Fundamental study for improvement of dewatering of fine coal/refuse. Annual report, July 1980-June 1981

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5672233

Chiang, S H; Fulton, P F; Klinzing, G E; Tierney, J W; Gala, H; Kakwani, R; Meenan, G; Pien, H L

A major area of concern in modern coal preparation plants is the dewatering (and filtration) 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 current practice is to use a vacuum filter for initial dewatering followed by thermal drying to meet the final moisture requirement. Experience shows that the thermal drying of fine coal is a costly operation. In addition, it poses air pollution problems and safety hazards due to sulfur emission and dust formation. Therefore, it is most desirous to develop improved mechanical methods for reducing the moisture content of fine coal so that the need for thermal drying will be reduced or eliminated. In light of this, a fundamental study of the dewatering of fine coal/refuse was initiated in June 1979 under the DOE Contract No. DE-AC01-79ET14291 and renewed in June 1980 (Contract No. DE-AC22-79ET14291). 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 basic properties of coal (and refuse) particles and filter cakes and their relations to filtration rate and final cake moisture contents. This report presents the highlights and accomplishments of the second year. The report is divided into four parts: Summary and Deliverables, Work Forecast for the Third Year, Detailed Description of Technical Progress, and Appendices for Computer Programs and Experimental Data. 11 refs., 58 figs., 16 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA). Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-79ET14291
• OSTI ID: 5672233
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/14291-8; ON: DE86014351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
COAL FINES
DISTRIBUTION
DRYING
FILTERS
FILTRATION
IMAGE PROCESSING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROSCOPY
MINERAL WASTES
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
PARTICLE SIZE
POROSIMETERS
POROSITY
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SOLID WASTES
SURFACTANTS
WASTES
WATER REMOVAL