Characterization of Cleaning Potential of Khokhar-Bala, Punjab (Pakistan) Coal and Simulation-Based Study for Identification of Best Strategy for its Cleaning

This study involves the characterization of Khokhar-Bala coal of Punjab (Pakistan) coal field to establish its particle distribution data for size, density and floatability through sizing, float-sink tests and release analysis. Khokhar Bala coal contains high amounts of unwanted impurities like ash (35.22%) and sulphur (8.38%). Over 93% of its mass consists of +1.00 mm particles, when run-of-mine coal is crushed to 38 mm. Washability curves, degrees of washing and the S-values show that the coarser fractions (-38+25 mm; -25+13.33 mm; -13.33+3.35 mm) are extremely difficult to clean, whereas the cleaning potential is high for size fractions -3.35+1.00 mm (moderately difficult) and -1.00+0.15 mm (relatively easy). Modelling and simulation of several processing configurations indicate that at 16% target ash content, dense medium cyclone treating 38 x 1 mm coal particles will provide the maximum clean yield of 37.39% with sulphur content of 4.80%.