Ww. Wen et al., Centrifuge dewatering and reconstitution of fine coal: A pilot-plant application of the GranuFlow Process, MIN MET PR, 16(3), 1999, pp. 49-52
A continuous pilot-scale test of the GranuFlow Process was conducted using
a screen-bowl centrifuge for the dewatering and reconstitution of column-fl
otation concentrate at a coal preparation plant in Virginia. In this test,
a slipstream of the fine clean-coal slurry from the column flotation concen
trate was treated with a bitumen emulsion before dewatering. The treated pr
oducts from the screen-bowl centrifuge appeared to be dry and in a free-flo
wing granular form, while the untreated products were wet, sticky and diffi
cult to handle. Test results indicated that the average moisture contents o
f the dewatered coal products were 35.7%, 35.5%, 32.6%, 29.9% and 26.5% (by
weight) with Orimulsion additions of 0.0%, 0.7%, 3.2%, 4.8% and 6.4% (by w
eight), respectively. The handleability and dust reduction of the dewatered
coal products were also vastly improved.