Introduction
Austherm Pty Ltd brings its unique combination of experience and expertise in engineering, science, computing, research and education to assist the processing and energy industries, the legal profession and environmental managers in taking advantage of opportunities and in neutralising threats.Austherm has made it its business to have detailed knowledge of the properties and of the chemistry of the materials that exist within man-made processes and within the environment and of the materials that contain processes and separate them from the environment. Austherm has a large collection of publications giving experimentally measured values of a range of physical and chemical properties.
We have detailed knowledge of and experience with the models and their parameters that are used to represent the chemical and physical properties of materials in computers and in process modelling and simulation. We have unique experience in having worked with both chemical and molecular property modelling methods and computer software in both the chemical and the metallurgical industries from the ambient aqueous environment to the very high temperatures found in thermal plasmas.
We are experienced in methods of presenting how the properties of materials affect the performance of processes and their interaction with the environment. We have made it our business to be familiar with and to have access to the published literature concerning the properties of materials. We are familiar with the transformations between various forms of energy in natural and industrial processes.
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- Our background in science and research, particularly in chemistry, allows us to apply fundamentals to problems when appropriate.
- Our engineering experience assures that our approach is both practical and pragmatic.
- We have unique experience in applied chemistry, chemical engineering and extractive metallurgy.
- We are able to apply our expertise in computing to rapid problem solving through process simulation.
- Our industrial and education experience allows us to effectively communicate with our clients.
- We are very experienced in obtaining information from the published technical literature using both manual and computerised search techniques.
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Data Services
Austherm provides comprehensive materials property data services
providing the information required to design, model, simulate and
optimise industrial processes and to model, simulate and
optimise environmental processes.
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Training
Austherm Pty Ltd and associates offer general and specialist
training and courses in the management and use of process
modelling and simulation software.
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regarding Austherm's courses.
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Legal Related Services
Austherm Pty Ltd and associates are able to offer expert
technical advice, expert opinions and expert testimony particularly
with respect to intellectual property, patents, patent disputes,
forensic examination of failed equipment and/or processes
and chemical, metallurgical and energy technology.
Austherm personnel have appeared as an expert witness in the County Court of Victoria.
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Finance Related Services
Austherm Pty Ltd and associates are able to offer technical
assessments of proposed or existing chemical and/or
metallurgical processes and audits of the use of technical
software with respect to issues such as suitability,
maintenance, verification and validation.
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regarding technical auditing by Austherm.
Austherm Pty Ltd and associates are able to assist investors in the evaluation of the feasibility of technical processes with respect to process chemistry, energy utilisation and industrial implementation of proposed processes.
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Environment Related Services
Austherm Pty Ltd principals have had a long association with
environmentally related issues including the greenhouse gas
carbon dioxide and metals and the environment.
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regarding Austherm's environmental services.
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Energy Related Services
Austherm Pty Ltd principals have had a long association with
energy related issues including the greenhouse gas carbon
dioxide and the environment.
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regarding Austherm's energy related services.
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The Formfuel Concept Various models have been proposed for a sustainable energy-supply system. The Hydrogen Economy and the Methanol Economy are well-publicised examples.
Austherm Pty Ltd principals developed the Formfuel Concept in the late 1970's. The concept shows that it is technically feasible to produce today's carbon-containing fuels and petrochemicals in a ecologically sustainable manner utilising the natural properties of formic acid.
The cost of implementing the Concept may be high when compared with current fuel and chemical
costs but the cost of not combatting man-induced climate change is likely to be
much greater. It appears that the time for this type of technology has come.
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Hazard and Security Analysis Services
Austherm Pty Ltd principals have the ability to analyse
hazards associated with industrial, security and natural
systems.
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regarding Austherm's hazard and security analysis services.
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Historical Metallurgy
Austherm Pty Ltd principals have a strong interest in historical
metallurgy and are able to offer courses in that area.
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regarding Austherm's historical metallurgy interests.
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Michael (Mike) W. Wadsley
B.Sc.(Hons), M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D., MRACI, MAIMM, MAIE, MACS,
MTMS-AIME
Penny M. Wadsley
B.Agr.Sc.(Hons), Dip.Ed.
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Email Address:
Postal Address:
7 Gunning Street
Richmond 7025
Tasmania
Australia
Office Telephone:
International: 61 3 6260 2950
Inside Australia: 03 6260 2950
Mobile Telephone:
0418 572 772
Facsimile:
International: 61 3 6260 2940
Inside Australia: 03 6260 2940
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FACTSAGE System
Austherm Pty Ltd are Australasian agents for the
FACTSAGE
System. The Facility for the Analysis of
Chemical Thermodynamics, developed at the
Centre for Research in Chemical
Thermodynamics at the Ecole Polytechnique de
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and at GTT, Aachen Germany,
is one of the most advanced
integrated thermochemical modelling tools currently
available. FACTSAGE has an extensive database of pure
component and solution model parameters covering silicate,
oxide, salt, sulfide, metal and aqueous solutions. Both
liquid and solid phase solution models are included. The
software offers the ability to calculate a wide variety of
phase diagrams incorporating these solution phases. An
alliance with the GTT group has further extended the
capabilities of the software plus databases. The FACTSAGE
System is maintained and supported by a team of technical
experts. F*A*C*T services include experimental
investigations. Austherm Pty Ltd offers technical support
and training for users of the FACTSAGE System.
