Washability data base of very fine western coals

Conference · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6252243

Brown, D J; Dockter, B A; Mitchell, M J

Coal cleaning traditionally has been associated with reducing pyrite and other mineral matter from high-rank eastern coals. To date, insignificant quantities of western coals have been cleaned before utilization and limited data on their washability characteristics exist. Because of this lack of data, it is difficult to predict how these coals will react to standard washing techniques. To develop a data base on cleaning western coals, the Department of Energy initiated a washability study for both conventional and fine-size ranges. The study involves float-sink analyses of 156 samples from many regions of the western United States and includes coals from major producing fields of economic importance. Most of the coals studied are low-rank but a few high-rank samples from the west are also included. Figure 2 shows the location and number of samples collected from each state. The work was performed at both the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center (PETC) and the University of North Dakota Energy Research Center (UNDERC). PETC performed the testing on coal crushed to 1-1/2 in. x 0, 3/8 in. x 0, and 14 mesh x 0. UNDERC is gathering data on the fractions sized to 65 mesh x 0, 200 mesh x 0, and 325 mesh x 0. To date, UNDERC has tested 48 samples and selected results of the study on some of those fine-sized samples are presented in this paper. Preliminary results indicate that low-rank western coals benefit from the float-sink technique, but float yields at the lower specific gravities may be small. Bituminous western coals can be reduced in ash while producing excellent recoveries at intermediate specific gravities. Certain Oklahoma coals can be de-ashed by float-sink methods to levels that show promise for production of a special-purpose fuel for advanced combustion systems. 1 reference, 6 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Energy Research Center; USDOE Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, PA
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-83FE60181
• OSTI ID: 6252243
• Report Number(s): DOE/FE/60181-108; CONF-850211-5; ON: DE85007771
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ASH CONTENT
BITUMINOUS COAL
BLACK COAL
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CLEANING
COAL
COAL FINES
COMMINUTION
CRUSHING
DATA
DATA ACQUISITION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INFORMATION
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE SIZE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
SULFUR CONTENT
WASHING