Dr Tony Howes
Dr

Tony Howes

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Background

Biography:

Tony Howes graduated from UQ in 1983 with a degree in chemical engineering, and after 6 months working on a novel fluid bed retort system for oil shale went to Cambridge, UK, where he worked with Malcolm Mackley as his first PhD student on what is now the “Oscillating Baffled Reactor”. His dissertation was awarded the 1988 Danckwerts-Maxwell prize for best thesis in that year. A postdoctoral year at Brown University working on patterns in fluid data sets was followed by 3 ½ years in ICI’s Corporate Colloid Science Group, where he worked on theory and application of a novel atomiser.

Since 1993 Tony has been at The University of Queensland teaching, supervising and doing research. His work (largely in collaboration with Bhesh Bhandari in Food Science) on sticky droplet spray drying has been extensively published and cited – at present Bhandari and Howes papers are in the top-10 most cited in Drying Technology, Journal of Food Engineering and International Journal of Food Properties.

Tony has also worked on a variety of other particle problems, including solid state fermentation, regimes in rotating drums and prilling. Following work on sticky mud particles he was heavily involved in local water quality issues, and sat on the Scientific Expert Panel of the Healthy Waterways Partnership in South East Queensland.

At UQ he co-ordinated an innovative programme where students are placed in industry for a research project, and actively reflect on their learning and interact with UQ staff while in industry. In 2008 he was nominated for a University Teaching Excellence Award for his efforts on this programme.

Research:

My research focus is on spray drying, especially of sticky or potentially sticky foods. With key collaborators (Prof. Bhesh Bhandari, UQ, A.Prof Benu Adhikari University of Ballarat) we have developed rules and understanding of the role of sugars, proteins and other additives on the drying of sugar rich foods, including fruit juices, honey and milk products.

My general interests are in the modelling and physical aspects of these systems.

Teaching and Learning:

Teaching: Engineering Thermodynamics (1st year)

Education Research: The role of Work Integrated Learning in the BE and ME programmes.

Projects:

  1. Spray drying at elevated temperatures
  2. API crystallisation modelling
  3. Role of proteins and additives in food spray drying
  4. Morphology development in spray drying

Availability

Dr Tony Howes is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Education, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Tony Howes’s works on UQ eSpace

164 works between 1990 and 2024
All (164) Journal Article (114) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (48)

121 - 140 of 164 works

2002

Journal Article

Instabilities and drop formation in cylindrical liquid jets in reduced gravity

Edwards, A. P. R., Osborne, B. P., Stoltzfus, J. M., Howes, T. and Steinberg, T. A. (2002). Instabilities and drop formation in cylindrical liquid jets in reduced gravity. Physics of Fluids, 14 (10), 3432-3438. doi: 10.1063/1.1501825

Instabilities and drop formation in cylindrical liquid jets in reduced gravity

2002

Conference Publication

Polymer product-engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors

Ni, Xiongwei, Murray, K. R., Zhang, Yanmin, Bennett, Daniel and Howes, Tony (2002). Polymer product-engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors. Control of Particulate Processes VI, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, 19-24 September 1999. Amsterdam: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0032-5910(02)00022-0

Polymer product-engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors

2002

Journal Article

Experimental study of drop-interface coalescence in the presence of polymer stabilisers

He, YH, Howes, T, Litster, JD and Ko, GH (2002). Experimental study of drop-interface coalescence in the presence of polymer stabilisers. Colloids And Surfaces A-physicochemical And Engineering Aspects, 207 (1-3), 89-104. doi: 10.1016/S0927-7757(02)00042-0

Experimental study of drop-interface coalescence in the presence of polymer stabilisers

2002

Conference Publication

Glass transition relation to stickiness during spray drying

Bhandari, B. R. and Howes, T. (2002). Glass transition relation to stickiness during spray drying. Intnl Conf on Innovations in Food Processing Tech & Eng, AIT, Bangkok, 11-13 December, 2002. Bangkok: AIT, Bangkok.

Glass transition relation to stickiness during spray drying

2002

Journal Article

Surface stickiness of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during drying

Adhikari, B., Howes, T., Bhandari, B. and Truong, V. (2002). Surface stickiness of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during drying. Food Industry Journal, 5 (2), 112-124.

