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.
Environmental Improvement (17 Reports)
| Get Report |
| C16037 | 01/10/2007 |
| Author: Kurt Liffman, Ben Aldham, Craig Seath, Ilija Sutalo | CSIRO |
The goal of this project was to measure the size and density segregation of -2 mm coal powder that had been processed two times by the CSIRO 2D rotational classifier. Stage 1: The project commenced in early March 2007, when CSIRO received six 44 gallon drums of coal slurry from .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C3107 | 30/06/1993 |
| Author: Andrew R Swanson | Australian Coal Preparation Society |
The control of coal industry funds for research and development has recently transferred from the Government (NERDDC Scheme) to the industry through the ACARP arrangement operated by the ACA. The ACA wishes to direct R&D funding into areas with the greatest potential for providing benefits .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C13052 | 27/08/2009 |
| Author: Jan Verboomen, Troy Blagden | Australian Inspection Technologies Pty Ltd |
Traditional coal preparation involves a number of wet processing technologies which have been in use for many years. Whilst washing coal has allowed coal mines to provide higher quality product, it comes with drawbacks. Environmental regulations and guidelines are pointing towards a reduction .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C15049 | 13/05/2009 |
| Author: Peter Purdon | ACIRL Pty Ltd |
The stated objective of this project was to demonstrate improved operation of the mechanical dewatering of coal tailings based on charge neutralisation of the feed. The project demonstrated that belt press filter feed charge demand can be measured using a by-line sampling system, with .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C15055 | 04/05/2007 |
| Author: KJ Walton, Kevin Galvin, AM Callen | University of Newcastle |
The classification and beneficiation of coal with spirals or cyclones inherently involves high water consumption. The issue of water supply, particularly in arid areas, is further complicated by problems associated with waste tailings generation and disposal. The development of .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C14064 | 01/10/2008 |
| Author: Daniel Bembrick | SNF (Australia) |
Water retention, water loss and delay in tailings storage rehabilitation is a major challenge for many coal mines. Work by Stewart, Backer & Busch in the early 1980's suggested that there were improvements to be made in tailings dewatering and density by the addition of flocculant. .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C13051A | 01/10/2005 |
| Author: Philip Ofori, Bruce Firth, Graeme Jameson, G Franks, A Nguyen | CSIRO Energy Technology, University of Newcastle |
This project has produced a handbook to assist plant operators to understand the implications of changes in water chemistry in the plant, particularly on flotation.
Large inventories of saline water are accumulating at some mine sites due to discharge restrictions. At the same time .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C28059 | 24/09/2021 |
| Author: Bruce Atkinson, David Nicholas | Basacon Services, Nicholas Corrosion |
The objective of this project was to deliver a concise reference document which relates measured water quality to corrosion and scaling measurements, and flotation/dewatering performance measures. This was done by studying effects of water quality eight mine sites. Water quality for both raw .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C20047 | 01/03/2015 |
| Author: Stuart Whitton, David Williams, Timothy Vangsness, Timothy Delport, Marek Zbik | Mechanical Advantage, University of Queensland |
The aim of this project was to test a broad range of samples of clay mineral-rich run-of-mine (ROM) and tailings materials from coal mines across the various coal basins that are currently mined on the east coast of Australia. The clay mineral-rich samples and, for comparison purposes, a number .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C26009 | 01/07/2019 |
| Author: Graham O’Brien, Silvie Koval, Michael Plater, Karryn Warren, Michael Campbell, Jason Campbell, Nick Stanning | CSIRO, Steel River Testing, Coalbridge |
Dust samples collected in coastal locations using High Volume Air Samplers (HVAS) can contain significant amounts of water soluble “salt” particles. HVAS, which draw precise volumes of air through the sampler and particulates are deposited on a pre-weighed filter paper, were used .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C18042 | 01/02/2012 |
| Author: Götz Bickert & Bernd Länger | GBL Process, Outotec |
The background for the project was that Bulga has installed the first paste thickener for coal tailings in Australia. The paste thickener was installed to thicken tailings sufficiently to handle it on the reject conveyor. During commissioning and operation it was determined that .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C15062 | 01/01/2006 |
| Author: Philip Ofori, Bruce Firth | CSIRO Energy Technology |
The coal industry recognises the significant challenges associated with the handling of fines rejects and with stabilising tailings dams with a high proportion of clay materials. Also the availability and cost of water is seen as an emerging problem. The industry wants to have better .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C27067 | 01/10/2019 |
| Author: Ognjen Orozovic, Thomas Bunn, Craig Wheeler, David Bradney | University of Newcastle |
Tailings dams are an essential part of mining, mineral processing and power generation. However, risks including a catastrophic dam collapse mean that tailings dams present serious safety, environmental and social consequences. Most risks, however, can be alleviated through reducing the volume .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C18039 | 01/07/2011 |
| Author: Philip Ofori, Anh V Nguyen, Bruce Firth, Clint McNally | CSIRO Energy Technology & School of Chemical Engineering University of Queensland |
Handling fines rejects, stabilising tailings dams with a high proportion of clay materials and the emerging problem of availability, quality and cost of water present significant challenges to the coal industry. Effective solutions for these challenges are needed and require an improved .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C29042 | 01/07/2023 |
| Author: Kenneth Williams | The University of Newcastle |
This project targets a co-utilisation and soil improvement program that addresses the environmental challenges associated with tailings management within mining operations. This transformational alternative for tailings management optimises existing technologies connected with dewatering, .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C13050 | 20/06/2006 |
| Author: Andrew Vince, Ian Brake, Ben Cronin | BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance |
In Australian coal processing practice the measurement of slurry density is of critical to medium importance, depending on the application. A number of means are used for measuring density – traditionally nuclear and differential pressure methods. In recent times nuclear methods .... read more |
| Get Report |
| C17046 | 01/12/2009 |
| Author: P. Ofori, B. Firth, C. McNally, A. Nguyen | CSIRO Energy Technology, University of Queensland, Chemical Engineering |
A Handbook is provided with this report. This study was undertaken to identify the impacts of using saline mine water as coal preparation process water and the reuse of plant water as a means of reducing fresh water use and approaches to maintaining optimum plant .... read more |