SRI capability

Rod Steindl is a leading expert in clarification and filtration technologies and has participated in a wide range of research, consulting and training projects covering most sugar factory and refinery operations. Recent specialisation includes pH control, flocculation, flash tank, clarifier and evaporator designs, filter cake porosity improvements, micro- and ultra-filtration and sugar dryer design.

Ross Broadfoot is a key researcher, consultant and trainer. Ross has authored and co-authored more than 50 publications on sugar crystallisation, continuous vacuum pans, sugar recovery from final products, centrifugation of high and low grade massecuites, multiple effect evaporation and energy management of factories. Recent work has focused on sugar factory technical audits, equipment design and process research.

Les Edye specialises in analytical carbohydrate chemistry, polysaccharide-polyphenloic networks formed in sugar and sugarcane processing streams, process control and the development of on-line process measurements. Les has authored more than 70 papers in various scientific and industry publications. Les consults to food and beverage manufacturers on issues relating to sugar quality in processed foods. He is researching the fractionation of lignocellosics to yield biofuels and biomaterials.

Bill Doherty’s expertise lies in the areas of colloidal science, synthesis of polymers and biopolymers, flocculation and coagulation, solid-state reactions, surface chemistry and the physical chemistry of polyelectrolytes.

Bill has participated in R&D and consulting services to the sugar and allied chemical industries studying scale control and chemical cleaning of heat exchange surfaces, juice and syrup clarification, byproducts and value-added products from sugar, laser light scattering technology, polymer chemistry, biomass fractionation technologies and lignin characterisation, derivatisation and use.

Phil Hobson specialises in electricity cogeneration and energy efficiency. He has considerable experience in financial and technical modelling, energy management and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. Other specialties include gasification, thermochemical production of biofuels, factory energy analysis and cane separation technology.

Geoff Kent is a leading expert in milling technology and is responsible for the milling research program at SRI. He has participated in research, consulting and training activities in milling and cane transport. He specialises in the modelling of milling train throughput and extraction processes, and in assessment and improvement of factory crushing performance and capacity. Geoff is responsible for SRI’s mill-setting software, MILSET. He is responsible for SRI’s commercial activities and business development in India.

Anthony Mann specialises in thermodynamics and CFD modelling, with an emphasis on bagasse and coal fired boilers.  His CFD modelling expertise has been used to address a wide range of boiler operational problems. He has been involved with the development and commissioning of the swirling bagasse spreader, boiler secondary air system and pneumatic cane cleaner. Anthony has performed pollutant emission monitoring and run training courses for sugar factory personnel.

Darryn Rackemann specialises in process operation of the clarification, evaporation and crystallisation stations. He has experience in the evaluation and implementation of clarification, filtration and crystallisation technology including vessel design. Other specialties include computation fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling.