Abstract
In response to concerns regarding cost and future supply of magnetite, a study has been performed to evaluate the potential of alternative materials that can be used to generate a dense medium for coal-cleaning applications. Alternative materials included waste steel slag, fine sand, and high-density material existing in run-of-mine feed. Under certain conditions, each of the materials tested provided separation efficiencies that meet industrial standards including probable error values of around 0.03. Dense medium derived from the non-magnetite sources achieved organic efficiency values exceeding the 95% level over a medium density range from 1.3RD to 1.6RD with lower than normal density offsets. Lower cost, coarse magnetite provided excellent separation efficiencies when medium density values above 1.6RD are sufficient to meet product grade requirements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 173-191 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The investigation was funded, in part, by the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies through the U.S. Department of Energy (Project Number DE-FC26-02NT41607, Code KY004-R01). The authors are grateful for the technical assistance provided by Dr. Peter Bethell and Arch Coal as well as the efforts provided by the coal preparation plant personnel at TECO Coal Company.
Keywords
- Autogenous medium
- Dense medium cyclone
- Dense medium separation
- Magnetite
- Medium stability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
- Fuel Technology