Coal Preparation
Maintenance, improved recovery and plant capacity are our key coal preparation strategies. Work is focused on maximising yield, reducing production costs, minimising emissions, reducing water consumption and the use of lower quality water without adversely impacting on process efficiency.
Dewatering (47 Reports)
| Get Report |
| C33053 | 06/08/2024 |
| Author: Hangil Park, Changzhi Bai and Liguang Wang | The University of Queensland |
The aim of the project was to develop a model for screen bowl centrifuges and validate it using experimental data, enabling the coal preparation plants to improve the operation and control of centrifugal dewatering. A comprehensive centrifuge model was built by integrating pre-established .... read more |
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| C28056 | 01/02/2024 |
| Author: Teresa Kittel, Con Filippou, Alejandro Vargas Uscategui, Andrew Taylor, Michael O’Brien, Nazmul Alam | CSIRO |
The main objective of this project was to improve the wear resistance properties of coal dewatering centrifuge baskets through investigation into alternative coatings applied to the 304 stainless steel wedge wire. Adding a thin coating (~300μm) to the surface of the wedge wire does not .... read more |
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| C33048 | 16/12/2023 |
| Author: Jubert Pineda, Kaiwen Ouyang, Olivier Buzzi and Stephen Fityus | The University of Newcastle |
Testing of fine coal materials in the unsaturated state, such as dewatered tailings, is inherently complex and requires precise measurement of both pore air and pore water volume changes to accurately evaluate the changing degree of saturation. The project focused on commissioning laboratory .... read more |
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| C28062 | 21/10/2023 |
| Author: Hangil Park, Changzhi Bai and Liguang Wang | The University of Queensland |
Centrifugal dewatering is one of the main processes used for fine and ultrafine coal dewatering, but its efficiency is heavily impacted by variations in the feed stream, including flow rate, particle size distribution and solids content. It is essential to continuously monitor the feed and .... read more |
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| C29062 | 04/09/2023 |
| Author: Anxiang Yang and Liguang Wang | The University of Queensland |
Various beneficiation processes are employed for upgrading Australian raw coals over a broad size range. Among the beneficiation processes widely used in Australian coal preparation plants are dense medium separation and froth flotation. A common feature for these separators is the use of a .... read more |
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| C33039 | 01/05/2023 |
| Author: Ngoc Nguyen and Anh Nguyen | University of Queensland |
Sustainable disposal of tailings is a pressing issue in the coal industry. Conventional tailings storage facilities (TSFs) pose a significant risk of catastrophic liquefaction failure. Dry stacking via co-disposal presents a new tailings management strategy in which fine coal tailings are .... read more |
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| C29059 | 01/11/2022 |
| Author: Cuong Nguyen, Anh Nguyen, Ngoc Nguyen, Andrew Doi and Dave Osborne | The University of Queensland |
Dewatering of fine coal tailings becomes more and more challenging due to the variation of tailings composition, and the complex surface properties and gelation. Among dewatering methods, solid bowl centrifugation has proven superior owing to an efficient combination between chemical reagents .... read more |
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| C27064 | 08/11/2021 |
| Author: Glenn Sherritt | A&B Mylec |
Conventional dry processing methods engage a single beneficiation device (e.g. FGX, Air Jigs) employing air (and vibration) in place of water or medium, as is typical in wet coal preparation. More contemporary dry sorting methods employ advanced electromagnetic sensors coupled with analysers, .... read more |
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| C28052 | 01/07/2021 |
| Author: Daniel Borrow, Jamie Dickinson, Matthew Cole & Kevin Galvin | University of Newcastle |
The objective of this project was to determine the potential to effect a reduction in fine coal product moisture using a novel agglomeration technology. Following agglomeration, the final product was subjected to pressure filtration tests at both 1 and 7 bar, and the final moistures .... read more |
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| C24047 | 18/01/2021 |
| Author: Ben Narbutas & Bob Drummond | QCC Resources |
Hyperbaric disc filter technology has been used to dewater fine coal concentrates in Eastern Europe and China for over 30 years. A pilot scale investigation was undertaken in 2016, which examined the suitability of this technology to dewater Australian fine coal flotation concentrates. This .... read more |
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| C25018 | 31/08/2020 |
| Author: Changzhi Bai, Hangil Park, Liguang Wang | University of Queensland |
This report provides detailed information on fine coal dewatering in the screen bowl centrifuge (SBC). SBCs are used in some coal preparation plants in Australia to dewater the flotation concentrate, and the process often faces the problem of low solids recovery (e.g., 70%). This represents a .... read more |
