Ultrafine coal classification using 150 mm gMax cyclone circuits

R. Q. Honaker, F. Boaten, G. H. Luttrell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

A two-stage classification circuit using 150 mm diameter gMax cyclones was installed and evaluated in a coal preparation plant in an effort to achieve a clean coal product without the use of froth flotation. Particle size separations of around 37 μm were achieved while limiting ultrafine bypass to less than 10% in the circuit underflow stream. As a result, approximately 81% of the ash-bearing material in the circuit feed was rejected to the circuit overflow stream. The feed ash content was reduced from around 50% to values in the range of 22-30% in the circuit underflow stream with a mass recovery of about 30%. Further reductions in the coarse product ash content were limited due to the particle density effect and the remaining presence of a significant quantity of high-ash slime material in the coarse product. The typical D50 for the coal particles was 40 μm while the estimated value for mineral matter was 17 μm. Based on the findings of the study, the use of classification to recover a low-ash, coarse fraction in the feed of a fine coal circuit is limited by the density effect regardless of the ability to eliminate ultrafine bypass.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1218-1226
Number of pages9
JournalMinerals Engineering
Volume20
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The work presented in this publication was funded in part by the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST) through the US Department of Energy (DE-FC26-01NT41091). The authors greatly appreciate the support provided by the International Coal Group, Joan Meece and Robert Hollis during the in-plant testing program.

Keywords

  • Classification
  • Coal
  • Fine particle processing
  • Hydrocyclones
  • Modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • General Chemistry
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Mechanical Engineering

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