MECHANICAL DEWATERING OF THE FLOTATION CONCENTRATE OF COKING COAL

Various mechanical methods for dewatering the flotation concentrate of coking coal are discussed, including vacuum, pressure and centrifugal filtration of both the feed slurry and the slurry condensed by sedimentation, and also centrifugal filtration of the cakes obtained during vacuum filtration. It is demonstrated that the most efficient dewatering may be expected using centrifugal filtration of the cakes initially dewatered in vacuum filters. During large-scale laboratory researchers of centrifugal decantation, a considerably lower final moisture content of the product has been achieved than in vacuum or pressure filtration. Furthermore, it has been shown that the dewatering costs of the system are lower than in the case of vacuum filtration and subsequent drying. A secondary effect of the method presented is the reduction in pollution due to confinement of the drying centre.