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U.S. Department of Energy
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Froth flotation for fine-coal cleaning. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6199103

Froth flotation of fine coal was investigated with the objectives of improving flotation at existing coal-cleaning plants and providing design guidance for future plants. Using hydrodynamically scaled-down laboratory and pilot flotation cells, and the Klimpel flotation model, a methodology was developed to relate laboratory-scale flotation results to full-scale flotation circuits. Froth Factor, the percent of froth over the froth lip, was determined to be the key element of this scale-up methodology. Results showed that simple, inexpensive changes in flotation parameters such as air rate and reagent dosages can significantly improve full-scale flotation product recovery and grade, and that more complex flotation circuitry can produce better recovery levels of high-grade coal than more commonly used rougher-only flotation circuits. In particular, cleaning rougher product can effectively reduce pyritic sulfur content. Results also demonstrated interaction between different size fractions of coal. Flotation rates were shown to depend on feed size consist, and it was found that separations based on differences in flotation rates are more advantageously performed on fine topsizes. Ultimate recoveries appear unaffected by size consist. 6 refs.

Research Organization:
WEMCO, Sacramento, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6199103
Report Number(s):
EPRI-CS-4383; ON: TI86920125
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English