R Erlank | August 2021
This study investigated the drying of spiral and flotation coal filter cakes using activated alumina as an adsorbent. The experiments were done on a laboratory-scale rotating bed with the coal being dried in a cascading motion inside cylindrical vessels. The adsorbent-to-coal mass ratio, adsorbent particle size and adsorbent state (new, used or regenerated) were varied to study each variable’s effect on the drying performance. The coal’s heating values were measured at significant intervals during drying to do an energy balance on the process, determining the feasibility thereof from an economical and energy perspective. The study found that the spiral and flotation coal fines could be dried swiftly to a market specified moisture content of 10% w/w within two minutes’ contact sorption.