industry in North Qeensland, which provides multidisciplinary research and development services for the harvesting and processing of Sugar cane. The unit has a mission to add value to the sugar industry and draws on the strengths of the research and research training available in JCU's skills base of

• Mechanical, Chemical, Civil & Systems , Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Physical, Organic, Inorganic Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Botany and Zoology
• Education and management
• Physics
• Mathematics and Economics
• Behavioural Science
• Environmental Science

JCU Sugar is in the business of specialist advice and technical support based upon the strategic and user-driven research it undertakes. The Unit's strategic links with overseas universities and research institutes enable it to set up multidisciplinary teams to solve unique industry-related problems. JCU Sugar is strategically placed to build sugar industry interactions in Queensland and is currently working on a number of projects for industry including:

• structural and mathematical modelling of cane transport equipment
• investigation of the fundamental properties of baggasse and other by products
• research in computational fluid dynamics applied to processing
• advanced modelling of the crushing process
• detailed analysis of sugar, waste and effluent streams
• cogeneration
• bagasse transport systems
• modelling of factory process equipment
• new product market research

Scientific and technical support is available for projects requiring usage of the following equipment and computer codes:

• Condition monitoring equipment
• Surface vibration measurement using laser Doppler
• Transmission Electron Microscope
• Chromatographic Equipment
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer with Imaging Capabilities
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
• Advanced Data Logging Systems
• Structural Testing Equipment (Instron, UTS etc.)
• Advanced Manufacturing Software (IDEAS, PATRAN, PFATIGUE and ABAQUS)
• Thermal system and simulation software
• Process simulation and control software (HYSIM, ASPEN)
• Computational fluid dynamics software (FIDAP)

Training is provided at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Every year James Cook University Departments run about 10 undergraduate projects in areas related to Sugar processing.

The strength in James Cook University industry collaboration is built on the expertise of its engineers, scientists and technical support staff. This expertise is integrated to provide industry with market-oriented services.

JCU Sugar is in the business of technology transfer and will invest any surpluses from commercial interactions in strategic research.

Further information:

Professor Jeffrey Loughran
Director, JCU Sugar, Advanced Technology Unit
Email: Jeffrey.Loughran@jcu.edu.au
Telephone: 077 81 4312
International: 61 77 81 4312
Facsimile: 077 81 4660