High-efficiency flotation of coarse and fine coal

Book · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:110023

Atkinson, B W; Conway, C J; Jameson, G J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

The flotation of coal in the fine and coarse particle size ranges presents particular problems. Fine or ultra-fine coal less than 100 microns presents a challenge to conventional flotation machines because the rate of capture of the coal particles can be very low, so longer residence times are needed. Also, conventional mechanical cells are not normally designed with froth properties in mind. Froth drainage may be inadequate, leading to excessive entrainment of ash. The upper limit of flotation of coal is normally put at about 500 {micro}m (30 mesh). It appears that, in mechanical cells, coarser particles tend to be torn away from bubbles in the turbulent environment created by the impeller. In this paper, results are presented from plant trials of a high-intensity flotation column of novel design, namely the Jameson cell. Extensive trials have been conducted on coal slurries with a top size of around 1 mm. Size-by size analysis shows that it is possible to achieve high yields of low ash product over the whole particle size range.

• OSTI ID: 110023
• Report Number(s): CONF-950002--; ISBN 0-87335-130-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ASH CONTENT
BITUMINOUS COAL
COAL PREPARATION
COMPILED DATA
DEASHING
DESIGN
DISTRIBUTION
FLOTATION
MATERIALS RECOVERY
PARTICLE SIZE
PERFORMANCE
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT