An investigation into an improved method of fine coal dewatering

Ultrafine coal dewatering: Relationship between hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) of surfactants and coal rank

“…In order to remove capillary moisture of the cake which is very important in an industrial dewatering process, applied pressure differential should be higher than the capillary pressure calculated by the Laplace's equation. Once the pressure is applied on slurry, filtrate will flow quickly from the filter cake until a certain point above which the residual moisture will stay constant as small lenses on the surfaces of the particles, and also in the micropores of each individual particle in the form of inherent moisture (Condie et al, 1996;Le Roux and Campbel, 2003). This point is called irreducible saturation and depends on the applied pressure, filter medium, cake thickness, particle type and size, specific gravity, cake moisture, particle shape, surface characteristics (oxidation, hydrophobicity, etc.…”

Dewatering effect of fine coal slurry and filter cake structure based on particle characteristics

“…During the process of filter cake formation, particle size distribution, surface electrical and mineral composition has great impacts on the porosity, arch structure and capillary channel of the cake. Operating parameters such as vacuum pressure and reagent conditioning influence for cake permeability, specific cake resistance, and filter medium resistance were examined [1e3], and increased air flow through a filter cake was more advantageous than an increase in the applied vacuum [4]. Moreover, filter pressure, particle size distribution, slurry concentration and material surface charge, slurry coagulation and flocculation also affected the cake specific resistance [5e7].…”

Applying Froth Imaging Techniques to Assess Fine Coal Dewatering Behavior

“…Three levels of applied vacuum were selected to test the validity of any relationship identified at different applied vacuum levels. These particular values of the applied vacuum levels were selected because literature suggested efficient filtration can be attained at high vacuum levels [14,23]. A value of 1 bar is the highest vacuum level possible in the laboratory vacuum filter used in this test work.…”