Influence of particle size and feed rate on coal cleaning in a dry separator

This research is concerned with the effects of particle size distribution and feed rate of feed on the coal cleaning performance of table type air separator. In tests, the lignite and hard coal samples from Mugla and Zonguldak districts in Turkey were used. The samples were tested in three different size distributions such as -38 + 6 mm, -19 + 6 mm and -9.5 + 6 mm. The effect of particle size was investigated together with the feed rate 2 Mg/(h·m²), 1.68 Mg/(h·m²) and 1.32 Mg/(h·m²) and very important physical parameters of table type air separator such as, riffle height, table slope and table frequency. Results were analyzed by using the Tromp curve for indicating the effects in detail. Consequently, the results revealed that the particle size had remarkable effect on separation efficiency. The separation efficiency was, however, inversely affected as the particle size distribution became finer, and the best results were obtained in particle size distribution was -38 + 25 mm in both sample tested. The E_p value was 0.11 for the hard coal samples while it was 0.13 for the lignite samples.