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| C27065 | 01/07/2020 |
| Author: Cuong Nguyen, Van Nguyen, Andrew Doi, Majid Ejtemaei and Anh Nguyen | University of Queensland |
Dewatering of fine coal tailings is a big challenge to the coal industry. These dewatering and handling problems are caused by the complex surface properties and gelation due to the swelling characteristics of smectite-type clays, which can result in high yield stress, high dosages of .... read more |
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| C25012 | 01/08/2019 |
| Author: Majid Ejtemaei, Anh Nguyen | The University of Queensland |
Dewatering of ultrafine coal and tailings is a big challenge to the coal industry. In this project, the dewatering of ultrafine coal and tailings in the presence of chemicals (anionic and cationic surfactants, and anionic flocculants) were investigated using surface characterisation .... read more |
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| C26015 | 01/03/2019 |
| Author: Majid Ejtemaei, Jianlong Wang, Anh Nguyen, Priyanthi Hapugoda and Graham O’Brien | The University of Queensland and CSIRO |
This project aimed to develop alternatives to existing mechanical dewatering technology, improve water quality and usage, and encourage further projects in these dewatering areas. Typically, concentrates of coal flotation are dewatered to provide fine coal products of approximately 20 .... read more |
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| C25010 | 01/04/2018 |
| Author: Rohan Stanger, Andrew Stanger, Quang Anh Tran, Wei Xie, Michael Stockenhuber, Eric Kennedy, John Lucas, Terry Wall | University of Newcastle |
This tailings dewatering study was undertaken to provide a link between the fundamental tailings properties and observable bulk characteristics produced by a solid bowl centrifuge. Samples were taken from both a commercial and pilot scale unit operated at separate mine sites. This afforded the .... read more |
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| C24040 | 01/10/2017 |
| Author: Xumeng Chen and Yongjun Peng | The University of Queensland |
The presence of overly stable froths in fine coal flotation products is becoming a common phenomenon in Australian coal preparation plants due to the increasing amount of fine coals which need to be processed and the widespread use of high salinity process water. The overly stable froth causes .... read more |
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| C21055 | 22/09/2017 |
| Author: Götz Bickert, Jie Bao, Ridwan Setiawan and Chee Keong Tan | GBL Process, University of New South Wales |
Paste thickeners produce significantly higher solids underflow concentrations than conventional thickeners through higher beds within the thickeners. They have been introduced into the coal preparation industry for coal tailings dewatering. Control of paste thickeners is critical because the .... read more |
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| C24048 | 04/04/2017 |
| Author: Noel Lambert | Clean Process Technologies |
The aim of this project was to develop an instrument that is capable of accurately and reliably measuring the quality of the thickener underflow in an operating coal preparation plant environment. Overall the values obtained for viscosity, particle density, slurry density .... read more |
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| C23040 | 01/10/2015 |
| Author: Darren Mathewson, Daniel Eschebach | Quality Process Solutions |
Tailings management is critical to the efficient operation of a modern mine and mineral processing plant. Due to intense scrutiny of the overall environmental impact and water usage of CPPs, obtaining approval for tailings dams has become increasingly difficult, leading to an increase in the .... read more |
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| C23041 | 01/03/2015 |
| Author: Stuart Whitton, Wilfried Wimmler, Timothy Vangsness | Mechanical Advantage, Ishigaki Oceania, University of Queensland |
A pilot scale screw press filter was tested at an operating mine site where it filtered coal tailings containing high levels of kaolin clays. Its performance is compared to that of a recess plate pressure filter that was used to filter the same tailings materials at the same time. During the .... read more |
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| C21054 | 01/01/2014 |
| Author: Philip Ofori, Clint McNally and Bruce Firth & Anh Nguyen | CSIRO & University of Queensland |
The effective management and disposal of coal preparation process effluents containing colloidal particulate matter, particularly fine tailings with clay minerals are important to the Australian coal industry from both environmental and water recovery perspectives. Tailings management .... read more |
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| C7039 | 19/09/2013 |
| Author: M Thomas, Chris Veal | CSIRO Energy Technology |
Please refer to .... read more |
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| c21004 | 19/02/2013 |
| Author: Liguang Wang, Jianwei Du, Anh Nguyen | The University of Queensland |
This report describes the responses of Australian coals and tailings to the commercialised CentribaricTM dewatering technology at laboratory scale and in batch mode. It provides detailed information on the impact of operating variables and particle size and type on the .... read more |
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| C17039 | 03/09/2009 |