For an additional royalty it is possible to use some of the GTT databases in the F*A*C*T system.
Austherm Pty Ltd have developed special data bases for lead and germanium vapour-phase species for use with the FactSage system. Please contact us for further information.
Check the F*A*C*T System web site for more information.
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GTT Software and Services
Austherm Pty Ltd are able to offer you assistance in
gaining access to the software and services of the
GTT
organisation.
The GTT software includes the renowned ChemSage-family of software programs including the programmer's toolkit ChemApp, the spreadsheet tool ChemSheet and the thermochemical teaching program ChemSage-Teach. The ChemSage program is now marketted as part of the fully Windows(TM) compatible system FACTSAGE. The ChemSage programs allows the calculation of complex, multiphase chemical equilibria. ChemApp allows you to include the power of equilibrium calculations in your own applications. ChemSheet enables you to perform equilibrium calculations in EXCEL(TM) spreadsheets.
GTT Services include kinetic modelling, thermochemical data, experimental services and a technical literature search service.
GTT are agents for the pure component and solution databases of SGTE (Scientific Group Thermodata Europe) organisation. SGTE aims to provide, maintain and expand high quality databases that enable a user to undertake complex calculations of chemical equilibrium and energy transformations efficiently and reliably. The SGTE databases are under constant development.
The GTT System is maintained and supported by a team of technical experts. Austherm Pty Ltd, in the near future, intends to offer Australasian technical support and training for users of the GTT software and services. The details of other GTT agents may be found in the GTT contact page.
For an additional royalty payment it is possible to use some of the F*A*C*T databases in the GTT systems.
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Austherm Pty Ltd Principals
Michael (Mike) Wadsley
1988 - 1996
1985 - present
1991
1970 - 1988
1968 - 1970
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia
Awarded Tasmanian Government Department of Mines Cadetship in
Chemistry 1965 - 1968
Tasmanian Prize Winner Australasian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy Student's Essay Competition in both 1967 and 1968
Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
Australian Institute of Energy (AIE)
The Metallurgical Society of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers (TMS-AIME)
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Penny Wadsley
1996 - present
1971 - 2006
1968 - 1970
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia
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Contents
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The Austherm web pages are prepared and maintained by
Michael Wadsley using the HTML language and various screen
editors.
Copyright Austherm Pty Ltd 1997-2011
All rights reserved
Experience
1996 - present
Austherm Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Director and Principal
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Department of Chemical Engineering as a Lecturer
Centre for Research in Computational Thermochemistry,
Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Visiting Researcher and Collaborator
Aspen Technology Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts,
USA
Consultant, July - November
CSIRO Division of Mineral Products (now Minerals),
Port Melbourne Laboratory, Victoria, Australia
Senior Experimental Scientist
Tasmanian Government, Department of Mines Metallurgical
Research Laboratories, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Chemist
Professional Qualifications
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Doctor of Philosophy degree from Department of
Chemical Engineering in 1996 under supervisor Professor
Frank Lawson.
Thesis titled: "Inorganic Substances
in Supercritical Fluids"
Master of Engineering Science degree from Department
of Chemical Engineering in 1984 under supervisor Professor
Frank Lawson.
Thesis titled : "First and Second Law
Analysis of Processes"
Bachelor of Science with Honours degree from Department
of Chemistry in 1968 specialising in Molten Salt Chemistry
under Professor Harry Bloom.
Thesis titled : "Kinetics of
Salt Roasting of Cassiterite".
Bachelor of Science degree in Applied
Chemistry and Chemistry from the University of Tasmania in
1967.
Publication List
Please inspect the following pages:
Publications at Austherm (1996-
present)
Publications at Monash
University (1988-1996)
Publications at CSIRO (1970-
1988)
Professional Societies
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
(AIMM)
Corporate member since April, 1973.
Student/Graduate member 1965 - 1973
Chairman of the Melbourne Branch of the AIMM (1985-86)
(previously Secretary and Treasurer of the Melbourne Branch)
Convenor of the AIMM 1984 Extractive Metallurgy Symposium 1984,
Melbourne
Corporate member since August, 1977.
Student/Graduate member 1965 - 1977
Member
Member
Nationality
Australian
(Holds a current Australian passport)
Professional Experience
Austherm Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Director and Principal
Star of Sea College, Gardenvale, Victoria, Australia
Senior Secondary Teacher and Laboratory Technician
Sacred Heart College, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Senior Secondary Teacher
Professional Qualifications
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Diploma of Education in 1979
Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours degree in 1968
specialising in sulphite metabolism under Dr A.C.Bray.
Thesis titled : "Sulphite Reductase: I A Colorimetric Method
for Determination of Sulphite using Potassium Dichromate.
II Evidence for a Relationship Between Sulphite and Nitrite
Reductases in Aerobacter aerogenes".
Nationality
Australian
(Holds a current Australian passport and U.S.A. visa)