COUNTERCURRENT OPEN GRADIENT MAGNETIC SEPARATION OF PYRITE FROM COAL

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF A MAGNETIC SEPARATOR FOR OPERATION ON PULVERIZED COAL. A THEORETICAL COMPARISON OF THE SEPARATOR WITH WORK PUBLISHED ON OPEN GRADIENT MAGNETIC SEPARATION BY THE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY INDICATES THAT THE SEPARATOR WILL HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF ASH CLEANING. THIS IS BECAUSE OF ITS COUNTERCURRENT PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION, THE HIGH GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD OCCURRING IN THENARROW GAP THROUGH WHICH THE COAL IS TRANSPORTED, AND THE LIMITED MOVEMENT NECESSARY TO EFFECT SEPARATION. LOW PROCESSING COST AND HIGH LEVELS OF PYRITIC SULFUR REMOVAL ARE EXPECTED. THE SEPARATOR CAN BE LINEARLY AND ECONOMICALLY SCALED TO HANDLE MANY TONS PER HOUR.