Concepedia

Abstract

Dense-medium separators have proven to be the most efficient processes for removing the undesirable gangue material from run-of-mine coal. A test program has been conducted to evaluate the parametric effects on a magnetite-based dense-medium application in an enhanced gravity separator (EGS), which mechanically generates an enhanced gravity field. Optimization using empirical models developed utilizing data obtained from a statistically designed test program revealed that a complex manipulation of the medium density, bowl speed, and underflow tailings rate is needed to achieve maximum mass recovery over a range of clean coal ash contents. Subsequent experimental results validated the optimum performances predicted from the empirical models. Organic efficiency values greater than 95% were obtained over a wide range of product ash contents for the treatment of a 1000×45 micron coal sample.