Fundamental study for improvement of dewatering of fine coal/refuse. Final report, August 1981-December 1984
Fine coal in slurry form must be dewatered to minimize handling and transportation problems and be reduced to a desirable level for subsequent preparation of coal/water mixtures as a substitute utility fuel. The current practice is inadequate for the dewatering of fine coal, particularly for coal particles with sizes smaller than 400 mesh. Therefore, it is most desirable to develop improved mechanical methods for reducing the moisture content of fine coal. In the light of this, a fundamental study of the dewatering of fine coal/refuse was initiated in June 1979 and continued through 1984. The overall objective of the study is to seek improved methods of dewatering through a better understanding of the filtration and post-filtration processes. As a first step, efforts have been focused on the mechanism of dewatering in terms of the basic properties of coal (and refuse) particles and the microstructures of filter cakes, and their relations to filtration rate and final moisture content. Pittsburgh seam-Bruceton Mine coal was used as a base coal. During the past year, filter cakes from coals with widely varying size ranges were micrographically characterized. The effects of a number of surface active agents and of entrapped air bubbles on the filter cake properties were also studied. Modules of the network model for calculating single phase and two phase permeabilities were formulated and tested. The report is divided into four parts: summary and deliverables; work forecast for 1984-1985; detailed description of technical progress; and appendices. 21 refs., 55 figs., 17 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA). Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-81PC42302
- OSTI ID:
- 6321228
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/42302-T3; ON: DE86005790
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COAL FINES
FILTRATION
PARTICLE SIZE
WATER REMOVAL
SURFACTANTS
ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS
BUBBLES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
WASHING
CLEANING
DATA
INFORMATION
ISOTHERMS
NUMERICAL DATA
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
013000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Transport
Handling
& Storage