Surface stickiness of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during drying

2002

Conference Publication

CFD Modelling of Particle Transport and Biological Reactions in a Mixed Wastewater Treatment Vessel

Brannock, M. W. D., Howes, T., Johns, M. R., De Clercq, B. and Keller, J. (2002). CFD Modelling of Particle Transport and Biological Reactions in a Mixed Wastewater Treatment Vessel. Proceedings of the Int'l Conf. of Scientific & Eng. Comp., Singapore, 3-5 December. U.K.: Imperial College Press. doi: 10.1142/9781860949524_0038

CFD Modelling of Particle Transport and Biological Reactions in a Mixed Wastewater Treatment Vessel

2002

Journal Article

Mass transfer correlations for rotating drum bioreactors

Hardin, M. T., Howes, T. and Mitchell, D. A. (2002). Mass transfer correlations for rotating drum bioreactors. Journal of Biotechnology, 97 (1), 89-101. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1656(02)00059-7

Mass transfer correlations for rotating drum bioreactors

2002

Journal Article

Polymer product engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors

Ni, X. W., Murray, K. R., Zhang, Y. M., Bennett, D. and Howes, T. (2002). Polymer product engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors. Powder Technology, 124 (3), 281-286. doi: 10.1016/S0032-5910(02)00022-0

Polymer product engineering utilising oscillatory baffled reactors

2002

Journal Article

An Analytic Simplification for the Reconstruction Problem of Electrical Impedance Tomography

Belward, C., Howes, T. and Forbes, L. K. (2002). An Analytic Simplification for the Reconstruction Problem of Electrical Impedance Tomography. International Journal of Imaging Systems And Technology, 12 (1), 9-15. doi: 10.1002/ima.10008

An Analytic Simplification for the Reconstruction Problem of Electrical Impedance Tomography

2002

Journal Article

Application of a simplified method based on regular regime approach to determine the effective moisture diffusivity of mixture of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during desorption

Adhikari, B., Howes, T., Bhandari, B. R., Yamamoto, S. and Truong, V. (2002). Application of a simplified method based on regular regime approach to determine the effective moisture diffusivity of mixture of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during desorption. Journal of Food Engineering, 54 (2), 157-165. doi: 10.1016/S0260-8774(01)00203-5

Application of a simplified method based on regular regime approach to determine the effective moisture diffusivity of mixture of low molecular weight sugars and maltodextrin during desorption

2002

Conference Publication

Development of a novel testing device to characterize the sticky behavior of food powders - a preliminary study

Boonyai, P., Bhandari, B. R. and Howes, T. (2002). Development of a novel testing device to characterize the sticky behavior of food powders - a preliminary study. Intnl Conf on Innovations in Food Processing Tech & Eng, AIT, Bangkok, 11-13 December, 2002. Bangkok, Thailand: AIT, Bangkok.

Development of a novel testing device to characterize the sticky behavior of food powders - a preliminary study

2002

Conference Publication

Dynamic Interfacial Tension of Aqueous Solutions of PVAAs and its Role in Liquid-Liquid Dispersion Stabilisation

He, Y., Howes, T. and Litster, J. D. (2002). Dynamic Interfacial Tension of Aqueous Solutions of PVAAs and its Role in Liquid-Liquid Dispersion Stabilisation. 9th APPChe Congress and Chemeca 2002, Christchurch, 29 September - 3 October. Christchurch: University of Canterbury.

Dynamic Interfacial Tension of Aqueous Solutions of PVAAs and its Role in Liquid-Liquid Dispersion Stabilisation

2001

Conference Publication

Stabilisation Characteristics of Polymeric Surface-Active Materials

He, Y., Howes, T., Litster, J. D. and Cooper-White, J. (2001). Stabilisation Characteristics of Polymeric Surface-Active Materials. World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, 23-27 September. Melbourne: I.E.Aust.

