Determining the Separation Performance of the Knelson Concentrator

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the separation performance of the Knelson concentrator in Zonguldak fine coal (-1+0.15 mm). The experiments were carried out in the Knelson concentrator under the following optimal parameters determined in previous studies; water flow rate of 3.14 L/min., bowl speed of 459 rpm, solids ratio of 23.87%, and feed flow rate of 1.50 L/min. A series of tests were conducted at optimal test parameters to obtain enough samples for float and sink analysis. Clean coal and tailing products were subjected to float and sink analysis. Based on this analysis, partition curve for coal cleaning process was generated. The cut-point of the separation was obtained at the specific gravity of 1.72 [g/cm3]. The probable error (Ep) value, which signifies the efficiency of the process, was calculated as 0.11 These results indicated that Knelson concentrator is very effective in separating fine coal.