Practical optimization of coal preparation plants

Gerald H. Luttrell, Rick Q. Honaker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

A coal preparation plant incorporates a variety of solid-solid separation processes that operate in relatively independent parallel circuits. Studies have shown that total plant performance can be optimized by selecting circuit cutpoints that maximize total clean coal yield irrespective of the performance of individual circuits. Although the optimum cutpoints can be determined using simulation programs, these mathematical routines require detailed washability data and empirical partition information that is not often available to plant operators. In addition, routine fluctuations in the washability characteristics of the plant feed make this approach impractical to implement in industrial facilities. As an alternative, practical optimization criteria can be developed for plant operators through a fundamental understanding of scientific principles involved in coal cleaning operations. This article provides an overview of the most important optimization criteria and presents several industrial case studies that illustrate the financial benefits of this practical approach to plant optimization.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInnovations in Natural Resource Processing - Proceedings of the Jan D. Miller Symposium
Pages367-382
Number of pages16
StatePublished - 2005
EventProceedings of the Jan D. Miller Symposium - Innovations in Natural Resource Processing - Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Duration: Feb 28 2005Mar 2 2005

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Jan D. Miller Symposium - Innovations in Natural Resource Processing
Volume2005

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the Jan D. Miller Symposium - Innovations in Natural Resource Processing
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City, UT
Period2/28/053/2/05

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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