Coal processing operation comprising a dense media separation stage to separate a coal feedstock into lower and higher ash coal streams

摘要

A coal processing operation (10) includes in a dense media separation stage (12), subjecting a coal feedstock (18) which includes minerals to dense media separation producing a first coal stream (20) and a second coal stream (22). Coal in the first coal stream (20) is lower in ash and has a lower ash fusion temperature than coal in the second coal stream (22). Coal from the first coal stream (20) is processed in a high temperature coal processing operation (44), and coal from the second coal stream (22) is processed in a medium temperature coal processing operation (16).

主权项

1. A coal processing operation which includes:
in a dense media separation stage, subjecting a coal feedstock, which includes minerals, to dense media separation using a relative density split in the range of 1.4 to 2.1 producing a first coal stream and a second coal stream, coal in the first coal stream being lower in density, lower in ash and having a lower ash fusion temperature than coal in the second coal stream, the second coal stream including at least some of the minerals from the coal feedstock; processing coal from the first coal stream in a coal processing operation selected from the group consisting of a coal coking operation, a coal gasification operation in which a maximum operating temperature exceeds the melting point of minerals contained in the coal so that slagging occurs, and a coal combustion operation for generation of a selection from the group consisting of heat, steam and combinations thereof; and processing coal from the second coal stream in a coal processing operation which is a coal pyrolysis operation or a coal gasification operation in which a maximum operating temperature is below the melting point of minerals contained in the coal so that slagging of the minerals does not occur.