| Author: Andrew Vince, Dr Götz Bickert, Karin Meyer, Heike Sigloch, Markus Gärtner and Rob Sedmak | Elsa Consulting Group, Department of Chemical Engineering University of NSW, Dendrobium Coal Preparation Plant BHP Billiton Illawarra Collieries |
This project has considered three important concepts that were shown to offer industrial potential to reduce the moisture content of horizontal vacuum belt filer cakes. Initial bench scale testing indicated that the use of surface hydrophobicity modifying chemicals caused .... read more |
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| C15061 | 01/09/2008 |
| Author: David Williams, Stuart Whitton | University of Queensland, Mechanical Advantage |
ACARP Project C15061 addressed a Research Priority of improved recovery by reducing product coal moisture. This was achieved through applying unsaturated soil mechanics principles to better understand the water storage capacity, dewatering and re-wetting of product coal, during .... read more |
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| C16041 | 01/03/2008 |
| Author: Andy Fourie | University of Western Australia, CSIRO, Curtin University |
The processing, transport and management of ultrafine coal tailings often represents major financial and logistical concerns for owners and operators of collieries. The problems almost invariably relate to the volume of water that has to be managed when dealing with the ultrafine tailings. .... read more |
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| C12054 | 01/06/2006 |
| Author: Glenn Hart, Michael O'Brien, Bruce Firth | CSIRO |
Experimental work at Coppabella by Sedgman suggested that a moisture reduction could be obtained via a reduction in the basket speed with a commensurate increase in basket life. This finding raised the issue of our lack of understanding of : .... read more |
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| C14061 | 01/02/2006 |
| Author: Garry France | Callidan Instruments |
This project examines the installation of an on-line instrument to measure cake moisture in horizontal bed filters, in real-time. This will allow operators and process engineers to accurately adjust process parameters to meet the desired product moisture. It would also eliminate the .... read more |
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| C9047 | 01/01/2006 |
| Author: Glenn Hart, M Thomas, Chris Veal, Bruce Firth, P Townsend, S Morgan | CSIRO Energy Technology |
The preferred filtration device for flotation concentrates in most Australian plants is currently the horizontal vacuum belt filter. This machine has many advantages such as high reliability, low maintenance, ease of control, high solids capture and able to accommodate rapid changes in feed .... read more |
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| C14012 | 01/12/2004 |
| Author: Götz Bickert | University of New South Wales |
The objective of the study was to undertake a review of tailings dewatering technologies currently used in Australia and Overseas and technologies with the potential to improve tailings dewatering either from a quality (moisture and handleability) or commercial .... read more |
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| C11039 | 01/10/2002 |
| Author: Chris Wood | Partition Enterprises |
This report presents a review of the 26 past and current coal dewatering research projects funded by NERDDC and ACARP. It was commissioned by ACARP to: - summarise the practical outcomes
- highlight any further potential outcomes that could be realised for a relatively
.... read more |
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| C5448 | 01/06/2002 |
| Author: D Condie, BK Johnston, N Bramall, Glenn Hart, S Morgan, Chris Veal, Stuart Nicol | CSIRO Energy Technology, Novatech Consulting |
Volume 1: Air-Purged Centrifuge: Air purging is a novel process that involves the injection of a turbulent stream of compressed air through a bed of coarse coal particles physically displacing adherent water and delivering lower-moisture products. The concept has previously been .... read more |
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| C8041 | 01/08/2000 |
| Author: Florent Bourgeois, M Haque | University of Queensland |
To date, there has been n o Australian Standard test for conducting vacuum filtration tests of mineral and coal fines' slurries. A previous project developed a versatile prototype leaf test apparatus for conducting vacuum filtration tests with fine coal slurries. This novel technology .... read more |
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| C8044 | 01/06/2000 |
| Author: David Condie, Chris Veal | CSIRO Energy Technology |
The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the techniques being used in plants for conditioning of filter feed with flocculant, and establish whether improvements in conditioning could lead to improved filter performance. The criterion of success adopted in this project for good .... read more |
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| C7039-C9047 | 01/08/1999 |
| Author: M Thomas, Chris Veal | CSIRO Energy Technology |
The preferred filtration device for flotation concentrates in most Australian plants is currently the horizontal vacuum belt filter. This machine has many advantages such as high reliability, low maintenance, ease of control, high solids capture and able to accommodate rapid changes in feed .... read more |
