Banyo Pilot Plant Precinct

The Banyo Pilot Plant Precinct is a general-purpose facility for large-scale or scaled-up research in traditional engineering (e.g. structural, mechanical or electrical), scientific applications, and testing and validation.

Research

Research projects include the development of pilot equipment and processes for industry partners as well as long-term monitoring of industrial products.

The broad areas of research conducted at Banyo are:

• mechanical and manufacturing engineering
• power and energy engineering, high-voltage testing and solar applications
• water and wastewater engineering, including stormwater evaluation and desalination
• environmental and ecological materials processing, including whole organism treatment
• biofuels and biocommodity production
• tropical and subtropical aquaculture
• rock preparation and crushing, thin section preparation and core handling
• plasma reactor development and Parr reactor operation
• sugar research including biomass processing and instrument development.
  

Site

The site consists of:

• two warehouses of 1,500m² and 1,000m² with specialised labs, workshops and engineering infrastructure
• office space of 500m² with hot desks, a meeting room, a conference room and a technical library
• uncovered hard stand area of 2,000m².

The site is suited to large-scale, heavy engineering equipment and small to medium (up to 200m² footprint) pilot equipment.

Facilities

Structural testing

A scientific and industrial lab for heavy mechanical and structural testing, including high temperature and flame conditioning. It includes a 5t gantry crane and 2.5t forklift for heavy lifting, 100m² of strong floor (up to 500kN), and a six-burner gas furnace that can deliver up to 1000°C.

Electrical testing

A power engineering lab for experimental and qualification testing of both high-voltage and low-voltage devices.

Geological sample preparation and analysis

A geological lab for preparing and analysing samples, with equipment for rock cutting and crushing, core logging, thin sections and soil analysis.

Aquaculture

A large aquarium for studying fresh-water organisms and the impact of controlled environmental factors.

Data acquisition

Labview data logging systems for collecting data and test reports.

Mechanical workshop

For construction, fitting and assembly work, with a lathe, milling machine, grinders, drill press, vice, hand tools and a large selection of nuts, bolts and different materials.

Electrical workshop

An assembly facility for small projects, including printed circuit board (PCB) design and construction.

Services

Walk-in cold room; single and three phase power; compressed air; deionised water.