Stabilisation Characteristics of Polymeric Surface-Active Materials

2001

Journal Article

Stickiness in foods: A review of mechanisms and test methods

Adhikari, B., Howes, T., Bhandari, B. R. and Truong, V. (2001). Stickiness in foods: A review of mechanisms and test methods. International Journal of Food Properties, 4 (1), 1-33. doi: 10.1081/JFP-100002186

Stickiness in foods: A review of mechanisms and test methods

2001

Conference Publication

Product Design and Engineering at The University of Queensland

Rutgers, R. P. G., Howes, T. and Litster, J. D. (2001). Product Design and Engineering at The University of Queensland. Refocusing Chemical Engineering, Barga, Italy, 27 May - 1 June.

Product Design and Engineering at The University of Queensland

2001

Journal Article

Residence time distributions of gas flowing through rotating drum bioreactors

Hardin, M. T., Howes, T. and Mitchell, D. A. (2001). Residence time distributions of gas flowing through rotating drum bioreactors. Biotechnology And Bioengineering, 74 (2), 145-153. doi: 10.1002/bit.1104

Residence time distributions of gas flowing through rotating drum bioreactors

2000

Conference Publication

Droplet Breakage Behaviour in a Pilot Oscillatory Baffled Column

Nelson, G., Ni, X., Johnstone, J. C. and Howes, T. (2000). Droplet Breakage Behaviour in a Pilot Oscillatory Baffled Column. CHEMECA 2000, Perth, W.A., 9-12 July 2000. Barton, A.C.T. Australia: The Institution of Engineers, Australia.

Droplet Breakage Behaviour in a Pilot Oscillatory Baffled Column

2000

Journal Article

Glass transition in processing and stability of food

Bhandari, BR and Howes, T (2000). Glass transition in processing and stability of food. Food Australia, 52 (12), 579-585.

Glass transition in processing and stability of food

2000

Conference Publication

Drying of sticky material - relevance to drying behaviour

Bhandari, B. R. and Howes, T. (2000). Drying of sticky material - relevance to drying behaviour. International Food Dehydration Conference - 200 and Beyond, Melbourne, 29-30 March, 2000. Melbourne, Victoria: Food Science Australia.

Drying of sticky material - relevance to drying behaviour

2000

Conference Publication

Drying behaviour of drops of low molecular weight sugars

Adhikari, B. P., Howes, T., Bhandari, B. R. and Truong, V. (2000). Drying behaviour of drops of low molecular weight sugars. 33rd Annual AIFST Convention, Brisbane, Brisbane Convention Centre, 20-23 August, 2000. Sydney, Australia: AIFST.

Drying behaviour of drops of low molecular weight sugars

Availability

Dr Tony Howes is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • A simple model for coastalwaterway management

    This research project is part of a larger Coastal Co-operative Research Centre project on the interface between modelling, monitoring and management in coastal waterways. Monitoring is essential for determining the water quality and ecosystem health of waterways. However, the are significant constraints on the design and operation of these programs due to cost and resource limitations. Furthermore, there are minimum requirements on the amount of data that is necessary to provide statistical confidence. This research project will aim to overcome some of these limitations by investigating the use of simple models for the design and interpretation of water quality monitoring data.

    Funds are available to top-up an APA or other scholarship by up to $5000 p.a. Importantly, the successful student will have an operating budget of up to $5000 p.a. and similar support for professional development, (to June 2006). The project involves close collaboration with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency as well as a range of other stakeholders.

    Students will need an honours degree in a suitable field (Science, Engineering) and an interest in modelling and water quality issues.

    For more details contact Tony Howes, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland (phone (07) 3365 4262, email tonyh@uq.edu.au)

  • Design of a PID controller for a drying rig

    We presently have apparatus which blows hot, dry air over a single droplet, and we obtain the drying kinetics of the drying through computer measurements of the droplet temperature and weight.

    We have a project which looks at improving the control of the in-coming air stream temperature and humidity, which at present is manually set by the user and monitored. In particular, we would like to look at using the data acquisition card and software in the computer to control the heating and humid air flow rates in order to perform this control.

    The project would suit a student interested in control or data acquisition.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Tony Howes directly for media enquiries about:

  • Atomisation - chemical engeering
  • Coalescence - chemical engineering
  • Flocculation - chemical engineering
  • Fluid mixing - chemical engineering
  • Spray drying - chemical engineering

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