A DESIGN METHOD FOR SCALE-UP OF SELECTIVE AGGLOMERATION PLANT FOR UPGRADING COAL WITH RESPECT TO SULFUR AND MINERAL MATTER CONTENT

A theoretical model is described for using laboratory batch experimental data to design industrial plant for the upgrading of coal by selective agglomeration. The maximum velocity gradient and the real residence time are used as the two criteria in designing the stirred tanks that are the main components of the plant. The first criterion is determined as the product of impeller diameter and impeller rotation speed. The second criterion is the product of number of impeller wings, impeller wing height and number of parallel operating tanks, divided by the overall slurry flow rate. Formulae for required power and specific energy consumption are derived and recommended for optimization of the plant. As data are not available from large plants, calculations on hypothetical plants are provided to illustrate the use of this technique for scale-up.