Washability Characteristics of coal

Float Sink analysis of coal

• Coal particles are separated into density fractions by
immersion in a series of liquids of known relative
density,
• usually ranging from 1.30 to 2.00. Commencing with
the lowest relative density, the sinking fraction is
transferred to the next liquid in the series and so on.
• Using the results given in Table 4.20, these may be
plotted graphically as a series of ‘washability curves’.
 Significance
These are used to calculate
• The amount of coal that can be obtained at a
particular quality,
• The density required to effect such a
separation and
• The quality of the discard left behind.
 Significance
• The amounts of coal and mineral matter or
discard can be determined for a specific
relative density, so enabling a product of
specified ash content to be produced using
liquids of known relative density.
• The latter figure is useful to the coal
preparation engineer for coal blending
calculations.
 Cumulative floats curve which plots column I vs G,
the densimetric curve which plots column G vs C,
the cumulative sinks curve which plots column L vs J, and
the elementary ash curve which plots column G vs E (see Table 4.21).
 Significance
• Quantitatively, an examination of the cumulative floats
curve will give yield values for a given quality,
• and the densimetric curve will indicate the density at
which to wash (i.e. washing density) in order to obtain
that yield and quality.
• This can also be calculated in reverse.
• The curves can also be used on a more qualitative
basis, for example if the density value that is required
is on the steep part of the densimetric curve then it
will be more difficult to maintain a consistent quality.
A coal with an ash
content of 5% will
give a yield of 68.6%,
and a density of 1.47
will be needed to
achieve this.
The ash of the sinks
(reject) will be 76%
and the percentage
of those ash particles
in the floats will be
16.6%.