An integrated fine coal preparation technology: the GranuFlow Process

In order to alleviate the problems of fine coal handling and processing and to enhance the utilization of fines by utilities, US Department of Energy' s (DOE's) Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) developed and patented th e GranuFlow Process. This paper summarizes recent test results of the Granu Flow Process with pilot-scale and plant-scale centrifuges in commercial pla nts. The main benefits of the GranuFlow Process are that it can potentially reduce the amount of waste coal that is stored in refuse impoundments, red uce the moisture content of the final clean coal product, improve handling by converting wet sticky fines to a granular, free-flowing material, preven t frozen coal problems in rail cars, and reduce the dustiness and fugitive dust losses during transportation and handling. Since Orimulsion is a low c ost bitumen emulsion, this technology provides the coal industry with a cos t-effective technology for fine coal processing. (C) 2000 Published by Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.