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| C6049 | 01/04/1999 |
| Author: Florent Bourgeois, Tofazzel Hague, Chris Clarkson | University of Queensland, C Clarkson & Associates |
This project builds on earlier work, that concluded that controlling cake microstructure was a potential means of reducing equilibrium cake moisture. This result led to the hypothesis that by modifying cake microstructure during the drying phase of the filtration cycle, cake moisture .... read more |
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| C4049 | 01/02/1998 |
| Author: Bruce Firth, Ted White, Brian Stanmore, Andrew Hoskin, Mike O'Brien, Shenggen Hu | CSIRO Energy Technology, University of Queensland |
High moisture contents in export coals increase transport and handling costs and invoke contract penalties. Considerable efforts have been focussed on fine coal dewatering, but relatively little research has been done on .... read more |
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| C5043 | 01/08/1997 |
| Author: D Condie, Chris Veal | CSIRO Energy Technology |
This report summarises the results of a two stage study aimed at demonstrating the use of heavy fuel oil emulsions as a dewatering aid to reduce the moisture content of fine coal products from vacuum filters. Stage 1 of this project had previously indicated that moisture reductions up to .... read more |
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| C4052 | 01/06/1997 |
| Author: B Johnston, L Stapleton, C Veal, J Donnelly | CSIRO Energy Technology, James C Donnelly and Associates |
This report summarises the results from a study aimed at improving the solids capture of scroll centrifuges. The main objective was to assess at pilot and commercial scales, the .... read more |
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| C4048 | 01/03/1997 |
| Author: BK Johnston, Chris Veal, Stuart Nicol | CSIRO Energy Technology, Novatech Consulting |
Australian coal production is approximately 200Mt per annum. Most of this coal is cleaned using wet beneficiation techniques and as a consequence the overall product consignment contains entrained moisture. This entrained moisture, which normally is around 8-9wt%, presents the market with .... read more |
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| C4050-C3085 | 01/01/1997 |
| Author: Graeme Jameson, Bruce Atkinson, K Dahl | University of Newcastle |
The aim of the project which began in early 1994, was to investigate the shear coagulation/shear flocculation of fine coal, and its effects on the filtration rate and final moisture content of de-watered coal product. In the past, it has been difficult to float the coal in the ultrafine .... read more |
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| C3087 | 01/11/1996 |
| Author: Flourent Bourgeois, W Barton, A Buckley, A McCutcheon, Chris Clarkson | CMTE, C Clarkson & Associates |
The aim of this project was to develop a fundamental understanding of coal-water interactions and of the dewatering process that will form the basis for improving the dewatering behaviour of all black coals, not just problem coals. The objectives of the project were: .... read more |
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| C4051 | 15/02/1996 |
| Author: Keith N Clark | CSIRO Energy Technology |
This is a preliminary report following the initial assessment and commissioning of the fine coal balling operation at Newlands mine. It is part of an ACARP assisted program to determine the potential of balling fine coal using molasses based binders while not using a drying step to .... read more |
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| C3086 | 25/10/1995 |
| Author: Chris J Veal, BK Johnston, M Attalla | CSIRO Energy Technology |
Results of a bench scale, proof-of-concept study aimed at improving the handling, transport and marketability of coal fines are summarised and discussed. The concept involves integration of conventional filtration with size enlargement, by adding a .... read more |
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| C3003 | 30/08/1995 |
| Author: Bruce Firth, T White, B Stanmore | CSIRO Energy Technology, University of Queensland |
High moisture content in export coals increases transport and handling costs and invokes contract penalties. Considerable effort has been focussed on fine coal dewatering, but significant variation in the moisture content of the coarse product is also important. Very little work has been .... read more |
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| C3088 | 03/03/1995 |
| Author: BK Johnston, CJ Veal, SK Nicol | CSIRO Division of Coal and Energy Technology and Novatech Consulting Pty Ltd |
This was the first in a series of projects in which the overall objective was to reduce the limiting residual moisture of centrifuge products by 1 wt% absolute basis (or 20 wt% on a relative basis) by injecting a turbulent flow of air or steam through the particulate bed inside the centrifuge. .... read more |
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| C3042 | 30/08/1993 |
| Author: Chris Clarkson, D Proud | Carbon Consulting International |
Efficient dewatering of coal is one of the highest priorities in production encountered by coal preparation engineers. The objectives may be to meet product specifications or environmental constraints or to facilitate the handling of coal and tailings. Reduction of fine coal moisture has .... read more |