Ultrafine coal cleaning using a centrifugal fluidized-bed separator

Ultrafine coal (nominal 150 x 44 mum) cleaning using a pilot-scale, centrifugal fluidized bed separator teas investigated. The effects of the operating parameter values were evaluated and optimized to maximize mass recovery at a givers product grade. Significant ash reductions were achieved from the cleaning of two coal sources having different cleaning characteristics. The concentrator provided a range of separation densities between 1.46 RD to 2.18 RD with probable error (E-P) values of around 0.25. Rougher-scavenger circuit simulations indicate that the process efficiencies can be improved significantly while achieving low density separations. E-P values ranging from 0.17 to 0.20 were realized, while the organic efficiency increased by 20 absolute percentage points.