Modelling performance of water-only cyclone as a gravity separator for fine coal cleaning

The performance of a gravity separator treating coal is characterized by plotting a Tromp distribution curve. In this study semi-empirical performance models have been employed to characterize the performance of water-only cyclone on the basis of experimental data modelling for fine coal cleaning. Experiments have been conducted in the laboratory on a 100 mm water only cyclone. Raw coal used for the experiments belong to Patherdih colliery in the Eastern part of India. Washability studies have been undertaken to determine the gravity separation for a desired coal quality. The Mayer curve has been employed to plot float-and-sink analysis from which the Tromp distribution curve has been constructed. A reduced efficiency curve has been obtained and attempts have been made to describe the behaviour using a Rosin-Rarnmler type distribution function characterizing the performance of the cyclone. A simplified approach has been purposed to estimate the model parameters.