PDU-scale testing of microbubble flotation

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5692253

Yoon, R H; Adel, G T; Luttrell, G H

Fundamental investigations into the effect of bubble size on coal flotation have established that microbubbles can improve the recovery of fine coal and increase the rejection of ash. Laboratory-scale testing of microbubble flotation has demonstrated the capability of producing superclean coal containing less than 1 or 2% ash and very little pyritic sulfur. The main objective of this project is to construct a 500 lb/hr Process Demonstration Unit (PDU) for the purpose of: (1) demonstrating the feasibility of the microbubble flotation process for producing superclean coal; (2) collecting scale-up data for designing commercial-scale microbubble flotation columns; and (3) collecting cost data for an economic evaluation of the process. Work presented in our previous progress report centered on the design and construction of bench-scale flotation columns for scale-up testing (WBS 1.1.1). In addition, we presented the initial test results on the optimization of column operating parameters (WBS 1.1.2), a detailed analysis of microbubble generation (WBS 1.1.5) and design plans for the PDU facility (WBS 1.2.1 and 1.2.2). With the bench-scale column design now complete, this report deals primarily with the tasks relating to column scale-up. 3 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (USA). Dept. of Mining and Minerals Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-86PC91274
• OSTI ID: 5692253
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/91274-T14; ON: DE91012261
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
AERATION
BUBBLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
COAL
COAL FINES
COAL PREPARATION
COMBUSTION
CONSTRUCTION
DEASHING
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOTATION
FLOW RATE
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
PROGRESS REPORT
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASHING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER