Dr Chris Solnordal, senior member of the computational fluid dynamics team.

Dr Chris Solnordal: combining engineering expertise with computational fluid dynamics

Blending classical engineering approaches with computational fluid dynamics has helped Dr Chris Solnordal solve a range of problems within minerals processing operations.

• 29 June 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Chris Solnordal is a senior member of CSIRO's process modelling/computational fluid dynamics (CFD) team.

He works primarily with industry clients to solve a wide variety of industrial problems in the minerals and process industries.

Dr Solnordal's research interests include:

• flash smelters
• particle flows and agglomeration
• heat and mass transfer
• smelting processes.

Background

Dr Solnordal joined CSIRO in 1987 and began working on experimental and mathematical investigations of heat transfer in SIROSMELT™ lances.

His interest in this field prompted him to return to university where he completed a doctorate on the topic.

He has worked in the CFD field since the early 1990s.

Since his return to CSIRO in 1992, he has developed expertise in computer modelling using both classical engineering approaches as well as CFD.

This combined approach has allowed the development of models of whole-of-plant gas extraction systems, giving unprecedented insight into the extraction operation.

Since 1997 much of Dr Solnordal's time has been spent modelling fluid flow and reactions in flash smelters.

He has also performed detailed investigations into the nature of the fine flash furnace feed and its effect on furnace performance.

His other modelling work has included investigations of heat, fluid and solid flow in sinter machines, jigs, and gas extraction systems, and studies of the condensation of metal vapours.

Dr Solnordal was Manager of CSIRO's laser flow diagnostic facility from 2003-06, where he coordinated a team of researchers in the experimental analysis of many industrial and fundamental fluid flow systems.

Academic qualifications

Dr Solnordal completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1986.

He returned to the University of Melbourne and in 1992 was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering.

His thesis was based on experimental and computer modelling studies of the heat and fluid flow processes taking place inside SIROSMELT™ lances.

Achievements

Dr Solnordal is a member of the:

• Minerals, Metals and Materials Society
• Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Read more about CSIRO's Laser flow diagnostics laboratory.