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Wash Ability Curves

The document discusses washability curves and their uses in coal processing. It covers principles of washability analysis including sampling, float-sink analysis, and calculation of washability curves. Washability curves are used to design coal processing plants, evaluate plant efficiency, and control plant operations. The document provides examples of washability data and calculations for determining plant efficiency metrics like organic efficiency.

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Luis Carlos Pineda
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2K views

Wash Ability Curves

The document discusses washability curves and their uses in coal processing. It covers principles of washability analysis including sampling, float-sink analysis, and calculation of washability curves. Washability curves are used to design coal processing plants, evaluate plant efficiency, and control plant operations. The document provides examples of washability data and calculations for determining plant efficiency metrics like organic efficiency.

Uploaded by

Luis Carlos Pineda
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Determination

and use of
washability curves

SACPS

Vryheid Golf Club

24 May 2006
Washability curves

1. Principles
2. Sampling
3. Float & Sink
4. Analysis
5. Calculation
6. Plotting of washability curves
7. Use of washability curves
Sampling

• Standard prescribes minimum of 1000 ‘particles’


per size fraction and minimum 10 ‘particles’ per
relative density fraction

• Approximate formula:
• Sample mass ~ 5 x Average particle size
Sampling: Minimum sample mass

Nominal size (mm) Minimum mass (kg)


- 125 + 63 400
- 63 + 31.5 100
- 31.5 + 16 25
-16 + 8 7
-8+4 3
-4+2 1.5
- 2 + 0.5 1.0
- 0.5 0.5
AS 1661-1979 (Figures valid for raw coal)
Float & Sink analysis

Typical ‘heavy liquids’ used in laboratory:


• Zinc Chloride
• Bromoform
• TBE (Tetra Bromo Ethane)
Float & Sink tank
Float & Sink analysis : Procedure

1. Make up correct densities in series of containers (test


with hydrometer)
2. Place sample in container (start at lowest or highest rd
depending on sample)
3. Remove floats, remove sinks
4. Remove dense liquids from floats and sinks – filtering
and/or washing
5. Dry samples
6. Weigh and analyse samples

7. Calculate washability and plot curves


Washability curves: Uses

1. Design of coal processing plants


2. Techno-economic evaluations
3. Reserve estimation
4. Plant efficiency testing
5. Day-to-day plant control
Near-dense material

% of material within +0,10 and -0,10 interval


at any specific density
Washability Analysis : No. 5 Seam

Fractional Cumulative
Rel.Dens.
Yield Ash Yield Ash

F@ 1.30 16.4 4.1 16.4 4.1


F@ 1.35 15.5 7.0 31.9 5.5
F@ 1.40 3.9 13.1 35.8 6.3
F@ 1.45 3.3 19.3 39.1 7.4
F@ 1.50 1.1 23.2 40.2 7.9
F@ 1.55 1.0 31.2 41.2 8.4
F@ 1.60 0.8 34.9 42.0 8.9
F@ 1.65 1.0 40.1 43.0 9.7
F@ 1.70 1.2 42.9 44.2 10.6
F@ 1.75 1.0 47.8 45.2 11.4
F@ 1.80 1.0 49.7 46.2 12.2
F@ 1.85 0.4 51.6 46.6 12.6
F@ 1.90 0.4 51.8 47.0 12.9
F@ 1.95 1.0 61.1 48.0 13.9
F@ 2.00 0.9 69.7 48.9 14.9
S@ 2.00 51.1 76.9 100.0 46.6
Washability Analysis : No. 2 Seam

Fractional Cumulative
Rel.Dens.
Yield Ash Yield Ash

F@ 1.30 9.88 4.9 9.88 4.9


F@ 1.35 15.71 6.9 25.59 6.1
F@ 1.40 16.65 9.7 42.24 7.5
F@ 1.45 13.72 14.8 55.96 9.3
F@ 1.50 10.49 18.8 66.45 10.8
F@ 1.55 7.47 22.9 73.92 12.0
F@ 1.60 5.66 29.0 79.58 13.2
F@ 1.65 3.66 36.6 83.24 14.3
F@ 1.70 2.77 40.6 86.01 15.1
F@ 1.75 2.46 45.3 88.47 16.0
F@ 1.80 2.85 48.9 91.32 17.0
F@ 1.85 1.19 51.4 92.51 17.4
F@ 1.90 0.5 53.3 93.00 17.6
F@ 1.95 0.8 57.9 93.80 18.0
F@ 2.00 0.5 63.9 94.32 18.2
S@ 2.00 5.7 79.1 100.00 21.7
‘False’ middling

Coal

Shale
‘Liberation’ by crushing

Coal
Shale
Washability data - Dolan Colliery

100.0

90.0

80.0
Cumulative Yield %

70.0

60.0
50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Cumulative Ash %

Coarse Small
Washability data - Dolan Colliery

100.0

90.0

80.0
Cumulative Yield %

70.0

60.0
50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Cumulative Ash %

Coarse Small
Washability data - Dolan Colliery

100.0

90.0

80.0
Cumulative Yield %

70.0

60.0
50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Cumulative Ash %

Coarse Small
Plant Efficiency

• Acceptance test
• Routine checks
Plant Efficiency

1. Test procedure & sampling


2. Interpretation of results
1. Ash balance method to determine yield
2. Plotting of Tromp (Partition) curve
3. EPM,Organic Efficiency, Misplaced material
Plant Efficiency

1. Samples taken of feed, product (floats) and


discards (sinks)
2. Sample mass as per standard (~ 5 x ave particle
size)
3. Number of increments = 32 (raw coal feed), 16
washed coal (product & discard)
4. Determine ash content of feed, washability
analysis of product and discard
Plant Efficiency Testing
Feed

Product

Discard
Plant Efficiency Testing
Feed

32 increments
Ash content
Product

Discard
Plant Efficiency Testing
Feed

16 increments

Product
Washability
analysis

Discard
Plant Efficiency Testing
Feed

Product

16 increments

Washability
Discard
analysis
Plant Efficiency

(discard ash – feed ash)

Ash balance: % Yield = ----------------------------------- x 100


(discard ash – product ash)

Calculation of ‘partition curve’


Plotting of curve
Plant Efficiency

Organic efficiency = actual yield at actual ash


content /theoretical yield at actual ash content x 100
Plant Efficiency

Organic efficiency = actual yield at actual ash


content /theoretical yield at actual ash content x 100
example:
Actual yield = 61,44 % (from ash balance)
Theoretical yield = 61,63 % (from reconstituted feed
washability)
-> Organic efficiency = 61,44/61,63*100 = 99,7 %

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