Modeling of Fine Coal Processing in a Teeter Bed Separator

Beneficiation of fine coal using Floatex density Separator (FDS) is investigated through experimental and computational approaches. Performance of the FDS is determined through detailed experimentation. The separation in the FDS is also described theoretically using a slip velocity correlation and steady state mass balance equations. The performance of the FDS is estimated by solving the resulting set of mathematical equations. The computed data are found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations albeit with certain deviations. It is shown that at a low bed pressure the FDS acts as a size classifier. At an elevated bed pressure density based concentration is the dominant mode of separation. Low teeter water flow rate is inadequate for hydraulic transport of particles while too high a value leads to misplacement. It is shown that a velocity model based on modified Richarson and Zaki equation in which the dissipative pressure gradient is considered to be the primary driving force for separation predicts the performance more accurately than the other models.