The moisture content effect on coal cleaning performance of dry separator in different feed rates

This research is concerned with the effects of moisture content in different fractions on the coal cleaning performance of dry separator. The lignite samples, coming from Çorum, Muğla and Soma districts, were used in the tests. Whereas the all samples were tested in three different moisture contents and three different feed rates, the other variables, riffle height, table frequency and separator surface slope, have been kept constant at their best values after were tested in three steps. Results were analysed with tromp curves to indicate the parameters’ effects in detail. The relationships, between coal mass recoveries, combustion recoveries and moisture contents in different fractions, were presented. Consequently, the results revealed that the moisture content had a remarkable effect on separation efficiency. The separation efficiency was, however, inversely affected as the moisture content increase, and the best results were obtained in minimum moisture content for all samples tested. The best-obtained Ep values were 0.15 for the Soma, 0.165 for Mugla while it was 0.145 for the Corum sample. The Soma sample was the most affected sample by increasing moisture content.