SBIR-STTR Award

Conventional coal cleaning (removal of mineral matter or ash prior to coking or combustion) is currently performed using wet methods which exploit the density difference between mineral matter and coal. We shall investigate a novel method for cleaning fine dry coal by the use of vibrating plates. An experimental apparatus will be designed and assembled. The effort is directed at determining technical feasibility; a parametric study will define the relationships between design/operating variables and capacity, separation efficiency, and gravity of separation.The potential applications as described by the company: In commercial application, such a device would 1) eliminate dewatering and thermal drying steps now used in fine coal cleaning; and 2) allow cleaning and recovery of coal fines that are currently disposed of.