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Title: Dewatering of fine coal refuse: Final report, August 1985--December 1987

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6241650

A major area of concern in modern coal preparation plants is the filtration and dewatering of fine coal/refuse. Fine coal in slurry form must be dewatered to minimize handling and transportation problems and to maximize its calorific value. The main emphasis of the present work is on the study of enhanced dewatering of fine coal and refuse using vacuum, air pressure and vacuum plus pressure expression (using a belt filter press) techniques. The objective of the study is to seek improved methods of dewatering through a better understanding of filtration and post-filtration processes. Coal refuse obtained from a southwestern Pennsylvania mine and coal samples obtained from several different sources were used in this study. The effects of a number of surface active agents and flocculants on filtration and dewatering of the coal and refuse were studied. Porosity and single phase permeability data were obtained along with the micrographic analysis of the filter cakes. In the case of pressure expression by belt filter press, the effects of belt speed and applied hydraulic pressure were studied. 34 refs., 85 figs., 9 tabs.

Research Organization:
Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA). Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-85PC81582
OSTI ID:
6241650
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/81582-T1; ON: DE89009081
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English