Fine Coal Processing

This book provides a survey of the current technology in fine coal processing, covering the major processing options available. The effective utilization of the nation's coal reserves depends on the production of a high quality, low cost product. As a result of overall efforts to curtail mining costs, modern trends toward intensive mechanization and non-selective mining have increased the quantities of fines (-500 micrometers) produced. Depending on geological and operational variables, the fines content in run-of-mine coal can vary between 10 and 35 weight percent. Fine coal processing can play an important role in the economics of coal. Fine coal processing has been a problem area for some time. Compared to coarser fractions, the fines are considerably more expensive to treat. Various separation processes have been developed based on physical and physico-chemical properties of coals and their associated gangue minerals. Some of these have achieved significant commercial success; others are still in developmental stages. The goal in coal preparation is to produce a product low in sulfur and ash, at a high Btu recovery and low cost. This requires improved separations, improved quality control and instrumentation, and effective use of capital and labor. Means of achieving these goals, as theymore » pertain to fine coal processing, are presented in the book. Currently, the most effective separation method is froth flotation, and various aspects of that are covered, from the state of the art to areas for future research. In addition, other separation methods such as flocculation and agglomeration, are presented as well as discussions of dewatering, storage, handling, and coal slurries.« less