Blake Stewart

Team Leader, Process and Environment
Senior Engineering Consultant
Melbourne

Professional Background

Blake completed his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering at Monash University. Working at HRLTG Blake has experience with a variety of industries including power generation and transmission, coal upgrading and combustion, mineral processing and electricity distribution. Since starting at HRLTG in 2008 Blake has been involved in various projects including fuel characterisation, reactivity testing, thermal conductivity testing, thermal desorption, various agglomeration technologies, high pressure liquefaction, dust explosion risk assessments and safety training at various plants, plant performance testing as well as Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies. Blake has also been involved in the design, commissioning, technical feasibility, economic evaluation and the operation of various pilot scale rigs including HRLTG's 0.75MW gasifier. Blake also has experience managing Operations and Maintenance contracts and has recently managed several Bushfire Safety R&D projects for the Victorian State Government

Areas of Expertise

• Project manager responsible for resourcing, expenditure, QA and OHS&E for a variety of projects
• Performed technical and economic evaluation of potential agglomeration plants
• Performed thermal analysis using a variety of laboratory and pilot scale equipment
• Performed the design, construction and operation of various laboratory scale rigs
• Performed dust explosion risk assessments, site audits and training
• Involvement in Front End Engineering Design studies of various demonstration scale plants
• HRLTG OHSE representative

Relevant Project Experience

• Victorian Powerline Bushfire Safety Program REFCL Technologies Studies (2014-2015)
  Role: Test Manager
  Key achievements:
  Oversight of planning, commissioning and operation of a High Voltage R&D test facility designed to trial various bushfire reduction technologies
  Assistance with sample management procedures, data collection, analysis and reporting
  Management of capital expenditure, maintenance activities, resource scheduling, QA and OHS&E
• Recommissioning, operation and decommissioning of HRL's Coal Gasification Development Unit (2008-2009)
  Role: Operator and field attendant
  Key achievements:
  Recommissioning activities including:
  -Production and review of procedures
  -Installation and calibration of equipment and instruments
  -Troubleshooting
  -Control room operator
  -Field attendant responsible for coal feed, char/ash discharge and sample collection
• Agglomeration studies (2008-present)
  Role: Project leader
  Key achievements:
  -Involvement in numerous agglomeration studies including literature reviews, small scale laboratory agglomeration trials (2-50kg) and large scale agglomeration (up to 60 tonnes), technical and economic feasibility studies, process design and equipment sizing
  -Operation of various types of agglomeration equipment including stamp presses, double roll presses, extruders and pellet mills
  -Set-up and operation of various solids handling systems associated with agglomeration
  -Agglomeration of various feed stocks including biomass, coal, minerals, shale and plastics

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical)
• Certificate IV in Project Management (BSB41507)
• WorkSafe Victoria Forklift License