Supervisors: Dr Andrew Ang (Swinburne), Professor Peter Kingshott (Swinburne)
Thesis title: Addressing ash-related challenges from biomass combustion using ceramic and composite coatings
Although the use of biomass as an energy source has been growing, some challenges related to biomass combustion are inevitable and they can negatively affect the efficiency and performance of the boiler. The degradation of the boiler is a result from high temperature corrosion from corrosive compounds released from biomass combustion and erosive wear due to impingement of solid particles.
The new desired coatings to address the challenges must be capable of reducing slagging deposition and corrosion attack from biomass combustion, contain both tough and hard phases to resist erosion as well as be compatible to the existing substrate in a practical working environment. According to previous studies, metal-based Ni-Cr coating has shown excellent corrosion and erosion resistance in a practical boiler environment. In addition, it is evident that adding appropriate content of ceramic phase to the coatings as a reinforcing hard material can enhance erosion resistance of the coatings. This aims are to implement these finding to create a new generation of composite coatings that positively modify surface properties such as resistance to corrosion, wear and oxidation to prolong the life span of the boiler component and improve its performance.
Kritkasem Khantisopon (Kris) is a Bachelor of Science graduate majoring in Materials Science from Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand). He has a passionate interest in materials used in severe environments. During his undergraduate study, he worked on synthesizing boron carbide from sucrose and boric acid using hydrothermal method. He also had the opportunity to do his summer internship at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia via the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE). With SEAM Kris is working on developing new coatings to minimize ash-related challenges in industrial boilers and developing a new insulation coating for pipe transporting high temperature fluids.
